Chapter 2

CHAPTER 2

F aith chuckled under her breath and her voice dripped with amusement. "Must've thought they were heading to a tea party instead of a showdown," she quipped with a smirk. Her eagerness was contagious.

The air in the sanctum crackled with tension as a fight broke out. I grabbed my kris knives from my waistband and swung them wildly. Several Milens surged toward me and before I knew it, I couldn't see anything beyond them. Each of my movements was a symphony of determination and precision.

Slashing my way to an opening, I was relieved when I caught sight of my friends. Eve's magic flickered like a dying flame. She stood at the center of the fray with her brow furrowed in concentration as she unleashed bursts of energy. My heart skipped several beats and my throat went dry. Her attempts were valiant, but her powers seemed to wane with each passing moment. Was whatever was plaguing Harmonia Grove affecting my friend now?

That thought was distracted when one of Faith's bolts whizzed past my head. Faith's crossbow was a deadly extension of her will. She fired the thing with uncanny precision. Each shot found its mark with lethal accuracy. Her sharp eyes scanned the battlefield. I admired her fluid movements for a second before turning my efforts back to the Milen about to grab my throat.

My right fist came up and I drove my kris into the fleshy underside of the Milen's jaw. That had been a close one. Kicking the body away, I danced through the chaos with practiced grace. My movements became a blur of steel as I parried blows and struck back with lethal precision. With each strike, I felt the weight of the battle pressing down upon me. This was no time to falter. I should have eaten a couple of tacos before we left. I needed the energy now. Instead, I drew strength from the camaraderie of my allies and the fire burning within my soul. In some ways it was better.

Moving past Tegan, I smiled when I saw how well she wielded her daggers. They flashed in the dim light as she fought with a ferocity born of desperation. She wasn't a warrior like Faith and I, but her blows landed with the force of a tempest. Thanks to her smaller stature she moved with the agility of a gymnast. And her determination drove her forward as she carved a path through our foes with unwavering resolve.

Figures in the corner of my eye distracted me long enough for a Milen to land a cut on my side. The elders, Elijah, and the other Apollonians stood on the sidelines while we fought with all we had. Their expressions were a curious mix of apprehension and reluctance. Something didn't sit right with me about their inaction. And I couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to their hesitation than met the eye. Fucking cowards.

"Come on, you lot!" I called out. My voice was tinged with frustration as I gestured for them to join the fight. "We could use all the help we can get here!"

Unfortunately, my words fell on deaf ears. The other Apollonians remained rooted to the spot. Their gazes were fixed on the unfolding chaos with expressions I couldn't decipher. On the one hand it was as if they were paralyzed by indecision. I could understand their reluctance to join the fray. The elders weren't fighters in the least. But that didn't mean they couldn't help.

"Something's not right," I muttered to my companions. My eyes narrowed as I scanned the room for any sign of treachery. "Why aren't they helping us? This doesn't make sense." It was impossible to ferret out the answer while also trying to fight off the Milens.

Faith glanced over at the hesitant onlookers with a scowl. "I don't like this one bit," she growled. "We need to stay on guard. This could have been a trap."

My eyes ogled her. Why would Elijah set us up? I shouted when a spell hit my shoulder and spun me around. My knife was up and moving with me. It sliced across the jugular of the Milen facing me. Ducking, I missed getting sprayed.

I redoubled my efforts and pushed back against the encroaching tide of enemies. Faith, Eve, and Tegan were right there with me. Though the odds were stacked against us, we fought fiercely. We were determined to uncover the truth behind the Apollonians' strange behavior and emerge victorious.

The four of us didn't let up. In the heart of Harmonia Sanctum, the air crackled with tension as the clash of metal on metal echoed through the ancient halls. Shadows danced along the weathered stone walls and flickered in the dim torchlight as we battled against the Milens who sought to overrun us. Eve was looking more tired than before, and Tegan was starting to wane. We had to end this.

Right when I thought it might be possible, a new threat emerged from within our ranks. A band of Apollonians now fought alongside our foes with ruthless efficiency. Their once-kind faces were twisted now into masks of malice. As if the enemy horde wasn't enough.

