Page 81 of Across the Sapphire Sea
Laurence shook under the burst of Sachi’s contribution. The power of her magic hit Remy, and his barrier wavered then redoubled, the opal sheen thickening.
Finley and Isla were forced back.
Isla screeched her fury. “Sachi! How could you?”
Elias squeezed Sachi’s hand. Beside them, Gauss was quickly gaining the advantage over Ash and Valeri. The brawny vampire dealt powerful blows, fast and agile for a man of his size. The tangy scent of blood filled the air. Red on Ash’s face. Fear seized Elias’s chest. Valeri was a decent fighter, but no match for Gauss’s deadly skill.
Aella’s chanting grew louder. Magic crackled and snapped. A burst of purple light cast the room and all its occupants in an eerie glow.
“No!” Isla’s hands shook with effort. “Bannos, do something!”
At her order, he leapt at the barrier and was repelled from it with such force as to be flung against the far wall.
Faint voices sounded in the distance, a chorus of witches chanting with Aella.Bran Vigny’s witches!Hope dared to mix with fear. Elias risked a glance over his shoulder. The portal appeared as a vibrating rip of color directly in front of Aella, glowing purple around the edges, the other side too blurry to make out. The fissure expanded in size, just enough for a man to pass through.
Shouldn’t they go?
Why weren’t they leaving?
Elias’s gaze darted from the portal to Valeri, who landed with a sickening thud, sprawled on the stones as Gauss tossed him away. “Valeri!”
Valeri held his ribs, meeting Elias’s panicked gaze. “I’ll be all right. Stay out of it.”
Ash was down, and still. Too still. Elias’s hopes were dashed as Gauss’s eyes blazed in triumph.
Gauss lunged for Sachi, grabbing a fierce hold of her elbow.
Sachi jerked sideways and let out a yelp.
“Now!” Aella’s voice resounded powerfully throughout the hall.
Elias kicked Gauss in the shin, but his body was hard as marble. The strike had no effect. Gauss ignored him.
“Go through!” cried Sachi as she stumbled. “Take Valeri and get out!”
Torn, Elias dropped to Valeri. He took his arm and tugged. “Come on. We must carry Ash.”
The three of them were to go through the portal first, with Sachi as well, then Laurence, Remy, and finally, Aella, who’d snap the portal shut behind her. But Sachi was locked in a struggle with Gauss. Their plan was falling apart.
Valeri’s movements were sluggish. He grimaced.
Panic threatened Elias’s control. With Valeri injured, he’d have to get them out himself. “Up, Valeri, come on.” Elias tugged him to his feet. “Go!”
A stubborn edge lined Valeri’s hard gaze. “Not without you.”
Elias grabbed Ash beneath both armpits and hauled him up. His body was deadweight and blood soaked his collar, but Ash was a vampire. He couldn’t be dead…right?
Ash was taller and bulkier than Elias, but he had to get the man through the portal. Valeri staggered on his feet, clutching his side. No help. Definitely injured.
Think, Elias, think.
The battle raged around him. Isla and Finley were not giving up; Remy and Laurence concentrated their efforts on holding them off. Bannos and the other man had both been knocked out cold from Remy’s barrier. Sachi used her magic to hold her own against Gauss, but the man fought wildly. Elias couldn’t predict who’d win the upper hand.
First things first.
Grunting, Elias clutched Ash’s body to his chest with all his strength and dragged him to the portal. He set the bloody vampire down at the edge of the rippling purple fissure. With one last burst of effort, Elias shoved, rolling him through the opening as if he were a sack of potatoes. Elias winced, but he had to trust there was someone on the other side who could help. It wasn’t dignified, but it was done.
Next, Valeri.
