Page 83 of Cage of Destiny
“Fine,” he huffed. “I’llfind one and approach her from behind. Stay here and don’t doanything stupid.”
When he left Allyssa’s side, Janaglanced between the two of them, deciding to let Odar go and focuson Allyssa.
“You’ve lost,” Allyssasaid. “The prince’s men are here, and you’reoutmatched.”
“That may be,” Jana said,moving closer. “But I’m not leaving here without killing you first.I want to know there won’t be a single day that Darmik doesn’tsuffer from your loss.”
Allyssa readjusted her grip, thenlooked Jana up and down, not seeing a weapon. “I never knew therecould be someone as evil as you.”
Jana laughed. “Your father made methis way.” She spoke as if she’d lost already—which wasn’t a goodsign. Someone with nothing to lose was unpredictable and infinitelymore dangerous.
Allyssa spied Odar coming up behindJana, a sword in hand. Over half the soldiers had been disarmed.The remaining few would be neutralized within minutes. Kerdangrabbed Odar, preventing him from making the kill. Realizationdawned on Odar, and his face went red with fury. He elbowed Kerdanin the stomach. With the two of them now fighting one another, itwas up to Allyssa to kill the queen and restore Kerdan to thethrone.
Remaining against the wall would doher no good, so she took a step forward, toward the woman who wasresponsible for killing Emperions, torturing Allyssa, and plungingRussek into poverty. Jana did not deserve to rule, did not deserveto live. But to kill… could Allyssa murder this woman? Yes, shecould. To save Emperions and Russeks, she would do it.
Jana’s eyes narrowed, watching Allyssapush off the wall and approach with the knife in hand. Fear flashedin Jana’s eyes, and she took a step back and ran from the room.Allyssa sprinted after her. Jana couldn’t escape. Running throughthe dark hallways, Allyssa jumped over fallen bodies lying on theground. The Hunters must have done this before the explosiondetonated.
Jana frantically looked back. Sheturned corner after corner, trying to lose Allyssa. But Allyssa wasfast from years of training and running with her father. Janareached down, grabbing a fallen soldier’s sword. Allyssa did thesame, wishing she wasn’t wearing a blasted dress. Coming to thefront of the castle, Jana burst through the doors, running outside,Allyssa right on her heels.
While clouds still covered the sky; itwas bright and Allyssa had to squint to see. Suddenly, everythingwas quiet without the fighting, clanking metal, and the sounds ofmen dying.
“I thought you wanted tokill me,” Allyssa yelled.
Jana spun around, swinging her sword,screaming a savage cry.
Allyssa held a knife in one hand, asword in the other. No one else was around, and neither of themwould have any help.
As she stood there facing heropponent, Allyssa realized that this was different. Instead ofdefending herself, she had to be the aggressor and attack. If shestood there contemplating murder, either Jana would becomeemboldened, or Allyssa would talk herself out of it. Jana had todie. She was too dangerous to be left alive.
After sliding the knife in her boot,Allyssa raised the sword and advanced. Jana parried the blow.Allyssa struck again, and Jana easily deflected it. Jana knew howto hold the sword, stand, and fight. Her lover must have taughther.
Jana swung low, and Allyssa had justenough time to jump out of the way. The sword was heavy and herarms would tire soon—but so would Jana’s. Allyssa just had to wearher out, then go in for the kill. Lifting the sword, she attacked,swinging as hard and fast as she could. Jana met each blow, herface wild. Allyssa didn’t stop. She started pushing forward,forcing Jana to step backward.
She was just about to do one lastshove, making Jana trip and fall, when Jana dropped the sword andjumped to the side. Allyssa stumbled forward, and Jana hit herback. Allyssa cried out as she fell to the ground, Jana pouncing onher with fury. Twisting so her back was on the ground, Allyssaraised her arms, trying to hold Jana back.
Jana screamed, flailing her body,trying to tear Allyssa apart. “I hate you, you little harlot!” Shereached back, withdrawing the knife from Allyssa’s boot.
Blimey. Nathenek had told Allyssa to do the unexpected in a fight—togive her opponent what he or she wanted. So she pretended Jana wastoo strong for her, and she went limp, letting Jana think she’dwon.
“This is for murdering mychildren and the man I love.” Smiling, Jana raised her arms aboveher head, knife in hand, preparing to plunge it into Allyssa’schest.
Allyssa lifted her legs, throwing themaround Jana’s neck, flinging her back and coming to a sittingposition so she now straddled Jana. Allyssa punched Jana’s arm,knocking the knife free. She grabbed the knife, Jana kicking andscreaming, trying to buck Allyssa off. Allyssa brought the weapondown, embedding it into Jana’s stomach and twisting it to ensure afatal wound.
“This is for Emperion andRussek. For the thousands of lives you destroyed in yourunnecessary quest for revenge. Be lucky I’m being so mercifulinstead of slowly torturing you to death.”
Jana’s eyes widened in shock, herhands trying to pull the knife free. Allyssa pushed the knife indeeper, blood flowing like a riverbed, coating both their hands.Jana’s head fell to the side.
She was dead.
Allyssa scrambled off Jana, crawlingseveral feet away before vomiting. Needing to get away from thebody, she forced herself to stand, walking along the path to theside of the castle that led to a small vegetable garden. Betweentwo planters, she fell to her knees, her entire body shaking.Heaving in deep breaths, she tried to rid herself of the wretchedsmell of death. Her fingers slid through the dirt, clutching it,using it in a desperate attempt to wipe off the blood.
“I take it Jana is dead?” afamiliar voice said from behind her.
Allyssa glanced over her shoulder intothe eyes of Nathenek. “Yes. Where’s Neco?”
“He is inside. I saw youfollow Jana, so I came after you in case you needed my help.” Hesat next to her, rubbing her back.
“I killed her.” She wasresponsible for killing an entire family. All to save her kingdom.A necessary evil that she would have to live with for the rest ofher life. She sat next to Nathenek. “Where have youbeen?”
