Page 92 of Royal Captive
Ellis got to his feet, and we booked it toward a blown out wall while the crowd was busy. The city loomed in the distance. I had no idea if that was where we should go, or risk it by taking off to parts unknown.
I had expected the prisoners to turn as a group and sprint for freedom. It was a brilliant distraction tactic on Hayida’s part.
Too bad it didn’t work.
Because when faced with their own freedom or the promise of violence and violence, any frenzied mob’s choice was clear. Violence. Pain. Blood.
Even over their own well-being.
The guard’s screams mingled in the air, the discord loud and shrill.
Then the crowd turned toward Hayida, still hungry for blood.
Hayida practically frothed at the mouth in his anger, a golden hue of magick outlining his entire body as his hands shook. Even though his death loomed in front of him, he stood his ground and didn’t run. “You idiots! Freedom stares you in the face and you refuse to set aside your petty grievances. And here I thought humans were the lowest forms of life. You deserve everything coming to you!”
Why wouldn’t he run? Would he stand his ground and level them all with his magick?
“Kill the old king! Kill every royal!” Strumo roared over the crowd, who cheered. It was senseless violence without purpose or direction, unfettered anger with no object other than to take their own hurt and force it on someone else.
Ellis yanked me toward him and closer toward freedom, but I fought back. I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t watch one more person die while I looked on.
“Eve! No!”
I ran back toward Hayida, who snarled at the mass of angry prisoners heading his way. There was no way I’d get to him in time, and even if I did, what was I going to do to help?
The first few to reach him were thrown backward by an invisible force, but Hayida was flicking his fingers left and right, faster than my eye could follow. Could he keep it up with twenty attackers? Fifty? One hundred?
They would overwhelm him eventually, just like with the guards. In the end, the amount of magick you had didn’t matter. Maybe it never mattered.
Hayida laughed hysterically as he disappeared under a throng of people, just like the guards. Only his face was visible, his golden eyes glowing like a beacon in the dark hatred surrounding him.
“KILL THE OLD KING!” they screamed.
I just didn’t want to see anyone else die.
“GET OFF HIM!” I screamed, my throat raw from the effort.
Yes, he had murdered countless humans. He was a horrible individual and an even worse king.
But he’d kept the other prisoners off our backs, and protected us. There was a soft spot in my heart for him, even though half of it was fucking terrified knowing who he was and what he’d done.
Weren’t relationships a bitch?
Screaming was a mistake. Strumo heard me and dropped Hayida in favor of letting the others tear him apart. He stomped toward me with single-minded focus, eyes bright.
“Fuck, shit on a stick,” Ellis hissed behind me, his hands growing hot where they held me back.
Strumo didn’t go for me; he grabbed Ellis and pushed him down hard enough that his head smacked off the ground. Dazed, Ellis couldn’t get up fast enough to stop Strumo from grabbing me and throwing me like I was a piece of parchment. Ellisseemed like he was trying to summon his fire powers, but his eyes crossed and he tripped. He was too stunned to do anything.
Ha, this is how I die.
I flew forward, and time slowed. It didn’t matter though. Ellis couldn’t protect me this time.
Everything around me swirled in a chaotic kaleidoscope of colors and dizzying angles. Fire exploded overhead and though I was still worried about Hayida and the others, a small grin still stretched my mouth even as the ground raced up to meet me.
I forced my eyes to focus back on the throng and Hayida. I laughed at the absurdity of wanting Hayida to win his fight. Hayida deserved death more than me, right? Life was a bitch.
Hayida’s mismatched met mine in a split second before I crashed. He turned from the three fae he’d been holding back, who all held crude shivs in their hands and advanced towards him. His eyes widened, then one hand stretched out toward me and a force grabbed me and pulled me back, slowing my descent by a lot, but not stopping it entirely.
