Page 65 of One Last Promise
“No!I’m not leaving you.”The beasts were circling us.I couldn’t make out if any of them were younger.They all looked the same size to me.Trying to pick off the less experienced beasts wasn’t going to work.Xavier was up now, using his fire power to try and keep them back.It was seven against three, though.We all knew the odds weren’t in our favour.Loki and Enyo tried to charge for the beasts, but I screamed, telling them to go home.Neither of them moved, but when I yelled louder, they both set off away from the noc beasts.
“Xavier!We need to get Alora on Soleil,now!She’s more important than the both of us!”Noor called out, using the wind to make his fire burn in a circular motion, keeping the monsters at bay for a few moments.Xavier grabbed me, throwing me onto his light leaper.At least they finally agreed on something, but I wasn’t prepared to leave them to this fate.Not when I could fight!Noticing Xavier’s light sword strapped to Soleil, I pulled it free and jumped off his back in one swift motion, forcing what little power I had into the sword.To my surprise, it glowed enough to fend off some of the beasts.Xavier was too preoccupied with the two beasts charging for him to notice that I had taken his sword.I knew he had his light daggers, and could kill the beasts if he got close enough to them.
Noor threw another two of the beasts into the air, making them crash to the ground.It was enough to stun them for a few moments but not to kill them.That still left three beasts, and they were all making a beeline for me.Even with every skill in the world, this wasn’t a fight I could win.Tears stung my eyes at the thought of never seeing Darce again.Would he think I’d abandoned him when I didn’t show up to our next meeting?Perhaps he’d find my lifeless body.As soon as I thought about it, I realized my mistake.I knew these lands left no trace.
Holding my stance, I timed my first strike.Darce had trained me well.I wasn’t going down without a fight.One beast lunged for me, and I spun, hitting it across the face.Using its back as it stumbled, I jumped up to hit another beast square in its strong jaw.Blood spattered across my face.Turning, I saw that the last beast had me in its sight.I wouldn’t be able to move in time to get away from his razor sharp teeth.This was all the fight I was going to be allowed.Taking a breath, I held my sword aloft.My eyes widened at the gust of shadow that removed the beast from my path.Turning almost in slow motion, I sawDarcecharging for one of the beasts.Sliding underneath it, he sliced it in half with his dark sword before using his shadows to stun another.While the beast was disorientated, he plunged his sword into its shoulder, twisting the blade as he pushed it deeper into its flesh.It dropped dead in front of him.
“I leave you alone for a few hours andthisis the trouble you get into?”he called, smirking at me.
“Youshouldn’tbe here!”I hissed once he was standing by my side.Xavier was still busy with two of the beasts, but Noor was gazing right at us, her eyes ablaze with confusion.
“It looked as if you needed a little help.”One of the beasts snapped its jaw at me, and Darce knocked it over with his shadows.
“You were really holding out on me about your powers,” I accused.He shrugged at me.While the beast was on the ground, I lunged, slicing its underbelly.
“Your first noc beast kill.I’m impressed.”Darce grinned, moving to strike the other beast making its way towards us.“They all seem to wantyou,” he remarked.“Watch your back!”He shot power behind me at the same time I felt a gust of wind.The beast was thrown far away.Looking between Noor and Darce, I realised they’d both saved me at the same time.Noor shot her eyes to Darce, frowning as she realised the same thing.
Xavier had already killed one of the beasts he was fighting.I counted three more left.Two of them were stalking towards me, one was shaking its head from the force DarceandNoor had directed at it.
“Alora!”Noor shouted, making Xavier turn in my direction for a few short seconds.His gaze fell on Darce and pure hatred filled his eyes.
“You know the sequence.We can take these both down together,” Darce whispered.“You can do this, Alora.I believe in you.”His star speckled eyes held nothing but truth.Almost in a timeless dance, Darce and I both began the attack.My footwork was faultless as I outmanoeuvred the beast, spinning at the same time as Darce.We skidded underneath them, splitting the monsters in half.I was covered in blood more than Darce, but I flashed a smile at him when I realised I’d done it.He chuckled, giving me a smile of adoration.
“That was a little messy, but asecondkill already.I’ve made a fine warrior out of you,” Darce praised, moving a stray piece of hair from my face.
Xavier had plunged his daggers into the last beast as he watched us.His eyes were half crazed, pure fire burning deep inside them.
“Well, this is awkward,” Darce chuckled, motioning towards Xavier once we’d both stood up.He leaned to whisper into my ear.“What the fuck is yourgeneraldoing here?”Darce knew who Xavier was?
“Get your filthy hands off her!”Xavier roared, throwing fire in Darce’s direction.I didn’t want a show down right now.Darce easily shielded the fire with his shadows.Wait?Was Darcemorepowerful than Xavier?How could that be?“It’syou!You’re the one who has been training her!Don’t think I didn’t notice all those Noxlin sequences!I will kill you for this!”
“I’d like to see you try, Xavier!”Darce’s tone was menacing as he goaded him.
“Does Alora know who you are?”Xavier spat, moving closer to us.Confusion spread across my face.What did he mean?
“I’m aNoxlin.That’s all she needs to know right now.We’ve moved past our differences.It’s a shame the rest of your race can’t do the same.”
“Darce, what is he...”I tried to speak, but Xavier crushed my world with one sentence.
“Alora is the Dylinprincess.”Xavier gave him a triumphant smirk as Darce stilled beside me.“You’ve caused thenextgreat war between our races for this,Noxlin.Zohar will never forgive you.I should thank you, though.I’ve been trying to make my king go to war again for centuries.”
Tears welled in my eyes as Darce turned to face me.“Is this true?”His dark orbs were pure black.I couldn’t read his face; it was emotionless.“All this time.”
“Darce, please let me explain.”
“Alora, come.Yourfatheris expecting you,” Xavier called, but his voice was background noise to me.My eyes were transfixed on Darce’s face as he gazed down at me.
“Theprincess?You’ve known you were immortalallthis time?”he whispered, reaching out to touch my face.“I should have known.”Darce appeared to be talking more to himself than to me.“Alora, I...”Xavier shot another bolt of fire at us.Darce stopped it with his shadow power without so much as a look towards it.How did he do that?“Xavier, you are starting toseriouslyfuck me off!”Darce threatened, but his deadly eyes were still fixed on me.“I need a quiet word with yourprincess.I promise to bring her straight back.”He grabbed me around the waist and pulled me against him.All I saw was Xavier and Noor lunge for me before I became surrounded in a cloud of shadows.
Within seconds, Darce and I were back in The Shielding Valley.
“How the fuck did you dothat?”I shrieked, catching my breath.
“Oh, no!I’m the one who is going to ask the fucking questions,PrincessAlora!”
