Page 126 of Rebirth Of Order
He takes the assault, grabbing her leg while sweeping the other, and Kyra’s back meets the floor as he follows through with a bone crushing stomp, which misses his target.
She is on her feet in blink, backing up with a smile. “Okay, I see how it is. Bring it.”
“Hey, Alex, how’d you get to me so fast earlier?” he asks, and my brows furrow. Had he noticed? Was I reckless in coming to his rescue?
“Focus, she’s planning something.”
Rarely am I this sloppy with my movements, yet here we are with my natural order up for discussion. Being part elf is a hindrance in its own right, so once others take notice that I’m a vampire, their facade and motivations entice them to become…reckless, acting on vengeance and self-preservation.
He re-summons his weapon and backs away. Light of a metallic orange hue wisps with a shadow’s cadence, and he flings his trident with great force and without warning, slicing the air towards Kyra’s chest. She dawns a smirk so devious, a sensation much like fear entices my natural order.
She won’t be able to dodge this.
A growl wavers my throat, and I move on instinct. Colors blur as I take my first step–then another. As though I’m holding time within my grasp, I feel it seem to slow, but only for a moment. A vampire’s speed is bound by the laws of Hermes, thus mine lasts but a mere four seconds per burst. This semblance of fear constricts my chest.
I’m not going to make it in time.
Scowling, I throw myself in front of Kyra with an ache of dread building. The one thought repeating is,my life for hers.But his spear sails around my reach, and my eyes expand, watching her final seconds dwindle along with any hope of procuring a future.No–No…
I hold a breath as the room returns to an uproar of weapons andmagic clashing throughout. Stumbling, I skid to a halt, taking in the light of her gaze before realizing there is still a spark within them.
Horus’s spear remains suspended with an orange tether of energy extending back to him. Its three-pronged tip is less than an inch away from her chest, and my fingers twitch with sparks of lightning.
Darkness engulfs my vision, and I can feel the veins beneath my eyes pulse. He had every intention of harming Kyra, and my vampiric nature is itching to react in kind.
“Alex, are you okay? What’s going on?” Her voice is a gentle breeze waving over the pit of embers surrounding my aura. And the flames ignite in an all-consuming rage.
Horus releases a singing chuckle before speaking. “What do you think? Still feel my weapon won’t be good enough?” He yanks on the tethered energy, and his trident returns. My gaze snaps to him with an insatiable thirst, and dark clouds manifest overhead. Kyra is not aware of how close her life was to ceasing, and witnessing the smugness he dons, releases the shackles of my binded beast. “Woah, Alex, you okay there? What has you riled up?”
It’s nearly impossible to hear most of anything over the exaggerated tone of my heart. Despite my natural order.
“Russ, hold on. Give me a second,” Kyra says, stepping around and coming into view. Her voice always finds a way to snare me. “Alex, talk to me. What’s wrong?” But I’m speechless, left wallowing in what could have been and who’s at fault. “Alex, I’m going to grab your hand,” she announces beneath a whisper, but Kyra’s words slices past all others.
Then I feel her, and the sparkles of her dragon scales fade from existence.
Warmth encompasses my palm. I feel a smaller hand with soft skin, then a *thud*. And another, gradually picking up until the drum of my own evens out. “Hey, areweokay?” Placing the other tender hand over the brewing heat of my cheek, she directs my attention.
Peering down, I see our hands overlap right above her heart, andnot once does she avert her gaze as distress swirls around my reflection.
Without realizing, I notice the room has grown silent, and I attempt to turn, but the gentle hand cusping my jaw forbids it. “Don’t worry about them; look at me. I need you to tell meweare okay?”
“We?”
“Yes.Weground each other, and I’ll stay here as long as it takes for you to assure me everything’s fine.”
In the many years spent around others, not once has someone come close to understanding me. Yet she chips away every wall and obstacle set in place for this purpose. How?
“I’m…” Kyra raises a brow. “We–are okay. I just need a word with Horus.” My magic dissipates, and across the room, I hear Angie yell for everyone to mind their business and not stroke the bear. Whatever that means. Kyra rolls her eyes in response.
“Thank you.” She smiles, and my aura reciprocates as if it’s her target audience.Calm yourself.“Russ, can you come here please.”
He trots over, all smiles with flashing dimples. Either Kyra doesn’t believe I’m fine, or she lost track of my palm still against her chest. Raising an internal conflict, I wonder if I should remove it myself. So why haven’t I?
“Is everything okay? Can we get back to sparring, or are you forfeiting?” He notices our tangled position and glances between us.
“Your attack, did you have any ill intentions of hurting Kyra?”
“What–”
