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“Are you injured?” I ask her while keeping my eye on the incoming threat.
“A fff-flesh wound. N-nothing serious.” Her voice trembles in fear, but there’s strength beneath each word, convincing me she’s in no immediate danger.
“When I tell you to run…” I don’t finish my words as the group of creatures moves swiftly to surround us.
Unsheathing my sword from behind me, I wait for them to get a little closer before shooting forward and slicing the nearest creature’s arm off as it reaches for me. Before it gets the chance to move, I behead it.
I remind myself of the Sidus woman behind me and pull back my shadows, which are trying to unleash and defend.
The creatures quickly surround me, caging me in. But I hold my ground and slam my elbow into the creature’s neck on my right, dodging a claw from my left and grabbing the other dagger before twisting around to slice, stab, and cleave a path through them.
But more and more are appearing in place of those that turn to shadows and smoke. Their strength and movements are less staggered and sloppy than the last time I met with others like them, and there is a spark of light in their eyes, an intelligencethat wasn’t there before. It only makes my fears and doubts grow.
Dodging the next grasp from one of them, I use the nearest thick tree trunk as leverage to rise up and bounce off. Twisting, I land on top of one of the creature’s shoulders. Using my weight, I wrap my legs around it and swiftly spin my body, breaking its neck before tumbling into a crouch beside it.
A cry rings out and I turn to find the Sidus woman scrambling backward. One of the creatures must have veered off and gotten past me.
I stand and turn to move toward her when a fiery burn slices down my back.
Gritting my teeth, I reel around and plow my dagger into the creature’s stomach, ducking another clawed attack before turning and heading for the woman.
Ignoring the sharp, slicing pain down my back, I find my other dagger on the ground and pick it up, flinging it forward. My aim is slightly off, hitting the creature’s shoulder instead, but it’s enough to distract it and turn its attention on me.
My eyes land on a long vine on the ground, and an idea comes to mind. I pick it up and move quickly, wrapping it around the creature’s neck, tightening my hold until it slumps and drops to the ground.
I head toward the woman when I hear movement from behind me. Whipping around, I find the last of the creatures moving toward us.
I try to think of another plan to get them away from her without using my shadows, when I tense up, hearing something rush through the trees.
Jarek appears, a sword in hand as if ready for battle, and a rush of relief fills me. His eyes widen when he spots me, and he rushes toward me and the creatures.
“Your sword!” I reach a hand out, and he throws it to me immediately, without question.
“Get her out of here,” I shout to him as I twirl the sword in my hand to test the pain in my back and shoulder, wincing when the burn intensifies. But the movement is smooth, which means there is no serious injury. Stepping forward, I slam the sword into the nearest creature’s head and yank it out before ducking and avoiding a claw to the face.
“What about you?” Jarek shouts over to me as I evade another creature.
“I need to draw them farther away from town,” I tell him. If any of them make it through the small haven here, there will be more than one death tonight. I thrust the sword into another creature’s head before spinning and slicing another.
“Ren—”
“Go!” I evade another claw and surge forward, my blade impaling the next creature in front of me.
With a harsh sigh, Jarek leaves, taking the woman with him. Once she is gone and no one is around, I finally unleash my powers, letting my shadows out to become a weapon of darkness. I evade claw after claw, attack after attack, this time with ease. Using my shadows, I slip into them and appear in front of creature after creature, lunging forward and striking with aim to kill.
They drop one by one before disappearing quickly.
I move to find Jarek and see if the woman is safe when two more creatures arrive as if from nowhere.
Ignoring the sharp blaze of flames now sliding down my back, I let rage fuel my veins. Rage for those that would have died tonight because the Caligo guards have twisted their power to do whatever they want instead of guarding those who are weaker than them.
How many more must die before they listen?
With a renewed sense of energy, I attack the last two creatures with fury, my rage and wrath not only for them but for every Caligo guard who sits idly by and watches on while the Sidus cry out for help. Every innocent person that has died because of their negligence. And every death that will come should they continue to live in that ignorance.
The creatures are destroyed within seconds. Each breath is harsh as I try to leash my rage.
“It seems your friend was right.” A deep voice comes from somewhere behind me.
