Page 67 of Rebel Fae
Slowly, I leaned my head back and caught sight of Vaughn lying off to the side. Ignoring the strange weariness that weighed down my body, I struggled to my hands and knees and crawled to him. I was barely breathing as I stared at his immobile shape and slack expression.
“Vaughn.” My voice cracked as I said his name.
He didn’t stir.
Please, Vaughn.I shook him.
Maybe it hadn’t all been an illusion. Maybe what I’d done had been real. I reached a trembling hand to his neck and felt for a pulse. My entire body went limp with relief when I felt it beating strongly.
“Vaughn, wake up.” I shook him again.
His eyes started roving around behind closed lids as if he were having some sort of dream. Was he caught in one of Crescent’s nightmares the way I’d been?
When he didn’t wake, I started to glance toward the bed where we’d last seen the girls. An image of their broken bodies flashed through my mind.
Not true, not true.
I stood up one inch at a time, wishing that I would never have to glance toward that bed, wishing I could always hold on to the hope that their deaths had all been a product of Crescent’s cruel trick.
Rip off the Band-Aid, that was what humans said.
I glanced toward the spot on the bed all at once. Their little limp figures lay peacefully. Were they alive? My heart nearly stopped as I approached them with wary steps. They looked like beautiful nymphs, lost in the easy slumber of the innocent. Then I saw that their chests were gently rising and falling, and I could have cried for joy.
They were alive.
I turned to the door, the urgency I felt changing, morphing as I puzzled out our situation. Where was Crescent? Had she been here at all? How long had it been since we’d run into this room? I had no idea.
I made my way toward the door and nudged Vaughn with my foot on my way there. He barely stirred, but I could tell he was fighting to wake from whatever mental magic had him in its grip. It was a battle he had to fight on his own. But hopefully, he’d wake up soon because we needed to get the hell out of here!
When I stuck my head out into the hall, I found Crescent lumbering toward the elevator, tapping her cane in front of her. She looked too unstable on her feet. It seemed she’d been through a lot this day and was worse for wear.
But maybe we were just getting started.
I stepped out into the hall. “Where are you going, you coward?”
She halted but didn’t turn in my direction.
I spared a glance into the room once more. Vaughn was grabbing his head and twisting on the floor. I hoped he’d be on his feet soon, which meant I had to clear the way of vermin so we could escape.
Fluttering my wings to test them, I came off the floor a few inches.
Yes, this was real.
“Why can’t you just die?” Crescent asked in a hoarse voice. “That spell should have…” Trailing off, she turned to face me. She wasn’t wearing a blindfold and streaks of blood ran from the corners of her murky eyes down her pale cheeks. It appeared she’d strained her power trying to undo us.
“Vaughn and I are fighters,” I said. “You tried to mess with the wrong people.”
Crescent shifted her hold on the walking cane, grabbed it with both hands, and unscrewed the handle. When she finished, she discarded the bottom part and produced what looked like a narrow dagger.
A weapon? This meant that her last little stunt had exhausted her magic. How convenient for me.
She began backing away, continuing her path toward the elevator. She was deluded if she thought I would let her escape so she could send the guards our way or continue to torture other prisoners.
Clenching my fists, I jumped forward and flew in her direction. She stopped and brandished the dagger, pointing it upward, hoping to slash me as I approached. Her movements were clumsy and untrained. It was clear she had no experience with weapons.
Now, who had the advantage?
I feigned to the right then quickly flew left. Bearing down on her, I grabbed her wrist, and, landing behind her, brought her arm down and around to her back, and twisted the dagger out of her grip. I took hold of the weapon and pushed Crescent away. She staggered and slammed against the wall.
