Page 83 of Castor
“Tatsuya,” I answered, jumping out of the way as a demon fell at my feet, a spear sticking out from the back of its head.
Lysandra pulled the spear free with a wet pop before hurling it at another demon.
“Kyo? What’s going on?”
“You know how you said not to involve myself in the war between angels and demons?” I blocked a hit with my katana and heaved the demon backward. Castor sliced off its head. “Well. I’m kinda right in the middle of a battle right now.”
“What?” he hissed.
“And it doesn’t look good. We’re outnumbered.” I ducked as a demon swung a battle-axe at my head. Castor kicked the demon backward and drove his dagger into its neck.
My brother and I didn’t have the best relationship, especially after I’d left home decades ago, rebelling against him and our clan. But he had pretty much raised me. Even before my father’s death, he was never around. He had either been in battle or involved in other affairs. Too busy for me. But Tatsuya had been there. Watching over me. Teaching me.
It was crazy how some things didn’t become clear until it was too late.
“I’m so sorry, Tatsuya,” I said, squinting as the sun reflected off Sirena’s shield. She leapt high into the air and brought it down on a demon’s spine. “I’ve been a shitty brother. Spoiled and stubborn just like you said.”
“None of that matters right now,” he said, his voice strained. “Tell me where you are.”
I didn’t get the chance.
Two demons lunged at me, and I dropped the phone so I could use both hands to fight them off. At least I was able to tell Tatsuya I was sorry.
Castor fought three demons at once. One swung a sword at his head, and the edge of the blade grazed his skin as he jerked back to dodge it. Blood trickled from the gash in his cheek. It had nearly sliced his head in half.
With my heart in my throat, I rushed toward him.
A seven-foot-tall demon heaved one of Sirena’s warriors at me. She slammed into my chest, sending me flying backward. As we rolled to a stop in the sand, bile rose in my throat. She didn’t have a head.
My battle experience was limited to my fight in the underworld. I had trained for years and years at the palace, but facing a real foe—seeing dead bodies—was different than just pretending. We had been outnumbered in the underworld too, but the fight on the beach felt different.
“Kyo!” Castor called out, wielding two weapons—a sword and his dagger. He faced off with four demons. “You have to get up!”
Shaking, I pushed the headless body off me and rose to my feet, forcing myself not to look at it. I started to panic as the battle surged around me. More warriors on our side fell. Demons did too. I killed one and barely ducked in time to avoid being decapitated with an axe, almost meeting the same fate as the dead warrior on the ground beside me.
The katana warmed in my grip, and flames flickered along the blade. The weapon had a soul. And it had chosen me of all people to wield it.
I can do this.
Letting the sword guide me, I hacked through demons left and right, their blood slinging off my blade with each swing. I tried to keep tabs on Castor, but there were too many bodies crammed together on the beach. Occasionally, I’d catch a glimpse of vibrant red hair though.
“More are coming!” Sirena shouted from nearby. She jumped into the air, kicked a demon in the jaw, and sent him to the ground. “Prepare yourselves!”
I followed her gaze.
Demons moved through the water toward the beach. If they reached us, we’d be even more at a disadvantage.
A sense of calm trickled through my body as I approached the sea. The water called to me, and as I reached it, electric heat flowed through my bloodstream. I wasn’t merely standing in the sea. I was part of it. And it was part of me.
Tatsuya had shown me my potential. He’d taught me how to use our element of water to my advantage. When I called, the sea answered. Focusing on a group of demons storming the shore, I commanded the water to pull them under and drag them to the depths.
“Holy hell,” Raiden said after gutting a foe and kicking the body off his blade. “I didn’t know you could do that.”
I tossed him a smile before doing it again to another group. A few reached the beach anyway but soon went down as Sirena’s archers took care of them. I manipulated the water to drag more away from the shore; however, since I wasn’t as strong as a full-blooded water dragon, my power had limits. I started to tire after a while. But I kept fighting. I had to.
An eternity passed. That was what it felt like anyway as the battle raged on.
I looked for Castor again, making sure he was okay. He tried running toward me but was stopped by another throng of enemies. I hated that he was so far away. He had told me to stay close to him, and now it felt like miles separated us.
