Page 57 of Hell's Queen

It’s my fucking telum.

The hilt bounces, sliding into my hand as I lose my grip and fly through the portal to Earth. Warmth surrounds me as I twirl through the air. A scream leaves me as I hit the street pavement with a thud. The Edris Sword clanks away from me.

Someone’s boot stomps my left hand hard, and I cry out at the crunch.

Evara.

She grabs a fistful of my hair. “Stupid bitch. You really thought you could close the door? You know you’ll burst into flames as you try to close it. That’s even if I let you.”

She drops my head to the pavement.

“Earth is my home too, Asura. I spent years becoming the trained mage I am today.”

I look up, seeing souls fly from being released onto Earth.

Evara pulls out a dagger, flipping it towards me. “I am slowly collecting your family, huh?”

I push off the ground, getting to my feet. “Start with yourself, bitch.”

She waves me off. “You’re weak, Asura. Every second that passes, more souls come out.”

I hold out my right hand, calling to my sword. The hilt hits my hand, and I grip it. My left hand is broken, but I do my best to steady it. I swing and she ducks, slicing my hip with her dagger. I fall to one knee but get up quickly.

She strikes, throwing out jabs, and I dodge them all. I jump up and kick her in the chin. Her head swings back, and she stumbles. She lunges, cutting my face. I swing my sword, which slices her forearm before she can get out of the way.

“Fucking—” She strikes quicker, cutting my forearm before dropping and cutting the back of my leg. I fall to the ground, crying out and turning away. I roll away from her, missing getting cut. I try to stand, but the pain is excruciating. An evil smirk crosses her lips before throwing the dagger in the air and whipping it at my chest. I drop to the ground to avoid getting hit.

“Admit it. You don’t deserve the crown. You don’t deserve The Flame.”

“No!” I snap, bringing up my sword. “I don’t, but neither do you.” Ignoring the white-hot pain, I lunge for her, swinging my sword.

She lifts another dagger, but I tackle her to the ground at the last moment. She flips me onto my back before climbing over me and punching my jaw. My eyes water and a scream escapes me. Fire blasts from my skin and flings her away from me. A blood-curdling scream escapes her as she burns under my flames. With that, I gain control, straddling her and repeatedly punching her in the face.

All I can see is red. Red for Fenric. Red for my father. She took them away from me without remorse or mercy. She deserves the fucking worst.

Her blood coats my fingers, and I finally pull back, breathing heavily. I stumble backward, breathing hard as I hold out a hand.

The hilt of my sword flings into my hand, and slowly, I stand. Evara pushes herself away from me, but she doesn’t get far. I stand over her, jaw tightening.

“I hate you and what you did to me,” I confess. Slowly, I flip the blade to point down at her.

“Go ahead, kill me.” She laughs, spitting blood. “Be exactly like a little sister.”

“No. I am nothing like you.” I freeze, staring down at Evara. My eyes tear up as I think about her words.

“I wanted revenge. I was left behind, my family murdered, and I craved to make someone pay for it. You will be exactly like me, sister.”

My chest tightens at her words. She is right. I’ve only thought about this moment and what I would do as revenge. Stepping back, I look down at the bloody elf. My father was right. She was just a young adult, like me, but she had the shit end of the stick. If she had grown up being raised by half of the man my father was, she would have been ten times better than where she’s now.

A sharp pain comes, and the socks inside my shoes start to get soaked. I fall to my ass, seeing Evara has cut the back of my fucking heel while I was thinking about not killing her.

A sob escapes my lips as I kick her back from me. She takes the hit as if it didn’t hurt her and raises a dagger over me. “Unlike you, I won’t hesitate.”

Something flies through the air and sparks as it hits Evara’s knife from her hand.

A gasp escapes me, and I look over. Off to my right is a tan, curvy girl with a long black whip in her hand. She flicks her whip out again, wrapping it around Evara’s body and tying her up. The woman pulls her right off my body. Hands grab my shoulders and help me to my feet as Evara struggles to get loose.

I lean on someone, unable to put pressure on my foot that Evara cut. My eyes lock with my savior. Her hair hangs down to her midback in dark purple ringlets, and her full lips are in a smile. Piercings cover her face, while tattoos cover her neck. “Hello, my queen.”

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