Page 85 of A Game of Monsters

Such wonderful details now in the hands of someone with the power to ruin them.

Cassial killed Elinor like she was nothing; what was to say Althea’s end would not be the same?

As I stepped out into the bright glare of light, I lifted a hand to my brow. In the shadow my hand made, I made out the remaining winged warriors. Some stood on deck, others flew in the sky as our ship continued its path through the unsettled sea.

All it took was one of them noticing me, covered in the blood of their allies, and they all sprang to action. They called out something, rallying each other for a battle they believed would be easy to win. But what they didn’t account for was my lack of care. I had none of it. There was nothing left inside of me.

I stood still, giving myself to the remaining dregs of my power, trusting it would protect me by instinct.

The first two Nephilim nosedived down, golden blades drawn, reflecting light across my face in attempts to blind me. I closed my eyes, the spray of waves cresting over the ship’s rail and soaking me from my side. As the next wave came, I grasped the salt-spray, froze the water to bullets and cast them skyward.

With my eyes closed, I didn’t see the damage I unleashed as frozen magic sprayed outwards in an arch. But Iheardit. Wings tore beneath pelting ice, flesh ripping apart. Then there was the tell-tale thump of two bodies landing on either side of me, cracking wood beneath the force.

I opened my eyes in time to watch the edge of a sword swing toward my neck. I welcomed it, wondering if the blade would hurt as much as the crushing weight of stone. Did Elinor feel pain when she died, or was it instant? Would Althea’s demise be swift, or prolonged to cause those who loved her equal amounts of agony?

No matter the answer, I would make these Nephilim feel her suffering tenfold. My misery alone would kill them.

Sidestepping the blade, I swept my hand, fingers dragging through the thickening air. Spikes of ice and blood rose upwards, piercing through the Nephilim’s side. In through their stomach, then up at an angle, the sharp points revealed themselves through the soft flesh of the Nephilim’s neck.

I lost count of the number of Nephilim I killed. But I knew it wasn’t enough. Just as I quickly gave up the final dregs of energy, my magic was spent. As the final three Nephilim charged toward me, I couldn’t so much as conjure a blast of ice-cold winds.

I bent down, collected the golden blade from the pierced and slumped corpse of the Nephilim. Wielding it high, I faced the onslaught and smiled with blood coating my teeth.

“Come on,” I screamed, like some feral beast, spittle flying past numb lips. “Come get me!”

If this was my end, I would go knowing my loved ones would meet me in the afterlife. But before that, I had a few more people to take with me.

My lessons with Erix came back, my muscle memory overtaking my numb body. I countered the first swing of a blade, knocking it back then sweeping mine outwards. It nicked across armour, the song of metal against metal screeching. I ducked, feet slipping over frozen blood, just in time to miss another jab. That was the thing about the Nephilim: their imposing bodies and proud wings made fighting side by side impossible. They could only attack one at a time, but they did so with honed training.

Heavy, continuous sweeps of their blades kept me on my knees. They were playing with me. Keeping me down, weakening my arms. I had to hold the blade with both hands, the muscles in my shoulders screaming against their force.

A desperate cry ripped out of my throat, all the while I refused to look away. On and on they attacked, smashing the full force of their strength down atop my blade. Each hit reverberated up my arm, making my bones ache. But those attacks suddenly stopped as another sound responded to my cry.

A roar. Deep from the gut of the ship, so powerful it shook the very foundations of the wooden frame.

My mind pieced together exactly what that sound promised, and it was my turn to grin up at the Nephilim, sensing the tides of victory shifting.

Gyah Eldrae was coming.

I knew that was who Seraphine had freed first. Just as she used my reaction to Elinor’s death as a weapon, she must’ve told Gyah about Althea. Whatever the answer, it would not be Gyah who helped finish our enemies.

It would be the monster beneath her skin.

Before the three Nephilim could react, the floor beneath them splintered, and the body of a black-scaled, winged beast thrust skywards. In the jaws of an Eldrae, a Nephilim was dragged upwards. I heard the crunch of bone, the tearing of flesh and snapping of wings. Blood rained from a clear sky as Gyah flew up and up, her serpentine body twisting, talons racking the bodies apart as she devoured the remaining Nephilim one by one.

They attempted to fly away, but no matter how they tried, Gyah was faster.

Intestines fell down, smattering the deck of the ship like sun-bleached ropes. Feathers fell slowly, like snow, covering the death and destruction.

My neck ached as I sat slumped on the deck, looking up as Gyah moved with vicious but organised momentum.

It seemed to last an age before Gyah landed back on the deck of the ship. Her tail flicked back and forth, her gargantuan neck moving side to side, searching for more revenge. Her roars of ferocity became a whimpering sound from within her blood-stained maw. Then she settled two golden eyes on me, bowed her snout and released a world-shattering roar before my face.

As her foul breath washed over me, I dared not move. I faced the Eldrae, recognising her agony as it echoed within me. My adrenaline left me like the racing tide. Gyah’s Eldrae form melted away, black smoke catching in the winds, leaving behind a slumped figure. She was on all fours, back heaving as she panted. Braids whipped in the winds. I almost didn’t hear what she was repeating, until I crawled to her and gathered her in my arms.

“Althea. My Althea.” She cocked her head back. “My wife!”

If I wasn’t broken by the revelation before, I was utterly shattered now. In pieces. Gyah slumped into my arms, each of our bodies holding the other up. I didn’t dare cry as I consoled her. My grief would wait. In this moment, I needed to be her crutch.

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