Caught off guard by the betrayal, I parried a blow from an Apollonian with a deft twist of my kris knives. My muscles protested as I pushed back against the onslaught. "I see that you've decided to join the dark side," I quipped as I locked eyes with the traitorous figure before me.

"Looks like our guest list just got a whole lot longer," Faith retorted as she unleashed a volley of arrows at the encroaching Milens. She shot me a wry grin and then ducked a swinging blade.

"Isn't this just fantastic?" My voice dripped with disdain as I parried blow after blow from the traitorous Apollonians. "First we have to deal with the soul-sucking Milens, and now we've got these jerks turning against us."

Faith shot me a wry grin. Her crossbow sang as she took down another enemy with deadly accuracy. "Oh, you know, just another day in paradise." Her tone was laced with dark humor as she fought alongside me.

Tegan's daggers were a blur of motion as she danced through the fray. She nodded in agreement when she passed me. "This is bad. Why would you set us up, Elijah?" The venom in her voice made me flinch.

"I didn't," Elijah called out. "I swear. It's like what happened to Landon."

I shook my head. There was definitely something bigger at play here and I was betting on Miletus being behind this. Elijah had never done anything to make me think he would set us up like this. "Whatever Miletus did to them, it's made them even more dangerous than before," I told him. If he was behind it, I wanted him to think I believed him. If he let his guard down, we could get the truth out of him.

Eve's powers flickered like dying embers as she struggled to maintain control. She nodded grimly. "Agreed," she replied. The burst of magic she unleashed against our foes didn't come close to carrying the oomph it did before. "We need to find a way to neutralize them before they do any more damage." We needed to end this so Eve could get some real rest. She was always burning the candle at both ends .

Tegan danced through the chaos while dodging most of it and inflicting minor wounds along the way. "This is getting ridiculous," she muttered. Her frustration was evident in her voice as she parried a vicious strike from an Apollonian.

Eve wiped sweat from her brow with the back of her hand. "I'll do what I can to contain them," she replied. The strain in her voice was worse than ever before. I didn't know how she managed even a flicker of a barrier of shimmering energy to hold back the advancing horde.

My movements were fluid and coordinated with Faith as we fought to stem the tide of enemies. The two of us were better equipped to take on more. Each of our blows landed with a resounding clang. We executed each move with precise timing as we fought tooth and nail to protect our friends.

The smell of blood and sweat mingled with the clash of metal and magic. I leaped into the air when movement caught my attention. I whirled with my blade in front of me. I barely pulled it back in time when I realized Elijah was fighting on our side and not attacking me. He and the elders emerged from the throng. Their faces were etched with determination as they joined our side in the fray.

"Look who's finally decided to join the party," Faith remarked with a sardonic edge. She exchanged a knowing glance with me. "Better late than never, I suppose."

My lips curled into a smirk as I twirled my knives. My eyes flashed with defiance. "About time, Elijah. We were starting to think you were going to sit this one out."

Eve's brow had more lines on it than a map as she struggled to maintain her waning powers. "We need all the help we can get," she chimed in. Her voice strained with effort as she poured more energy into her barrier of shimmering energy. It held back those trying to get to her. "I'm just glad you're with us instead of against us." So was I.

The once-verdant haven of the Luminara Sanctum was now engulfed in the chaos of battle. I never imagined this space would see such violence. The scent of incense and candles mingled with the metallic tang of blood. A breeze coming in through the open doors carried it throughout the room.

My fist slammed into Landon's face when he tried to wrap his arms around me. Did he just say he was going to take my soul? He'd snarled the words, so I couldn't be certain. As the clash of weapons and the crackle of magic echoed through the air, the ground trembled beneath our feet with each thunderous blow exchanged between the opposing forces.

Elijah raced up beside me and pushed Landon aside. His face was contorted in pain and regret. "Stand down, brothers and sisters!" he called out. His authoritative voice rose above the din and cut through the cacophony of battle like a beacon of hope. "This is not the path we were meant to follow!" I held my breath for a millisecond waiting to see how they would respond.

Landon's dark power jolted me into action. He'd just thrown some hideous spell at me. He wasn't listening to Elijah. I appreciated Elijah's efforts and hoped he would get through to some of his people. There was definitely something going on here. It wasn't like them to join the Milens like this.

