Page 17 of Of Realms and Chaos

Not enough. Never enough.

Once more, I was on the move, running through the crowd of panicked fae. A great shake of the cobblestones at my feet had me struggling to remain upright. The ground was splitting beneath us, dirt and grass and stone ripping up and flying in all directions. A chunk landed in my eye before I could duck my head, forcing me to quickly rub at it until I could see again, the burn nothing compared to the inferno of my fury.

Still, that small moment of hesitation was nearly enough to have my stomach sliced open by a female with claws as long as my forearm. I dodged her at the last second, her talons ripping open my thigh instead. She fell to my power before she could send another strike my way.

The bloody fountain water was lifting, racing towards Winona as she fought off a particularly large Shifter who had taken on the body of a wolf. I stopped, wanting to help her—to warn her. Anything.

Just as I opened my mouth to scream, a great beast with leathery gray skin and a horn atop its snout charged into me. The impact sent me flying through the air, landing with a horrible crack on a patch of dirt. I had no time to appreciate the flowers around me, no time to consider that this likely had been beautiful hours ago—the culmination of someone’s sweat and tears and hard work. All I could think was that the pain in my hand was nauseating, that the screaming fae needed my help. That this was all my fault.

I forced myself up into a sitting position, noting that two of my fingers sat at odd angles and were bleeding profusely. I had no idea how to help myself. That was the problem with living in a palace with a Royal Healer, I never needed to know how to provide a quick fix for an injury.

With my dagger in one hand and my power poised to compensate for the mangled digits on the other, I stood once more. The Shifter who had attacked me stared my way, prepared to pounce. I smiled, a wicked raise of my lips that bared my teeth.

“Hello, you hideous little creature. Tell me, do you think you can snap my neck before I turn your brain to mush?” I taunted over the screams. The Shifter let out a vicious snarl, snapping their head up as if demonstrating how it would spear me. “Well then, tiny, may the best fae win.”

Not a second passed before the Shifter charged, tilting their chin down and running headfirst my way. I dove into their mind, opting to stay still and watch the dread light up their face as I forced them to stop mere inches from me. When we were nose to snout, I smirked, looking into those hazel eyes and speaking into its mind.

Kill the Golden Guard, beasty.

And then it was off, diving through the crowd and barreling into golden armor. My voice had been that of The Manipulator, and she was to be obeyed.

With the battle still raging on, I ducked down near one of the white houses, closing my eyes and trying to focus on the minds around me. It was no use though. I could avoid taking down Bellamy and his Trusted, but I did not know the minds of the fae from Haven. Without time to dig into their thoughts and memories, I would not be able to decipher friend from foe.

Which meant one at a time.

Pushing to my feet, the fingers on my right hand still dripping red, I watched as Bellamy swirled his hands, the wind around him picking up. My braid whipped across my face, leaving me temporarily without sight. I shoved it back just in time to see Bellamy form a vortex of wind around himself. He stood there, the eye of a storm ready to tear apart all who came in his path.

“Lian!” he shouted, catching the attention of the Air not far from him. She paused to look back, her sword still inside of a guard’s neck. “Catch.”

He twisted his hand higher, then flicked it forward, as if swatting away a pesky bug. Lian ripped her sword free of the female’s neck and threw up her hands, catching the tornado like a youngling catching a ball. She held it airborne for a moment before sweeping her arms to her left and releasing her grip. The wind went careening towards the golden ships in the bay, shattering a quarter of them upon impact.

Bellamy maintained his momentum, stomping his foot to the ground and fragmenting it in a perfect sphere around him. Two guards lost their balance and fell into the large cracks, piercing screams echoing behind them. The Elemental laughed as they dropped, reaching his arms out to lift water from the sea.

His hands rose, both water and earth moving to the sky. When the winds came back ten-fold, Bellamy brought the three together with a loud smack of his hands. As the whirlwind of elements formed, the prince snapped and fire caught. With what must have been an immense amount of energy, he threw his arms forward, the storm of all four elements ripping apart the remaining boats.

I gasped at the sight of his power, the extent to which he could destroy. Then I smiled in glee, turning on the stunned Golden Guards. Six of them were in my sight, all frozen in fear after Bellamy’s display.

My turn.

I slashed through their minds like steel on skin, grabbing hold with bloody claws. They all cried out in agony, clutching their skulls as if they could dig me out like a weed. Unfortunately for them, I was far more stubborn. With a little focus, I could sense their abilities. Two Multiples, a Fire, and an Earth. Useful.

Their bodies shook as I scraped my way down their minds, and I pictured snipping their free will like dead hair. Watching the emotions leave their faces brought a level of satisfaction that had me smiling as I ordered them to take down their own.

Before they had even left my side, I was once more jumping into the battle. Winona was alight, her Sun magic nearly singeing the end of my braid as she spun and beheaded a guard. Beside her, Ranbir had his hands splayed out, palms facing the ground. I paused just long enough to watch as he leached the color from the grass below him in thin lines, making his way to unsuspecting guards. Slowly, bodies began to collapse, life drained from them.

Dagger in my good hand, I began the dance once more—my balance off, but my adrenaline making up for it. From the water, Calista led sirens to land, the fierce screams coming from the entirely nude creatures sending a handful of Golden Guards running. I continued on, not able to see Noe, Henry, or Cyprus in the fray.

After three more bodies fell from my hand and power, I felt a familiar mind wink into existence nearby.

My head whipped to the right, where I caught sight of her tangerine hair. In that moment, time seemed to freeze. The breath caught in my throat, heart racing to an unsteady beat. There was no sound, no fighting, just gray eyes staring into blue ones.

Mia was here. She was here, and she was looking right at me.

I had not seen her since she looked on in terror as Bellamy snatched me from my own wedding. Since she held her hands to a wounded Sterling, saving the mortal prince who had violently assaulted me. Since I found out she had been slowly poisoning me, using me just like everyone else. Since I learned that she was killing her own subjects.

She wore a flowing golden gown, the nearly sheer fabric so light that it blew in the breeze. Her orange hair was loose, the length now to her collar bones. Everything about her was so different than it always had been, as if this fae in front of me was not the same one that had raised me. Yet it was not her who had changed, but me instead. My perception of her and all that she was. My mindset and beliefs. My heart.

Pink lips tilted into a smile. Did she think she won? Was she enjoying the sight of me so enraged? She had never cared for my temper, but now it gave her an advantage.

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