15. Sybil

Chapter 15

Sybil

T he chilly wind bites at my exposed skin, prompting me to pull my cloak tighter. The air feels thin and crisp, a stark contrast to the mild temperatures I'd become used to in the library. I turn in a circle, and my lips part in a mixture of awe and trepidation. With each step, my boots crunch through ankle-deep snow, immersing us in a winter wonderland. Towering pine trees surround us, their branches drooping under the weight of the glistening white powder. The bright white snow against the dark green of the evergreens creates a scene straight out of a fairytale, simultaneously breathtaking and eerie. It's as if nature has cast a spell on this place, isolating it from the rest of the world.

"How long does winter last in Shadowvale? In our village, we'd be preparing for spring plantings by now," I say, rubbing my arms for warmth.

"We're close to the Armaghdale forest border, according to the map," Marcelene says as she unscrolls the parchment. "But this close to the mountain range, I suspect the winter keeps her grip tight on the land." Pointing to smoke curling in the air, she continues, "It looks like the village is only a short distance away. We don't want to linger alone in the woods for too long. Even in the daylight, beasts hide in the shadows."

She starts in the direction of the smoke, bow in hand, and I quickly follow, my thumb caressing the hilt of my dagger.

"What will we do when we find the thief?" I ask, pushing a large branch out of my way. Above us, the songbirds fill the air with their chanting."I suppose question them to see if they–"

"Nero?" I cry out and run as fast as my legs can go as I see his giant frame lift an axe and bring it slamming down toward a shadow chimera, who dodges it with ease. The skin of his bare chest and arms glimmers with a sheen of sweat mingling with scattered scales as he stands to his full height and glances over his shoulder at me.

"Sybil?"Taking advantage of a momentary distraction, the beast pounces on Nero, knocking him to the ground. The snow turns red as its claws dig into his flesh. Meanwhile, three other males encircle another shadow chimera, swords in hand.

I swiftly throw my gear and Lemon to the ground, drawing both daggers. In the span of an instant, this place has turned from fairytale to nightmare. Next to me, Marcelene readies her arrow. Together, we run, eyes fixed on the creatures.

Nero struggles with the beast, flames dancing up his arms.

"I can't shoot from here. I need high ground," Marcelene says, looking around for a point of advantage.

"The trees," I say and make sure not to lose sight of Nero. "You have to climb on a tree. I'll distract the monsters. That should buy you enough time." I dart away.Leaping over a fallen log, I tap into my magic, feeling my body transform into my demi-form.

This has to work.

"Watch out!" Nero's warning cry reaches my ears, but it's too late. A loud growl shakes the air before I am thrown into a tree and snow cascades onto my head, burying me under its thick cover. I start moving my arms and legs as the little air left in my lungs starts to burn. Cold seeps into my fingers and toes until I will myself to calm down.

I am not helpless.

Let the magic become you.

Reaching deep inside my magic well, I let the reins with which I have been limiting my powers my whole life fall. Warm and powerful light courses through me in a rush, and with a final exhale, I let it explode out of me. When I open my eyes, snowflakes are gently falling over me like in a dream.

The screeching sounds of the shadow beasts take me back to reality just in time to see a third one–its fangs bared and tail whipping–lunging toward me.

I roll to my right and dodge its attack, narrowly avoiding its razor-sharp teeth. Adrenaline surges through my veins as I slash at the creature with my daggers, aiming for its vulnerable spots. My dagger finds its home. Hot blood pours over my hand as the beast yanks away deeper into the forest, taking my blade with it. I turn, charging toward Nero, who still wrestles with the chimera.

"Over here, you ugly brute!" I yell, smacking a large stick against the trunk of the nearest tree. I hold fast to my remaining dagger, my knuckles blanching, chest heaving as the chimera pauses and glances up. It's all the time Marcelene needs as herarrow finds its mark in the shadow chimera's side. The beast howls in pain, momentarily distracted from its assault on Nero. Taking advantage of the distraction, Nero summons a blazing inferno, engulfing the beast.

The intense heat radiates through the clearing, causing the snow to melt beneath our feet. The scent of singed fur fills the air as the shadow beast thrashes in agony. Its resilience is astounding; it claws its way out of the flames, its eyes glowing with an otherworldly hunger.

I leap back into the fray, my daggers glinting in the fading light. Every strike is precise, every movement calculated just as I've practiced. The shadow beast retaliates, but I dodge out of the way and its claws slash through the air, leaving deep gashes in the tree trunks.

Marcelene's arrows rain down on the creature, finding their mark with deadly accuracy. The shadow beast howls in fury, its strength waning with each hit. We press on, refusing to relent, our teamwork seamlessly synchronizing. As the final blow lands, the shadow beast collapses to the ground, its form dissolving into shadowy wisps.

"Thanks, lass," Nero says as he pushes himself to his feet, the gouges in his flesh already knitting themselves together leaving dried blood in their wake. We all turn to face the remaining chimera who had taken down two of the shifters. Having transformed into their humanoid forms, they lay on the ground clutching their sides as blood seeped from their wounds.

"Thank me later," I say as the third chimera returns from the forest, heading straight for us.

With a roar, Nero grabs one of the fallen shifter's swords from the ground, flames licking up its blade, and charges toward the two remaining beasts. He jumps, using his wings to propel himself up into the air before landing on the creature's back and plunging it directly into the heart. The chimera lets out a furious howl.

My muscles lock up as the creature stalks toward me, chest constricted until I feel like I can't breathe.

