Page 72 of Runes To Rain
Rage pours through me, and without pause, using their distraction against them, I slam the point of the sword through the spine, between the wings of light, of the angel closer to me. As he falls, I pull the sword free with a twisting motion.
Dio looks at me, one eye wide, one swollen shut with blood running over it. I tear my eyes from him and look toward the other angel. The element of surprise is gone as he, realizing I’m a threat, takes a step back. Still facing me as he pulls a sword from the sheath at his hip.
Dio makes a desperate sound and attempts to move between us, but my instincts tell me he’ll be unable to rise. I see the instincts are correct as he stumbles slightly and remains where he is. I feel relief that I won’t have to restrain or disable him, even as fear regarding the severity of his injuries tears at me.
Dragging my attention back to the fight at hand, I stalk toward the other angel who, momentarily caught off guard, is stepping back to give himself space.
I am happy to put him on the defensive.
I take two running steps and launch myself forward at him. He slams his sword up roughly, but he clearly didn’t expect it. He barely deflects my blade in time, and I feel his arms shake as he counteracts my strike. I land neatly, counterbalanced against his defensive movement, and immediately twist the swords up. Pressing my momentary advantage, I manage to draw blood with the tip of my sword.
As though the pain cuts through whatever was holding him back, he finally comes at me. I neatly meet his blows with mysword and allow him to press me back a few steps. My feet moving in the familiar pattern, my blood singing with the familiar feeling of this dance.
He presses, I press, we both defend, but in the end, I’m better. As I pull my sword from his gut and he slumps to the ground, I see open surprise on his beautiful face before it goes blank at the end.
Even as he drops to the ground, the intelligence in me is running through options. Settling quickly on an answer, I step back, away from the body, and say Malam’s name quietly. He arrives in the familiar cloud of shadow and whispering sound, and for a moment, I see him prepare to save me.
Then he looks around the alley behind me. When he focuses back on me, his eyes are wide, and his normally olive complexion is paler than normal.
Before he can do or say anything, I say, “I think maybe it's best their bodies aren’t found here so close to the mansion. Can you help with that?”
He doesn’t say anything for a breath, and then he wordlessly gestures to where I know Dio is sitting.
“He’ll be fine, I will take care of him,” I say. As I wait for his response, I register belatedly that I am ready to defend Dio from Malam should I need to.
Malam finally shakes himself out of whatever muteness had hold of him and says, “I will take care of this, get him inside.”
“Thank you, Malam,” I say quietly, meaning it deeply.
Dio watches me as I approach, only one eye able to open. As I get closer, he coughs weakly, clutching his abdomen, and then turns and spits blood onto the ground beside him.
“Can you walk if I help?” I ask.
He nods, and I reach out to him. He hesitates a moment, looking at my hand. I see him looking at my fingers, which are still taped. I’ll be damned if I’ll set the sword down, though, until we get someplace safe.
“Come on, Dio,” I say.
“I don’t want to hurt you,” he slurs past a swollen lip.
“And I want to get you medical attention,” I manage to say past the tightness in my throat.
As though that snaps him out of it, he takes my hand carefully and leans heavily on me as I help him up.
He groans and winces, but with his arm over my shoulders and me taking as much of his weight as I can, we manage. Leaving the alley, we make it slowly up the steps and through the door of the mansion. As we arrive in the entry hall, I call for help.
After I shout, he mutters into the resounding silence that he’s really fine.
I scoff and must make a sound because I hear him growl something about not needing help. I ignore him.
Reem comes striding into the room, clearly concerned. When he sees Dio injuries, Reem’s face goes white. Then he sees the sword in my hand and the blood on my clothing, and he freezes.
“Dio’s been hurt, where’s Fem?” I ask quickly.
That seems to snap him out of it, and without saying anything else, he leaves, presumably to find Fem.
I support Dio into the office and get him sitting, slumped over on the couch despite his weak, mumbled protests. As we wait, I check my sword again, ensuring that no angel blood remains on the blade. I can’t help but glance at Dio. His injuries are significant, and I want nothing other than to help him. Despite that, I’m not trained in first aid. I also know that I won’t be able to control the emotions I’ve been hiding from him, and I’m not ready to share them.
Then Fem strides through the doorway, his face white.
