Page 148 of The Blackened Blade

They dart toward another nearing beast, just as a familiar navy gown catches my eye.

Morgan.

Her face is slightly pale but her eyes are focused as she runs in the direction of the courtyard near the girls dormitories. She’s clutching something to her chest, something large and metallic. They look like large chains.

I call out to her but she doesn’t even look back. Where the hell were Ash and Grey?

I look out toward the students and teachers fighting, but don’t see either of them. Turning back toward her, I watch just as she disappears from sight.

I couldn’t let her go off on her own, not when she looked like that. Who knows what would happen if she went somewhere alone? She didn’t exactly fare well against the last beast she went up against.

Gripping the skirt of my dress, I kick off my heels and start chasing after her, ignoring the calls from Ms. Cheron to ‘Stay’.

I dash toward the courtyard, their voices now faded as I get closer to the dormitories. And that's when I see it.

Morgan must be crazier than Annex to runtowardthis thing.

Just in front of the dorms is a huge creature that seems to be battling two large animals. Shifters I presume; a huge white and grey polar bear and a golden-eyed leopard.

The huge creature roars, shaking the area around us. Its face reminds me of a bull, but its body mirrors that of a lion and goat. It has four hooves, two arm-like appendages, and is covered in black and brown fur up until its torso and face. Its size towers over the two shifters trying to fight it.

The leopard shifter’s side is wounded from the fight, blood slowly dripping from the injury as it continues to battle the huge beast.

The creature roars again, lashing outwards just as the polar bear tries to strike it. They both clash as the leopard strikes at the creature's lower limbs, trying to weaken or unbalance it. But its attacks only agitate the large creature further. It strikes a heavy hoof out, catching the wounded leopard and sending him flying into a nearby wall. He sags limply to the ground as Morgan screams ‘Ash’ and dashes toward him.

Ash was a leopard shifter? Then was the polar bear Grey?

I watch on as he struggles against the strength of the large feral beast before him, unable to even glance back at his friend. He needed help, and quick.

I rip my dress at its slit, and sprint toward the metal chains Morgan had dropped on her dash toward Ash. Grabbing them, I head toward the fight.

The beast was huge and clearly as crazed as the others. Even when attacked or wounded it wouldn’t back off. Usually these magical beasts were fierce and wild, but not like this. It's as if they lacked any sense or instinct, only wanting to cause carnage and attack whatever came its way.

But that could also work in my favour. A crazed beast was a mindless one. It wasn’t thinking about its next move or meal, or wanting to survive. This wasn’t a beast with intelligence trying to hunt me for fun. I could handle this creature.

Grey’s polar bear looks like it's struggling, he’s being pushed back by the creature's large limbs and overwhelming strength.

I move quickly, using the distraction Grey gives me by tackling the beast. Gripping the large heavy chain in my hand, I throw it over my shoulder, and leap onto Grey’s back. Using his shoulders as leverage I leap toward the beast and land on its back.

“Hold him!” I shout to Grey as I wrap the chains over the beast's neck and pull, gripping each end of the heavy metal chain with each hand.

The beast begins to thrash and throw its head back toward me. It tries to reach for me but Grey grabs its limbs, holding them in place as I wrap my legs around the creature's large torso and pull tighter on the chains.

It bucks its hind legs and stomps its front pair down, its movements more frantic as I jostle back and forth, pulling as tight as I can while Grey tries to stop its movements. He grabs its arm-like limbs, holding them tightly with his sharp bear claws and allowing me to pull the chains with my full strength.

It begins to make what sounds like a low rasping sound as its movements begin to slow. I give the chain one final yank, hearing the metal creak and crack beneath my hands.

The beast's hooves give way, dropping toward the ground as Grey takes a step back. Its head falls back toward me, its eyes going still as its last breath falls from its mouth.

Greys polar bear gives me a slight nod before I let go of the chains, the clang of them hitting the ground rings out around us as I slide from the creatures back.

I’m making my way over to Grey when a voice shouts from the treeline.

“Morgan!” Creed runs toward a sobbing Morgan, who’s holding a now human Ash. His body is bloody with a large wound down his left side. Morgan’s holding her gown against it, trying to stop the bleeding. Grey shifts back and makes his way to Morgan, quickly wrapping an arm around her.

“It's okay Morgan, he's already healing, look…” He points to Ash's wound, the ends slowing knitting themselves back together as he kisses her forehead. “He’ll be back to annoying us in no time.”

“Morgan!” Creed comes up behind Morgan, pulling her into him as he calls her name again. He checks her over, a small sigh of relief leaving his lips as he notices the blood on her dress isn’t from her. Then he turns toward Ash and Grey.

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