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One with shoulder-length black hair and the other a deep amber, almost the color of flames. Both are wearing vicious smirks.
“If it isn’t the little Sidus,” the male with black hair sneers.
“Caligo,” I reply with a smirk.
“The guards have put a pretty little reward on your head. Should an accident befall you, well, the reward doubles.” They share a savage smirk. “I’m afraid this is where your little journey ends,” he taunts.
I feel the endless limits to my Sidus power brushing just under my skin, and when the black-haired male lunges forward, his shadows whipping out ready to slash, I’m ready for him.
I spring to the side, using the wall to kick off and flip over him. Landing in front of the other male, I punch him straight in the face, knocking him out.
I turn to the male now baring his teeth at me like a wild animal.
“You’ll pay for that,” he grits out.
His shadows rise up around him, and I wait until they are encasing his body before using my own shadows to join them. His pitiful attempt at a vortex of shadows quickly doubles in size.He frowns at the sight around him, a bead of sweat dripping down his head as he tries to contain it.
Butheis not the one in control of it.
With one push, I move the shadows closer to him, and his eyes widen in shock and fear as the shadows envelop him whole, taking the breath from him.
Walking closer to him, I pull my powers back just as his knees hit the ground.
“I’m afraid this is where your little journey ends,” I say, echoing his little taunt before hitting the back of his head. He drops to the ground with a thump.
Quickly moving out of the dead end, I stay watchful and make sure to listen for any sound before moving around the next path.
The guards must be getting desperate if they feel the need to pay off some of the competitors to finish their task, finding it so difficult themselves.
I smile to myself at the thought.
Moving quickly through the maze, I come out to another long pathway, grateful it is not a dead end, when I hear a swish. Instinct has me ducking just as a blade shoots overhead before slamming into the wall beside me.
I take a step forward, attempting to move away from it, but I must have stepped on a hidden trap, as dozens of blades begin to shoot back and forth from the walls, not letting up for even a moment and completely blocking my way through.
I hear movement from behind me and know I must be quick. If I were a Caligo, I would use my shadows to form weapons and fight my way through, and if I had a weapon, I would use it to defend against them. But as I can’t be seen using either, I bring my light to the surface and let it guide me. The urge to look up brings a smile to my face when a way out comes to mind.
Weaving a net with my Sidus light, I use it to climb up the wall to the top of the maze. With my new vantage point, I quickly spot the exit and head for it.
Once I’m at the end of the stone maze, I drop down onto an open path. Thinking I’m finally clear of the maze, I grimace when I spot the maze of steps and stairways as the next obstacle. It’s covered in a green substance in the form of large rectangular structures in and around the steps.
But whereas the maze was on one level, this has multiple, the stairs and passages overlapping each other with small thin wooden bridges as underpasses.
I move closer to inspect the green substance and touch some of it with my fingertips, finding it slimy.
A plan to climb over it like the maze won’t be an option, but a vantage point would give me an idea of where I should go. And this is an abilities test, after all.
Glancing around, I listen and look out for anyone before drawing up the cool, dark tendrils inside me and using my shadows to form small steps just big enough to get a foothold on. Jumping on one, I create another quickly and keep moving. The shadows are not as stable as my Sidus net and won’t hold for long, so I need to move fast.
Moving quickly, I make it across the nearest bridge and overpass and move to climb up and over to a large open area above.
I land and find Oryn standing right in front of me, his eyes wide in shock as he watches my shadows disappear.
Damn it. How did I not see him?
“Is there anyone else around?” I ask, glancing around for anyone who may be hiding or concealed among the structures. But he doesn’t answer me, his mouth still open with shock.
“Oryn?” I hiss, snapping him out of it.
