28. Pallas

Istroked the spider's back absentmindedly, listening to Tori's receding footsteps. "At least I've got you for company." I scratched the creature behind his eyes, and he chittered happily. Despite the panic I'd seen on Jun's face, I couldn't help but be comforted by the little creature.

Ifound him sneaking into our room numerous times over the past few weeks, always depositing some sort of wrapped gift at my feet. I never opened them, but he didn't seem to mind. He curled up at my feet as I read by the fire on nights that sleep couldn't find me. It had become our secret routine of sorts.

"Interesting pet you've found there." I lurched around to face the familiar voice. Spinner tensed under my hand and launched at the intruder, hissing. He leapt at Luxos' face but froze in midair as shadows surrounded him.

"Nice try, bug," Luxos laughed cruelly. Spinner squealed as solid shadows pulled his legs in all directions, his eyes spinning in pain.

"Stop it!" I yelled. Luxos tossed Spinner aside as the shadow walker closed the distance between us.

Hishand clamped over my mouth, and he leaned in so his lips grazed the point of my ear. "Quiet now, Pallas. I wouldn't want someone to overhear us."

Ibit down on his hand hard.

Hehissed and pushed me away. "Learning tricks from that bitch now, huh?"

Iran over to Spinner, who lay still against the side of the tent. How did magic spiders breathe?WhenI touched him, he opened his eyes and gave a sad chitter.

Luxosstalked towards me, and I didn't think before grabbing the flaming hot iron out of the coals.

Hegritted his teeth. "This is your last chance to come quietly. I won't be leaving without you again."

Ibrandished the iron as if I had any idea what I was doing. "I told you; I'm not going back." WhenI first said that, it was to convince myself. But with each passing day of peace and autonomy, the conviction became stronger, like a wound I finally stopped reopening over and over again.

Theman snarled. The flap of the tent opened again. Avlyn stepped through, their hand on their weapon the instant they spotted Luxos.

"Fucking hells, Pallas, let's go." He said, hand extended.

"No!"

"It seems the lady isn't interested, ShadowWalker." Avlyn held their sword towards Luxos, but didn't move. Anger flashed in Luxos' eyes, and Avlyn smirked. "Oh, was that a secret?"

Ablood-curdling scream sounded across the camp, making Avlyn's smirk turn into a snarl. "What the hell did you do?"

"Oh, not me, Commander. At least, not yet. Your little princess has been playing with forces that should be left alone and has awoken some things best left sleeping. Don't worry. Me and mine will join the fun shortly." Luxos gave a dramatic bow and disappeared into the shadows.

"Fuck! Pallas, come with me." I looked down at Spinner, who gave me a reassuring chirp before I set him on the pallet and followed Avlyn. Another scream came from the ocean.

"Gods-fuckin-damnit." Avlyn grabbed my hand and waved their sword towards their troops. We sprinted to the beach, and slowly, the torches illuminated our surroundings. AllI could see was the churning of waves in the darkness. Their crashing drowned out any sound as their white caps blotched orange from the reflection of the torches.

That'swhen I saw it, a head popping out of the waves before being pulled back under. My mind immediately went to the Leviathan and its tentacles. I grabbed Avlyn's arm to stop them as they waded into the surf.

"It's too late." I wasn't wrong; the head did not resurface again. Avlyn struggled against my grip for a moment but gave in with a loud, aggravated snarl.

"LETGO!" Jun's voice rang over the cove, and I heard the clank of numerous swords and weapons dropping to the ground at his command. Avlyn sprinted towards his voice.

Ourtorchlight broke over Jun, and another soldier, pulling a struggling Tori out of the waves. She was soaking wet, but to my surprise, she seemed to be struggling against Jun.

"Let me go. He needs me. He needs me!" She was kicking her legs as the two men tried to drag her.

Theorcess swooped in and tugged the princess up. "It's not real. It's not real!"

Toriheld Raula's gaze for a moment, and her face softened when she was pulled back under the waves.

Raula, Jun, and Noki grabbed her. Tori rose out of the water and screamed as she was stretched like a rope in some twisted game of tug-of-war. I ran to help but stopped dead in my tracks when out of the water rose a horse-like creature. It was all wrong with a dark, shaggy mane, glowing red eyes, and sharp, vicious teeth that were sunk into Tori's calf. Blood ran down her leg and mixed with the salt water.

Avlyndidn't hesitate to raise their sword. It lodged into the side of the horse thing, who barely seemed to notice. Avlyn struggled to pull their sword out as the creature took steady steps back into the sea, pulling everyone with them. I couldn't just stand there. I could tug on Tori, but any more force, and her leg might just rip off.

ThinkPallas, what would she do? Something stupid. So that's what I did. I grabbed the biggest rock I could from the surf and launched it at the side of the creature's head.

Thecreature lurched backward, and Jun slipped, letting go of Tori as everyone else was pulled forward again. I grabbed him, helping him up. In the torchlight, his eyes glowed with something I had never seen in him before. Anger.

Hestood up tall and grabbed Tori again before staring down the creature. My world stood still as I felt him concentrate his power, focusing it. He then shouted so loud my ears nearly gave out. "BURN!"