Despite Elijah's impassioned plea, the Apollonians remained resolute. They continued fighting with the Milens as if their minds were clouded by the insidious influence of Miletus. With fervent determination, they pressed forward. As they got closer, I noted that their once-peaceful demeanor was now twisted by a zealous fervor that knew no bounds.

"We can't reason with them," Faith told him. Frustration was etched into every line of her face as she deflected blow after blow with practiced ease. "They're too far gone."

Tegan's daggers flashed in the candlelight as she weaved through the chaos. "Come on, guys," she urged. Her words carried the weight of unspoken pleas. "These are your elders! They're family. You know this isn't right." As expected, her appeals fell on deaf ears. The Apollonians continued their relentless assault. It was truly chilling to see their eyes burning with a fanatical zeal. Especially, considering it wasn't there an hour ago.

A young woman with blond pigtails flying around her face as she danced through the fray, shot a pointed look at the Apollonians who once called Harmonia Grove home. "Come on, Livie," she called out. "You don't want to hurt me. I'm your sister!" Livie snarled and threw a bolt of dark magic at the blond.

Reacting before I could think it through. I jumped in front of her and thrust my knife as high as I could. My arm jerked from the impact of the spell, and I landed on my stomach hard. It was worth it because the blond was okay. But her pleas fell on deaf ears as the Apollonians continued their relentless assault.

One of the elders' brow furrowed in concentration as he struggled to maintain his waning powers. He reached out with his magic. I imagined him attempting to break through whatever mental spell held the Apollonians captive. "Please," he implored. "You don't have to do this. Remember who you are."

As the battle raged on, our resolve was tested like never before. With each blow we exchanged and each incantation we uttered we fought not only for our lives but for the very soul of Harmonia Grove itself. And though the odds seemed insurmountable, we refused to yield. We drew strength from the unbreakable bonds of friendship and camaraderie that bound us together. It was what made us the Sacred Sisters and the best damn team in the Shrouded Nation. I doubted there were any out there that could do better than us. Sure, an army of fae could kill all these Milens and end this battle much faster, but they couldn't solve the problem and ensure this didn't happen again. Or worse.

With Elijah and the elders at our side, we pushed back against the tide of enemies. It was slow going and seemed impossible, but we didn't give up. At some point the others fell into synchronization with Faith and I. We all fought tooth and nail to defend their home. This entire situation stunk to me. None of it made sense. Why were the Apollonians siding with the Milens? Unless they'd completed the ritual to turn them, they should remain on the side of Light. That ran in the back of my mind throughout the entire fight.

As if he'd read my mind, one of the elders fought with more than a hint of desperation as he addressed his friends. "What is happening? Why are they betraying us?" he demanded. His gaze swept over the faces of those who had fallen. It was clear he was searching for answers that eluded us all.

"It's not their fault," Elijah replied in a voice strained with emotion. "Miletus somehow managed to twist their hearts and minds without them even realizing it. He's playing a dangerous game, and we're all caught in his web of deceit."

"Well, color me shocked," Faith barked out at the same time she shot another Milen with a crossbow bolt. Her sharp tongue was as lethal as ever. "Who knew our dear Miletus had a knack for turning people to the dark side? I guess he's full of surprises."

I snorted in response and had to duck beneath a dark spell that was sailing toward me. My mind was churning with thoughts, plans, and strategies. "He's like a Jack in the Box. Pops up and scares the shit out of you. We need to find out more about what he did," I called out. "And we need to figure out how to undo it. We can't let him continue to wield this kind of power over our people."

Eve's usually calm demeanor was tinged with a fiery resolve. Her eyes blazed with determination. "That's the million-dollar question. Stripping Miletus of his power is the only way we'll ever be able to defeat him. And we won't know if that solves all of this until we find a way to make it happen."

My friends' voices rose above the din in a chorus of defiance and determination that echoed through the chamber. It brought me out of my head and reminded me I always had them at my back. And though the odds seemed stacked against us, we'd handled far worse and come out on top.

That knowledge gave me a second wind and I fought even harder. I sent some energy to Eve through our bond and noticed she perked up. We fought hard and were rewarded a few minutes later when the last of the Milens realized they were losing and finally retreated. Their ranks had been decimated by our combined efforts. We stood victorious amidst the wreckage of battle. What a freaking shit show.