Page 16 of Taurus's Quest
“I see why you weren’t interested in me,” Andreas snarled as he lunged for Taurus.
Not having a weapon put him at a disadvantage, but not a huge one because his training had included lessons on how to handle such situations. He ducked under the blade and rammed his fist upward, striking the other man in the wrist hard enough his fingers reflexively spasmed, dropping the knife. Taurus popped upward even as he kicked the blade out of reach. Andreas swung wildly, and Taurus dipped left and threw his own punch.
Which didn’t miss.
Crack. The man yelped as his nose broke.
“Bastard.” Andreas yelled and lunged, trying to grab Taurus in a bear hug. A quick dodge and an ankle sweep sent the guy to the floor. Before he had a chance to recover, Taurus knelt on his chest, pinning him.
Without taking his gaze from Andreas, Taurus asked, “You okay, honey?”
“Yes, but I don’t understand what’s happening.”
“That makes two of us then,” Taurus growled, staring at Andreas, whose eyes still glowed uncannily. “What are you?”
“I could ask the same of you.”
“Why are you trying to kill Circe?”
“Because she’s been meddling in things best left alone.”
“This is about that asteroid,” Taurus guessed.
“It is so much more than a hurtling rock. Its arrival will forever change this planet.”
Circe interjected, “Hold on, you kept telling me it wouldn’t hit Earth, that I was wasting my time trying to prove otherwise.”
“I lied.” Andreas smirked.
“Why do you want to kill Circe?” Taurus applied pressure to the man’s chest.
“Because those were my orders,” Andreas hissed.
“Whose orders? Who sent you? Who do you work for?” Taurus hammered him with questions.
“I’ll never tell.” A claim spat at Taurus, who noticed his knees growing hot.
Really hot, which, for a warrior who didn’t usually notice temperature, drew his attention. Taurus threw himself away from Andreas in Circe’s direction.
“Why is his body glowing and throwing off steam?” she gasped, staring past him.
Rather than reply, Taurus dragged her into his arms, and as the body at his back exploded and propelled him forward, he drew on the power imbued in his tattoo with one thought in mind.
Home.
They landed in the portal room, although landed might be a kinder word for the way he stumbled and fell. Thankfully not on Circe.
Pain burned along his back, and yet rather than worry about himself, he glanced at Circe, who leaned over, retching. Beaming could be rough on humans.
At least she appeared unharmed. He couldn’t say the same for himself, as he’d taken the brunt of the blast.
Taurus shoved himself to his feet just as Leo came running into the room, only to rock to a sudden halt at the sight of Taurus.
“Dude! What happened?”
“Some guy decided to self-destruct,” he grunted through the pain that had his teeth clenching. “Good timing, by the way. I’m gonna need a hand dusting my back.”
“Thank Tower. I was headed for the gym when suddenly I got bubbled and zoomed to the main floor,” Leo stated as he slid under Taurus’ left arm to support him.
