So, people, I know that a lot of you want to kill me for leaving yet another cliffhanger, so I decided to be kind and update the next chapter. This chapter might answer some stuff, like the cliffhanger, but... well, just read the chapter to find out what happens next! :P As usual, I'm dedicating chapters to my loyal readers, so please comment as usual to inform me of who you are. :) Thanks! And here's a picture of Tamarak and Sapphire on the side. :)
Chapter 24
Then suddenly, the water that was pouring into his lungs reversed direction. Troy snapped his mouth shut and the force of the water rescinded.
He rolled over, realizing that he had hit the floor violently when the water tornado had stopped tossing him around. Troy gasped, retching and coughing. Water dripped off his clothes.
Glancing up with bloodshot eyes, he realized why the water had stopped. Dahlia and Sapphire were fighting with Alyssa and a man that looked very similar to her; they had the same auburn hair.
What had used to be the water tornado had become a tidal wave which now surged between the four Magicians of Water.
Troy lurched to his feet, trying to get up to help, but he collapsed immediately. His legs were too weak to support him.
Glancing around, Troy took in the situation. Cedric, Hunter and Tamarak were out cold along with all the mortals who had been in the pub.
Fortunately, Kayla and Luna were still conscious. As he met Luna’s eyes, she placed both fingers in her mouth and indicated to him. Then she drew her staff, turning away.
Troy blinked, still dazed and confused. What had she meant? Suddenly, it dawned on him.
Idiot! His mind shouted. Call Venus!
Troy tried to blow out his whistle, but he hadn’t managed to get back his breath properly. He coughed again, trying to stop the pain that was in his lungs.
At the same time, both fortunately and unfortunately, Alyssa let out a shout of triumph and Sapphire collapsed.
It was fortunate because neither enemy magician had realized that Troy was still conscious, but it was unfortunate because Dahlia had to fight two Magicians of Water.
Troy hastily tried again to whistle. This time it worked, but it was softer than Troy had hoped that it might be. He inhaled shakily as Alyssa’s eyes fixed on his face.
“Well done, my dear,” the auburn-haired man said to Alyssa.
“Thank you, Papa,” she said, smiling.
“He’s your father?” Dahlia asked, before she could stop herself.
Alyssa laughed. “Of course, Dahlia McLean,” she said, pointedly.
“His name is Alistair,” Luna murmured. “He’s a scout for Varmer. Alyssa and Alyce have another brother, Amos, who vanished.”
Alyssa’s smiled changed into a snarl and she glared at Luna. In return, Luna stared obstinately back with a sweet smile on her face.
“Peace, my dear,” Alistair said, patting Alyssa’s shoulder. “If she wants to talk, let her. Then time, our greatest friend, will take care of these other magicians.”
Alistair gestured to Dahlia, Troy, Luna and Kayla who were still conscious and then to the four on the floor: Sapphire, Tamarak, Cedric and Hunter.
Luna scowled at Alistair. Troy forced himself to his feet and stumbled, as quietly as he could, behind the enemy magicians. He drew his sword silently.
“Don’t bother,” Alistair said smoothly.
“Huh?” Dahlia asked.
Alistair’s arm snaked through Dahlia’s legs and tripped up Troy before he could take another step. Dahlia whipped out her dagger as fast as she could.
“Is that your power?” Dahlia asked, quickly.
Alistair nodded. “I have the power of the enhanced ability of touch. Alyssa, on the other hand, has the enhanced ability of sight and smell.”
Dahlia blinked. “So your entire family have enhanced senses?”
Alistair nodded and smiled. “Precisely, my dear.”
“Quit talking,” Alyssa snapped. “Let’s get on with this fight. Stop being annoying!”
Dahlia carefully spoke, using her charm. “Oh, we’ve started the fight. And I’m finishing it. Why don’t you just walk away?”
Alyssa took a deep breath, her breath shaky. She exhaled slowly, trying to fight against Dahlia’s magic. She lifted her dagger slowly.
“Stop doing this-” Alyssa struggled to speak.
She was cut off as Venus smashed through what remained of the wall. Both she and her father yelled in shock as Venus dove for them.
“Hit the dirt!” yelled Alistair.
Both of them dropped straight to the ground, just in time. Venus soared over their heads and snatched up Cedric and Hunter, depositing them on her back.
“MOVE!” Troy yelled.
Dahlia ducked around Alyssa who had lunged at her with her dagger outstretched and reached for Sapphire’s arm.
Venus grabbed Sapphire, Tamarak and Kayla too, leaving Dahlia, Troy and Luna to fight with Alyssa and Alistair who were very angry that they were about to escape.
“Shuyrgha fhukiel!” Alyssa shouted. (Water rise).
A wave of water flung itself at them but Dahlia lifted her staff too.
“Shuyrgha karfh!” Dahlia retorted. (Water freeze).
The wave of water froze in midair before clunking down with a loud thump.
Luna let a volley of arrows fly, distracting both magicians. With one good jump, she managed to land on Venus’s back.
“Come on!” she yelled, twisting around to look at them.
Troy parried a blow from Alistair with his sword and knocked the dagger from his hands. Alistair retaliated with his water magic, sending Troy spinning to the floor.
“Just go!” he yelled.
“We’re not leaving you guys!” shouted Kayla, swaying as she struggled to keep her dinner and alcohol inside her stomach.
“We’ll catch up!” Dahlia snapped, jumping over Alyssa who now had a dagger wound in her arm.
Absolutely disgusted with himself, Troy grabbed Dahlia’s arm and they ran towards Venus. They sprinted after Venus who had already taken off.
“Grab on!” yelled Luna, shooting a silver wire towards them.
The wire was connected to one of Luna’s arrows. Troy wrapped his arms around it, about to go when a dagger cut through the wire.
SNAP!
Dahlia launched herself at Alistair, both of them rolling on the ground, clawing at one another. She seized his arm when he stabbed at her with his dagger and spun him around, kicking him in the back. Troy grabbed his legs and twisted, dropping him on the ground.
“Get a move on!” Luna called.
Troy seized Venus’s tail and began to climb. Dahlia followed. Arm muscles aching, they finally reached the top.
Venus began to fly over Paradise.
“Maybe it wasn’t such a good idea to stop,” Luna muttered.
“Sure, genius,” Troy snapped, sarcastically.
Both Dahlia and Luna looked at Troy in surprise. Troy hardly ever snapped. But he was so exhausted and frustrated that he didn’t care what they thought.
“Where should we go?” Dahlia asked finally.
Luna pointed to a wood nearby Paradise, Ohio. “There. Let’s just get some rest. We’re all exhausted and the others are getting motion sickness. Either that or they had an overdose on alcohol.”
Troy nodded stiffly. “Okay.”
Suddenly Dahlia laughed.
“What?” Luna asked.
“I was just thinking,” Dahlia began. “That out of the eight of us, we’re all magicians, seven of us are escaped convicts, five of us are drunk and the rest of us have no idea where we’re going.”
Even Troy had to laugh.