Page 29 of Children of Anguish and Anarchy

I drop to the floor and brace myself against Nailah’s cage. Out of the black, two axes glow red. They face each other, going head-to-head.

I turn away as glowing axes crash together. The weapons collide again and again. With a wild cry, a heavy body is thrown into the wall of ryders. A clamor erupts from the cages that crash to the floor.

Wounded animals shriek and roar. A few cages spring open, and ryders run free. I pull myself closer to Nailah’s cage to avoid the frenzy.

A long silence follows before heavy steps approach. I grab my machetes, not knowing who I’ll have to fight. My heart thunders as the figure nears.

Then someone picks up a fallen torchlight.

“Tzain?”

I blink. I don’t believe the sight. The brother I saw before is nowhere to be found. A strange haze fills his mahogany eyes. His skin drips with the enemies’ blood. One of the Skull’s weapons glows red in his palm. He raises the weapon to fight.

It’s like he doesn’t know who I am.

“Tzain…” I step up tentatively. I let my machetes fall by my sides.

My brother does the same, and all at once, the life returns to his eyes. He stares at his own hands. I feel the weight of his surprise.

“It’s alright.” I touch his shoulder.

Tzain falls to his knees, and we collapse into each other’s arms.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

AMARI

PANELS FLY AS THEmighty Skull breaks through the doorframe. He charges at me like a ryder on the hunt. Blood drips from his hand. Runes flicker on his glowing axe.

“Amari, run!” Inan demands, but I ignore what he says. I glance back at my brother, homing in on the shackles that bind his wrists.

If I can find a way to draw his swing…

The blade I wanted is right before my eyes. I have to take the chance. I won’t leave Inan to die.

The Skull swings his glowing axe, and I drop to the floor. My skin stings as it hits the ice-cold water. The blade passes over my head, cutting straight through the metal of one of the hanging cages.

The hold rings with the violent clash. The bottom half of the cage falls to the hold’s floor. As water splashes around me, I struggle to rise. The water chills me to the bone. My teeth chatter as I finally manage to throw myself against the wall of the hold.

But the rising waters do nothing to slow the massive Skull. The air reverberates around us as he raises his axe once more.

Skies!

I throw myself to the side just as the Skull swings. He attacks withno regard. Instead of cutting through me, his blade blows through the wooden wall.

Shards whip through the air. More water spills into the hold. The collapsed wall reveals a room full of barrels with thick black liquid. Blast oil leaks into the water as the barrels start to float.

“Amari, go!” Inan points to the open pathway.

“I’m not leaving you behind!”

I fight through the sloshing water, dragging myself to my brother’s cage. Behind me, the Skull closes in. His boots splash through the water at my back. But I need him to get close.

This is the moment to draw his attack.

“Hold out your shackles!” I shout to my brother.

Inan stretches as far as the chains will allow. The Skull’s blade will have to be precise. With the right blow, Inan and I can fight.

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