Brie's lungs felt like they were on fire as she struggled to breathe. She didn't expect that dying would feel like this. Shouldn't she feel nothing? Instead, every part of her body ached as sweat beaded her skin, her lungs aching for much needed air.
Great, she died and went to hell, and now was imprisoned under a giant rock. No, not a rock. It was too soft. Slowly she peeked an eye open, gasping at the protective shield radiating from Marcus as he lay unconscious, taking the blunt force of the blast that escaped his shield. Flames were everywhere. The whole foundation was slowly caving in. She wouldn't be able to sit up. The rubble only gave her a couple of inches to shift her body as she struggled to get Marcus to wake up.
"Come on you idiot, we need to get out of here!" She cried as it became harder to breathe.
Smoke was filling her lungs as she clutched her ribs in pain from the coughs racking her body. Marcus grumbled incoherently on top of her. She glanced down at his arms, noticing all the cuts appearing in his flesh. Her fingers traced the cuts, realizing the meaning immediately. She yanked his hood back, his black locks spilling out around his face as she pushed a strand of hair back, seeing her suspicions concerned by the ears he kept hidden.
"You are a fucking elf," she gasped shaking the boy harder.
Her vision was growing spottier. She had only one option left, and she hoped this would work, because her mind was beginning to grow blank. Her thumb paused a few inches above his wrist, in the dips in between his veins right onto the top of a fresh cut.
"Sorry, to whoever you're linked with," she muttered as she squeezed as hard as she could, her eyes rolling int the back of her head unconscious as Marcus's own flew open, a persistent angry nagging voice in his mind ordering him to awaken. Every nerve in his body was on fire.
He glanced down at the unconscious girl realizing his own magic had just attacked her in defense. Oops, sorry about that, but whatever she did really hurt both of them. The sound of falling debris, flames licking out all around wasn't the best thing to wake up too. His body still was emitting a shield, but he wouldn't be able to hold it much longer. He needed to get out of here.
He paused, glancing down at the enemy he was laying on top of conflicting thoughts racing through his mind. It would be easier to leave her behind and escape this building which threatened to bury them. However, he knew he didn't have the heart to leave someone defenseless behind. It would be riskier and her weight would slow him down, but he couldn't leave her to die like this. Screw it, he was taking the girl with him. They could use her for questioning later.
"Chwythe!" Marcus screamed.
With a loud bang, the rocks trapping him and Brie blew apart, giving Marcus room to stand and survey the scene around him. Immediately, his eyes flung towards the direction of the gate, disappointment filling his heart as he saw their one quick escape was inaccessible. The gate was completely buried, the only way out was up.
Scooping Brie up in his arms, Marcus began the long and slow ascent tumbling towards the surface. What remained of bodies were everywhere. It took all he could to keep from doubling over, the smell of burning flesh and the metallic scent of blood making his stomach twist in disgust. So much death surrounded him, so many wizards lost as practically the whole Egyptian Council was wiped out. Marcus extended his mind, searching for survivors in the rubble. He sighed realizing all who remained were dead, there was no saving them. Brie and he were the only conscious ones who remained inside.
Marcus could feel her presence inside him watching everything through his eyes. He felt her pain and the tears she shed realizing that even with her help, they couldn't bring this many people back from death. They would have to leave them and focus on saving Brie and he. Marcus let her guide him through the rubble, welcoming her with open arms into his mind as she leant her own strength to power his magic.
Marcus froze, sensing another blast coming. He barely had time to generate another shield as the blast engulfed them. Brie stirred, her eyes widening in shock as she saw the flames licking out around his shield threatening to shatter the protective bubble he encased them both in. Marcus held a determined gaze as he pushed through the flames towards the sight of daylight as the blast collided with the rubble behind them sending bits and pieces of debris bouncing off the shield.
They were close, so close to the daylight. Marcus felt the strength quickly waning, even with her help. It was only a couple of more feet and they would be safe. Brie lended her own strength to help Marcus push through the last grouping of rubble, sighing in relief at the sight of the sun.
The voices of loss filled the atmosphere as people mourned for their loved ones. The screams of the injured, and the wail of sirens in the distance made both Marcus and Brie wince in pain. A group of familiar eyes landed on the two young teens as they took in their surroundings.
Marcus frowned seeing Leila collapsed, her whole body trembling in tears as she cried into Samir's chest, squeezing his shirt in her hands as she pounded on them repeatedly, Dalia nudged Nathan, pointing to the rubble, her mouth in an O shape as her eyes landed on Marcus and Brie.
