Chapter 36

THIRTY-SIX

ELLIE

“Ellie we have to cut off the flow of those rifts or no matter how many animals we get to back us up it won’t be enough.” Savina pointed toward the castle.

Shylock soared up to us. “The rifts need to be?—”

“—We know,” Savina and I said at the same time.

“Give us a lift.” Savina held her other hand out toward Shylock. He swooped in and took it. They flew toward the rift on the right side of the castle. Savina fired shots of her magic as they flew. He dropped Savina on the remains of a high piece of balcony on the side of the castle that overlooked the rift.

She stood there with her powers firing around her. Red bolts of magic struck the newest additions to the army, killing them on the spot. I flew toward the other rift and watched as more troops dropped through. I forced my tornado away and let myself fall to the ground. I called on my power over the earth and crashed into it just outside the rift. I slammed my hands to the ground and rocked the earth. A huge crater opened just outside of the rift, sending chunks of earth flying in all different directions. The warriors closest to it struggled to hold their balance as I opened the ground beneath them. It was so deep I couldn’t see the bottom. I threw my purple magic into it and set the bottom of it on fire.

I stood there throwing gusts of wind at any soldier who even attempted to leap over the crater from the rift. I threw one after another into the fiery pit, burning them all to ash. A line of them encroached on me and I took a step back. Suddenly, silver magic shot all around me and the line of massive warriors that’d been moving closer flew up into the air and hung there for a moment, screaming as they gazed down into the pit of fire. They all twisted upside down so they were facing headfirst into the pit.

I spun around. “Stellan!”

Then all at once they dropped. Their screams echoed as they fell.

Weston dropped him by my side and threw his arms out. Silver magic flowed all around us, and at least twenty warriors went airborne. “Hello, love.”

I wanted to run up and throw my arms around him, but this was war and we didn’t have time for that. When the battle was won, I would pull him close and thank God we both survived this. He kept the soldiers dangling above my head. I opened my palms and purple magic flowed over my body. I called on my fire. It ignited instantly and I felt it run over my arms. I threw my head back and cackled, feeling stronger than ever with him by my side.

I let my fire shoot from my hands like flamethrowers, setting all the ones Stellan was holding on fire, then I spun around and tossed them into the pit.

He smirked at me. “I can tell you missed me.”

“I’m glad you didn’t die.”

“Love you too.” He winked and threw more of the army into my pit.

I chuckled but didn’t answer.

High above us Sandra joined Weston and Shylock. They swooped down with their swords swinging and jabbing at the army as they moved. Their weapons were covered in blood. It was spattered over their faces and dripping from their golden wings. Shylock swooped down and spread his sage-green magic over a line of the army. They instantly turned on each other, their hulking bodies slamming into each other.

A smile spread across Weston’s face like he was enjoying frying anything that got in his way. Stellan cupped his hand over his mouth. “You’re not supposed to enjoy it! You’re an angel.”

“Half! And tell that to Zuriel!” Weston dropped to the ground beside us, protecting my back as I threw magic in all different directions.

“Have you seen Collins or Bash?” I would battle for as long as it took, but I prayed they were able to complete all their tasks.

“Let me see.” Weston flapped his wings and took to the sky. He flew in a circle, looking to the horizon for any sign of them. I pointed toward the front line of the battle. “THERE!”

Collins charged toward the battle riding a massive Bart. He was nearly the size of a truck as he barreled into the front lines. He swung his head around, ramming his antlers into the torsos of the warriors. The appearance of Collins almost set them into a new frenzy. They roared with rage and all turned their attention toward her.

Collins pressed her hand to her head. “Easy on the spins, boy.”

Turquoise magic billowed from her hands and crystals erupted around at least two dozen soldiers, trapping them within their hard exterior. She turned to the other side and threw her hand out. More crystals exploded from the ground. This time they shot out like needles going in a million different directions. They impaled enemy warriors, sending chunks of crystals through their legs, necks, and torsos. Their cries flooded the battlefield. I wrapped Stellan in my tornado, and we took off. A moment later we landed on either side of her. The two of us joined in right away. Stellan threw more of those blue-skinned bastards onto the needle-like crystals while I shot my lightning at them.

Collins spun in a circle, her eyes darting everywhere. She held onto Bart tighter and gritted her teeth as if she was struggling through pain. “Where’s Bash?”

“I haven’t seen him.” Sweat began to cover my body. The snow beneath my feet melted under the force of my power. The battlefield was no longer that pristine white from the storm. Blood and dirt had turned the field into a mud pit.

Collins called out to Shylock. “Can you find Bash? He should be on his way.”

Shylock gave her a nod and took off flying around the castle searching for Bash like Weston had.

Collins signaled to Jada. “Get ready.”

She lifted her arms and a wave of her power rolled over the battlefield. The crystal animals all began to grow in size. Suddenly a small rabbit that was the size of my fist was now the size of a bear. They all went nuts relishing their new size and stomping around.

“Bad ass!” Just as I was about to celebrate, a shriek came from overhead.

“What have you done!” Tephine zipped into the battle like her ass was on fire.

Her white-blonde hair whipped behind her, and her wings fluttered so quickly they were nearly a blur. Her magic flowed from her and straight into the ground. Huge vines shot up and began snaking through our troops. Crystal animals shattered at their walloping touch. Vine bridges formed between the rift and the land so the army could easily march over my fire crater. Tephine swooped down and went straight for Collins, but Stellan and I were there and ready to protect her back.

He threw his power out like a shot. It hit her right in the chest, knocking her to the ground. Collins charged forward on Bart right for Tephine. New, brighter vines flew from the ground and began battling Tephine’s. It was like watching an octopus’ tentacles fight for dominance. They twisted around each other, and bright turquoise flowers sprang on one. Suddenly, the other began to turn brown and die. Tephine charged toward Collins and Collins leapt off Bart and summoned two crystal daggers to her hands. Her wild pink and purple hair flew around her as she moved because her braids had begun to unravel.

Thorns shot from Tephine like bullets, but Collins pulled a crystal shield up in front of her to block them. I threw my fire at Tephine and she dropped to the ground and curled a huge leaf over herself like a blanket. When she sprang back out, she threw thorns in my direction. Stellan dove for me and knocked me to the ground, covering me with his own body.

“You alright, love?”

“Yeah.” We jumped to our feet and Stellan wrapped his silvery power around one of those crystal frozen warriors. He threw it right at Tephine. It crashed into her body and split in half. The warrior within crumbled to the ground in a dead heap, his bones protruding from his broken body.

Stellan glanced at Collins. “Why is she so bloody strong? I thought you broke the bond.”

“Oh, we did.” A dark smirk spread over Collins face. “That bitch can die now.”