A hero is a hero because even when hope is lost, even when everything you do amounts to nothing and shows no promise, you keep trying. You fight.

Filled with a renewed determination, I delve deep into the well of my magic. The chimera lunges toward me, but I am undeterred. A glow emanates from my hands as it arches above me. Ignoring the burning scrape of flesh tearing, I plunge my hands deep into its fur while its claws dig into my shoulders.

A scream tears from my lips as I channel everything I have into killing the beast. No, I am not channeling my magic, I am becoming light itself. My powers engulfs the creature, enveloping it until it dissolves into wisps of smoke and shadow.

Silence descends upon the clearing, broken only by our heavy breaths. Head pounding and vision tunneling, I focus on the feel of the snow against my heated skin, my beating heart echoing in my ears.

"Alpheaia, I never–" Nero drops into a bow, his wings sending a small gust of wind that knocks snow to the ground.

A wail of pain rents the air and I push past him. Not far away, three men lay on the snowy ground, their chests moving erratically. I fall to my knees beside them. There's blood everywhere, and suddenly I'm back in the forest on my knees, as Kela bleeds out beneath me. Their pain is so intense I can feel it, feel their injuries without laying a hand on them. They are dying, like so many before them.

"I can't do this." My throat tightens and I freeze, my legs refusing to move. I failed Kela, and now I'd fail these people, shifters and elementals who were depending on me to take down a queen bent on using them for their powers.

"Ye can do this. I know ye can," Nero urges as he grips my shoulders, momentarily blocking the view.

"Wh-where is the healer? Don't they have a healer?" I can't keep the panic out of my voice and a cold sheen of sweat breaks out along my skin.

"We're too far from the village. They won't make it, lass. Tell me what ye need," he says, crouching beside me.

"Sybil," Marcelene's voice cuts in, and I turn to face her. She gives my hand a reassuring squeeze. "You can do this. Just like you practiced."

Closing my eyes, I inhale deeply. Lemon has found his way to our side and sits in the lap of the male propped up against the tree, licking his wounds.

"Help, please. It hurts." The wolf shifter, now in his humanoid form, writhes on the ground, clutching his leg where a large shaft of wood sticks out from where he fell. Blood oozes around the injury and has soaked his torn breeches. His partner, equally bruised and battered, sits wiping his brow. An earth elemental, I suspect, by the way the branches and shrubbery seem to lean toward him.

"It's okay, I'm not leaving you in this forest. You're coming back home with me," his partner whispers as he leans forward and presses a gentle kiss to the wolf shifter's forehead.

Breathe, Sybil. Breath.

"I need to focus on this one first. He's lost too much blood. The other two need their wounds cleaned, but they will survive with time." I nod and push my torn sleeves up to my elbows, letting instinct guide me.

"I've got your healing satchel," Marcelene says. "Dragon boy, we need hot water." She pulls a small metal pot from her bag and fills it with snow.

"As ye wish," he replies before grabbing the bowl and engulfing it in flames.

I kneel next to the young male shifter. My hands tremble slightly as I probe his flesh with my fingertips, examining the extent of the wound. Was it only a few months ago that I was in a similar position? Deep in the forest, my magic trapped just beneath my skin as I prayed to the Goddess that the extent of my healing knowledge could save Edmund.

"What is your name?"

"M-m-matthew," he says, sweat beading along his brow. I meet his green eyes, watching as the color drains from his face. Nero crouches across from me, Marcelene at his side with a stack of fresh linens and a bucket of steaming water.

"Okay, Matthew." I smile and reach deep into my magic, finding it ready to be molded at will. The young male's eyes are transfixed on my face and my horn. Using his distraction, I signal to Nero, who grasps the edge of the wood. The sound of tearing flesh is drowned out by Matthew's scream before he passes out and Marcelene gently lowers him to the ground.

I work quickly, cleaning the wound, probing with my magic to ensure no slivers of wood are left behind to fester before I will the muscles and tissue to knit back together. Lemon gingerly ascends to the wound, pressing his tiny paws against the man's skin, and I can sense the intertwining of our magic as the wound gradually heals. By the time I'm finished, my muscles quiver. I fall back, bracing my arms behind as I survey the neat pink scar running down his leg.

"Well, he'll likely be sore tomorrow," I say, exhaustion weighing heavily on me.

"But he will live to see another day, and use his leg. Not all are so lucky," his companion says, pulling him into his lap and gently stroking the hair away from his sweaty forehead.

Swaying on my feet from the excessive use of magic, I step closer to my friends.

"Nero, this is Marcelene. Marcelene, this is Nero. He's a half draken shifter, half elemental. I owe him my life."

"It's a pleasure to meet you," Marcelene says with a quick nod before turning the conversation back to more pressing matters. "You wouldn't happen to have seen a thief around here, would you?"

Nero pauses, eyebrows furrowed as he studies her.

"Hello," she says, snapping her fingers in front of his face. "I thought you said he was the smart one."

I roll my eyes, linking an arm with her. "Oh he is. He's just dumbfounded by your beauty. Nero, where is Aramis? I have so much to tell you."

"Lass, we've been worried sick about ye since the avalanche, but we couldn't dig ye out so we traveled south to the rebel camp to ask for help." He pauses.

"But?" I raise an eyebrow.

"So ye see, the rebels aren't exactly happy with the royal family right now or with what Tricella has been doing and all," he says.

The air suddenly fills with a blood-curdling scream from the village. My heart races as I instinctively look up, only to witness a monstrous bird of smoke and shadow hurtling toward the earth.

"Nero, where is Aramis?"