17. Drowning

CHAPTER 17

Moss

Dio kept Madam Moonie and I walking, two weapons pressed to our lower backs. Every time I glanced at her, she looked absolutely pissed.

We'd been ambushed.

The moment that Max left, Madam Moonie and I had continued talking. But then, Dio appeared with two knives, and managed to surprise us.

The blades were dangerous enough that neither one of us argued. I ran through a plan again, trying to figure out the best way to escape him.

I wasn't sure we could out run him.

And with him having knives…

I wasn't sure we could overpower him without risking our lives.

We have to do something.

Negotiating didn't seem to work, but I decided to try again.

"Dio, we can discuss this. Whatever you want, we can discuss it. We both just want to be safe."

"Shut up," he snarled.

He shoved me towards the base of a tree that was not too far from the oasis. I'd been mapping the path we'd taken, making sure I'd be able to get back if the opportunity presented itself.

The blade pressed into the small of my back, cutting through the robes I wore with ease. One wrong move, and one of us could seriously get hurt. Especially Madam, given that she was human.

I stole a glance at her again. Her cheeks were bright red, her eyes shining with rage. Her lavender colored hair was braided down her back, her dress shimmering as she walked.

If looks could kill, Dio would for sure have been dead by now.

She slid her gaze over to mine as we walked, holding it for a moment.

Somehow, we would get out of this.

Dio guided us through an opening at the roots of a tree. I glanced around, trying to see if there was anyone nearby. Anyone we could alert. The hall was cool and empty, though, and he shoved us towards a closed door.

"Open it," he said.

I pressed my lips together and opened it. He moved quickly, shoving us inside.

I stumbled forward and swung my arm out, keeping Madam from falling too. She straightened herself, her expression pinching into further anger.

This place was a mess. He'd clearly been staying here for a few days. It was dark and smelled nauseating. I couldn't help but wonder how in the hell he'd avoided any of the officers though.

I needed to reason with him somehow. I wasn't sure how. I'd been unable to get through to him before today and it certainly seemed like I had no chance now.

At least he had taken me instead of Max.

Max.

I felt a sharp pain, but it wasn't from the blade. I felt bad for how I'd handled everything. I couldn't just barge in and demand things from Max the way I had.

And now we were in this fucking situation.

I turned my head slightly, looking as Dio started to turn to lock the door. Madam Moonie caught my gaze and nodded.

The two of us moved fast. I grabbed his wrist and shoved him back against the door, twisting as hard as I could. One of the knives dropped but he brought the other one up, piercing my arm.

I cried out, but I didn't release him, even as the pain made my knees weaken.

I grabbed him by the robes and we fell back, rolling on the floor. Madam Moonie dove for the other knife as he pinned me down, ripping the blade from my arm and holding it to my neck. She stepped behind Dio, pressing the point to his back.

I froze, breathing hard. The pain in my arm was excruciating. Blood dripped out, pooling around me.

"One more move and xe dies," Dio snarled.

Well, at least he got my pronouns right before murdering me.

Madam Moonie gripped the knife, her eyes blazing with rage. "I will kill you if you kill xem. Why are you doing this? What do you want?"

Dio growled, but he didn't move. "You humans ruin everything. Because of you I'm going to lose my job and?—"

"I wouldn't have fired you if you hadn't acted the way you did," I growled. "You blew up at someone for something that should have been easy to handle."

Dio let out a soft, crazed laugh.

"I remember you now," Madam Moonie said.

Dio went still, his eyes widening. I swallowed hard as he pressed the blade closer.

"You were someone who tried to touch one of my performers and I got you banned in a different galaxy. Like five earth years ago," she growled. "Dio isn't your name, is it?"

"It is here," he snarled.

"You stupid son of a bitch," Madam Moonie muttered. "Yeah, I remember full well now. So your problem is with me then."

My heart hammered, my vision dotting as the pain became almost unbearable. I had to hold it together though. I couldn't leave Madam alone with him.

"It's with both of you," he growled. "You took her side. You're an Arborian like me, and yet you sided with humans. And now you're going to be mated to one?"

"That's none of your fucking business," I snapped.

"It really isn't," Madam agreed. "It's kind of pathetic actually. Why don't you fight me, huh? I'm the one that kicked you out so long ago. It all started with me, not anyone else."

Her ferocity stunned me. Dio's eyes widened with rage, holding my gaze for a moment before it looked like he was about to turn for her.

If he did, I had to use what little energy I had left to grab this blade.

I grit my teeth as the pain made me want to scream.

Look at her. Look at her. Give me some sort of opening.

"What? Are you scared to fight a human?"

The moment Dio started to whip around, I snatched his wrist again and yanked. Madam Moonie lunged the same moment he did, thrusting the blade through his back shoulder blade.

He yelped, falling to the side. I kicked, sending him rolling as Madam held out her hand.

"You can't pull me up," I said.

"You'd be shocked by how strong I am."

She was right. She grabbed my hand and pulled, helping me to my feet. I didn't have a moment to ask her how in the hell she had become so unnaturally strong before Dio was fighting to get up, blood dripping to the floor.

"Run," I rasped.

She unlocked the door quickly and threw it open, dragging me with her. The two of us took off, although he was now right behind us.

Madam sprinted like a gazelle. My adrenaline kicked in as I followed, both of us heading back towards the rehearsal area.

"I'm going to kill you!"

Madam was getting further and further ahead. My vision was growing darker the more I moved, the blood loss becoming too much. I broke through an opening, spotting the oasis and a flash of orange.

Max.

Dio tackled me, the two of us hitting the ground hard. I heard a shout and scream as we rolled, my back hitting the sharp crystals that curtained the edge of the oasis.

More pain split through me. I gasped right as we rolled into the waters, plunging into the cool depths.

I felt Dio shove another blade into my ribs. I gasped, swallowing water and choking.

I saw hands grabbing Dio, hauling him back. I sank further and further, my body unable to move.

The pain was too much.

Max. I'm so sorry.

I couldn't breathe. I couldn't move.

Hands grabbed me, small but mighty. I felt them tugging at me and forced my eyes open.

Max.

His face wavered in front of me.

You're not going to fucking die, his voice echoed through my head. Fight! HELP ME!

How could I?

He struggled against me. Using the last of my energy, I tried to push up towards the surface, but it wasn't enough. I saw a flash of dark blue and magenta right as my vision went dark.