"Thank you for saving me," Brie mumbled as she weakly smiled up towards Marcus.
Her whole body became racked with coughs, blood splattering into her hands. Marcus frowned, realizing she had pierced a lung in the explosion. He attempted to heal her only to fall on his knees as the realization of his own pain took hold. Every inch of his skin was scorched raw from the flames, the sand blowing in the air licked his blistered skin adding to the discomfort. He regretted not having the strength to heal her, but sleep threatened to consume his own mind.
Leila had finally realized what was going on, her blue eyes filled with relief as she used Samir to stand, turning to face her boyfriend. Her relief quickly turned to sadness at the sight of the charred man before her barely able to stand as he fell forward letting the purple hair girl roll from his arms in an unconscious heap.
"MARCUS!" Leila screamed pushing past the surviving council wizards who threatened to hold her back.
She fell to her knees right in front of his collapsing body, his face falling into her chest as she squeezed him into a hug, her fingers running through his singed hair happy to have him in her arms again.
"I knew I couldn't' lose you! I knew it!" She rambled as she rocked him back and forth in her arms.
Nathan caught up, bending down to begin healing Marcus while Dalia and Samir stood behind Leila watching the reunion with interest. Marcus weakly reached up his hand, pushing Nathan away.
"You're injured," Nathan protested.
"I'll be fine, heal her, please," he ordered.
Nathan glanced over at Brie in disgust. He couldn't heal the enemy. She was there when Jasmine died and she did nothing to stop Leona's attack though she fought beside her. She didn't deserve his magic. Plus, by the looks of it, Marcus was the worse off of the two taking the blunt of the blast.
"Marcus, she's the enemy," Leila voiced her opinion.
"I don't care. She is as much a victim here as we are," he snapped.
His grey eyes glared up into Leila's blue ones with fierce determination. He had made up his mind to save her and there was no changing his mind. Leila sighed, nodding towards Nathan who walked over to Brie, grumbling under his breathe as he leant down next to her. Nathan gripped Brie's hands into his own as he muttered the incantations of healing.
"I thought I had lost you!" Leila sobbed as her focus returned to Marcus.
"I did too," Marcus sighed as he rested his head against Leila's chest, panting heavily, his whole skin on fire.
Samir walked over, placing his hand on Leila's shoulder. She turned, glancing up towards him in confusion. She was surprised Dalia and he had stuck around this long. They were enemies, if Samir stayed much longer, Dalia and he would lose their place in the Egyptian Council.
"I can help heal him, it won't be as strong, but it will be enough to allow for transport," Samir sighed.
"Transport?" Leila questioned.
"We need to get him back to the infirmary at the base. I need Ryder," Nathan snapped.
"Ryder?" Leila questioned.
"Leila, Ryder is stronger in healing magic than myself. He isn't as strong as Marcus, but he is strong enough to save his life," Nathan explained.
"Leila, we will travel with you. I can help keep Marcus stable as we go through those portals of yours," Samir smiled.
"Samir," Dalia warned.
"You can stay, Dalia or join us. I will not fight on the side that will willingly harm their own people to push forward fear," Samir snapped as he whirled around to glare at the girl.
Dalia gulped, twisting her fingers as she studied the scene around her. She knew by going with Samir, her best friend, she would be leaving her own family behind. Her father was head of the Egyptian Council. He would be furious and disappointed she chose the Resistance. However, Samir had been her best friend since they were three years old. He was a second brother to her, being raised by her own family after his were killed during a skirmish in the fairy realm by some demons. She wasn't going to let him leave her.
"I'm coming too," Dalia stated, forcing her voice to sound confident despite the inner fear she felt.
"Fine, let's get going so I can save my boyfriend," Leila snapped as she used her magic to open a portal.
The other wizards glanced over in shock, realizing they were disappearing into thin air. In all the chaos, they had forgotten that leaders of the Resistance were still present, and they had just taken two prominent wizard's children with them. Dalia took one last longing look back, her eyes landing on her father's who nodded his head in accepatance as she left. Her attention turned to her new surroundings, realizing that they were not alone.
~~~~~
Poor Marcus is in pretty bad shape. Was saving Brie such a wise idea? Stay tuned as we return back to the Resistance and see how everyone else is reacting to not only Derek's actions, but the destruction of the Egyptian Council.
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The song above is Burn it Down by Skillet.