Page 124 of A Lesson in Obedience
Oliver sat on the couch with a drink in his hand, watching.
The moon’s light beamed inside the room and illuminated the chancellor as if he was absorbing it into himself. I didn’t know how this all worked, but the way his shoulders were high and his fingers were curled, it didn’t look like the ends justified the means.
I needed to focus on one thing. I zeroed in on the back of his head and felt my power rise to the top. I pulled his head back with all the strength I had and slammed it against the window. Oliverjumped up, surprise taking over his face as he looked around. There was a splatter of blood on the window, but Chancellor Fowler whirled around and used his magic to rip the door off its hinges.
I stumbled inside, the twins behind me.
“You.” Oliver snarled at me.
“What is the meaning of this?!” Chancellor Fowler pressed a hand to his head, more blood coming from the wound.
He started to walk towards me, but I swatted my hand forward, sending him flying backwards and hitting the mantle at the fireplace. The back of his head connected with the brick and the sound it made had my shoulders tensing up. Corrin grabbed the dagger from Ike’s hands and rushed over to Chancellor Fowler.
“You will not take this away from me, you little bitch.” Oliver started to run over to me, but I stopped him, creating a blow to his knees which sent him toppling over. Ike took the metal from the doorknob and manipulated it into throwing knives. He held his ground as I kept Oliver distracted. I peeked over his shoulder and Chancellor Fowler was still out, his head slumped over. Corrin hovered over him, prepared for if he spontaneously did anything.
River’s dad lifted his head up, but his eyes were on Ike. Ike’s eyes widened and his body turned so that instead of facing Oliver, he was looking at me.
“Riley, I don’t know what’s happening.” He sounded scared and he lifted his arm, his new weapons aimed at me.
“Ike, you don’t want to do that.” I looked over at Oliver who had a sinister smile on his face. “Stop it right now!”
“You won’t let me have what I want, Erik Fowler doesn’t get what he wants!” Oliver shouted, right as Corrin tucked the dagger under her arm and tackled her brother. Ike released the knives seconds before he hit the ground.
I turned my head the minute I willed them to move away from me and towards Oliver, feeling the sting of a small cut on my cheek. Oliver had dived out of the way and Chancellor Fowler was startingto stir. I did my best to create a quick fire in my hand and threw it out the broken window, hoping that would alert the others.
“Riley, people are coming,” Corrin warned, but her face left my vision when I was grabbed and thrown down to the ground.
The girl I’d recognized from before, the one who basically dehydrated Grayson, barged into the room but before she could make any moves, Corrin turned around and kicked her in the stomach, sending her flying into the door at the other end of the room. The girl shook her head and pushed away from the door, staring right at Corrin, who started to wobble on her feet and cough. She was doing the same thing to her as she did with Grayson.
“Cor!” Ike gripped the metal dagger he’d made and slashed at the girl. He struck her shoulder and she hissed. He started to bring the edge of the dagger over to her neck, then he started coughing as well, but he kept trying to strike her even if the blows weren’t as harsh or lethal.
I tried to get up but Oliver climbed on top of me, putting his hands around my throat. He brought my head up and then slammed it back onto the ground. I let my fire out, burning his forearms and anywhere else I could reach but he didn’t seem to care.
He squeezed his hands tighter and I couldn’t get my mind to give me the strength to push him off me. Multiple loud howls sounded throughout the room and I knew my fire had hit.
Black spots were encapsulating my vision as I thrashed and burned Oliver’s flesh. Oxygen hadn’t completely left my head so that I could do one thing. I found the mind I needed and gave him the go ahead.
The house shook and the sound of wood breaking and menacing growls was closer than I thought.
“That is my daughter, you insufferable shit.” Chancellor Fowler had blood pouring down the front of his head and he stepped up behind Oliver. All at once, Oliver released my neck when he bent backwards at an unhealthy angle. I heard a crack and then some more, and those cracks were sharp and quick.
I coughed violently, watching as Oliver slumped over and a shadow was in my vision. A shadow that swirled in place, eventually dissipating and revealing Asher and Grayson. Grayson saw me, but then looked over at Corrin and Ike, swiftly moving over to the girl harming them.
“This is for the last time.” Grayson moved his shadows over her body and covered her eyes. He pulled her away from them and flung her out the open door. The sound of her body thumping down the stairs echoing. He started to send shadows all around this room, likely planning to cover it in darkness and get me out.
He was knocked off his feet by an invisible force and catapulted into Asher, who reached out to steady them both before they fell over. Chancellor Fowler let out a harsh, annoyed groan as he focused his gaze on them.
Asher ran over to me, ignoring his father’s body. Chancellor Fowler ignited the ground around us and Asher backed up, trying to look through the flames. I heard the crash of Mateo and Jade barging in and nearly taking an entire wall with them. The screams they’d left in their wake had ceased. Even through the massive flames, I could see my familiar, my Beau, between both Mateo and Jade. His teeth were bared, but he looked so tired.
Chancellor Fowler yanked me up by my neck and I let my legs dangle, trying to wiggle free.
“Where is she?!” Grayson yelled.
“She’s in there! Can you get through?” Asher answered back.
“I can try!” Grayson confirmed and his shadow landed in the ring of fire, but Chancellor Fowler instantly grabbed his throat.
“I am having a moment with my daughter!” Grayson’s body was thrown back through the fire, landing on the other side with Asher. He dropped me back on the ground and I tried to catch myself, feeling the pain vibrate through my legs. “I could give you everything, but you do this! You ruin everything you could have!”
