Page 196 of The Tribrid Princess and the Taste of Chaos
Pieces
Sienna
“What was that?” Brock shouts.
“End your life,” Enrique’s command ripples through the desert, pulsating with power and danger. The blast was from Enrique, but I’m not sure what’s going on. I know he was trying to get the witches to stand down, but it hadn’t worked.
Everything around us is chaos. Enrique’s feet touch the sand as he lands metres from Velasara. But his command is not obeyed. The three witches, while they are still standing tense, do not obey.
“You do not answer to him,” a new voice whispers sinisterly from all around us. “Now attack!” Power that almost mirrors Enrique’s rises from the earth.
Enrique turns sharply, and I spot a woman standing in the sands far ahead.
“And who the fuck are you?” Enrique’s irritation is clear in his voice.
The woman – a witch, smirks as she comes into view; she hasa muscular build, dark skin that glows beneath the blazing sun, and her brown curls fall over her forehead. Several scars cover what I can see of her body, and her eyes are glowing green. And where Enrique’s aura is flames, and rises like a phoenix around him, the woman’s swirls like a multi-headed…. Snake?
My eyes widen as I stare at her aura. That shape… a many-headed beast, I know that one… It’s a hydra, like from the myths.
“Hecate’s favoured,” she chuckles.
My heart thumps, and no one can hide their shock. My mind is reeling. How is that possible? Enriqueisthe El Rey Carmesí! Heisthe blood of Hecate! How can someone be his equal?
Enrique narrows his eyes. Is Hecate playing both sides? No! That’s… That’s… I don’t know what to think.
Kataleya is tense, Enrique is frowning deeply, and Dante and the Masked Man are still going at it.
“Calindra,” the woman introduces herself. “Enrique, no? In a way, we are kin. I do find siblings to be… an interesting bond.” She laughs.
“If this is supposed to be your dramatic entrée, then hate to break it to you, missy, but it isn’t. I’m getting bored and I need to piss, so shall we get back to kicking all your sorry asses?” Theo remarks. My eyes fly open at his comment at such a time, and even Calindra seems taken aback for a second, and Enrique takes advantage of it.
The battlefield suddenly begins shaking with immense power. Enrique raises his hand as ancient sigils glow around us, scorching the ground, slicing light through the sand and up endlessly into the sky, creating a barrier between the enemy and us. A portal tears open in front of us.
“In!” Enrique yells, his voice hoarse with command as bothhe and Kataleya turn, and I do the same as we all target the Masked Mustard Man, giving Dante the precious moments he needs to get to us.
Artemis is barely conscious as Brock carries her through the portal. Allie and Heaven run through next. Theo is coming closer as Calindra throws her power against the shield. I don’t miss her shock.
So, she may be strong… but her power doesn’t work against Enrique?
“Get in!” Kataleya shouts as she holds her hand out to me and pulls me through. Velasara, Calindra and the Masked Mustard Man are at the shield, trying to break it down. The Masked Mustard Man isn’t in perfect condition either. His clothes are torn, and I see blood. Guess Dante gave him a tough time, too.
The ground lurches, and we’re pulled away from the portal.
“Quick!” Enrique shouts as Kataleya’s grip on me tightens, and we rush towards the entrance. I feel the barrier shattering behind us as Enrique tries to keep it up. He’s sweating, blood trickling from his nose as he tries his best.
Dante is racing towards us, grabbing both Kataleya and me by the waist and throwing us through the portal. Theo catches Kataleya, and Allie catches me, pulling us through.
“Leave me!” Dante shouts as the barrier comes down.
“Dante, hurry!” Enrique shouts, his voice strained.
“GO!” Dante snarls as the Masked Mustard Man almost reaches him.
“You ain’t staying, man. You’re the Queen in this game! Don’t forget your tiara on the way out!” Theo calls as he shifts. My eyes widen as I watch him race out towards Dante, and then it happens all too fast. All I see is Dante coming barrelling throughthe portal.
“THEO!” he shouts.
Theo is running towards the portal, but… he won’t make it. I’m stricken, watching him fall to the sand beyond the collapsing light.
