"Nice try," the demon hissed, as another jolt of fire just barely missed him.
"Fight back," I screamed, "Or get out of my way."
"Why? So you can die by the hand of my master instead of me?" He cackled. It was a hollow dead sound.
I had to get away. He was only going to try to trap me here. I had to get a better view of the campus. I felt the birthmark on my wrist heating up, a warning sign that I was in danger. Whatever I was going to do, it had to be quick. I dug my heels into the horse until it reared up on its hind legs. I jumped off quickly as the horse kicked the other rider. I rolled away before the demon could pinpoint me and ran in the opposite direction towards the fen. I had to do something. I wouldn't be able to outrun a horse. I wondered if my powers in the liminal world would work here. I tried to call upon the powers of the wind, but there was nothing to call upon. The air in the fen was heavy, still, and stagnant. I remembered the freeing feeling of becoming the wind, feeling my particles expand to encompass the skies. A slight vibration told me that something was happening, but I could hear the hooves coming fast upon me. I willed it to happen faster, but no such luck.
I could feel the pounding of the ground around me. There was a whole fleet of demons coming for me. Their red eyes would hold no mercy for me. I had to get away. I thought about the wind. The only way out would be to create wind. I blew out a long stream of air from my lips. I hoped it would be enough. Again, I let my lungs fill with air before exhaling every drop of oxygen. I tried to feel the wind, imagine it swirling around me and carrying me. It started to happen. My heart was pounding.
I heard a demon's haunting cry, "She's just there." He shouted.
But the wind was carrying me away. My particles were becoming slippery and I was floating. I let myself rise. It was much more difficult than in the liminal world. Everything was so much heavier here. It felt impossible to keep myself afloat on the nonexistent breeze, but my life depended on it. I pushed myself harder and deeper into the forest. The demons were confused below. They rode back to the quad. A stabbing pain in my heart told me that my escape could mean someone else's death. This was no training exercise. These demons were out for blood. All the more reason to find Phosphoros fast. I tried to see him, to feel him with my sense.
I felt something strange. It was like a gentle tugging. Something was pulling me towards the woods. We were connected somehow, him and I. It dawned on me that I had used the dagger first on myself then him. It had forged a link between us. But perhaps the link had always been there. I had my mother's blood after all. He had even mistaken me for her. I followed the thread down into the woods, and I knew where it was taking me. My mother's shrine was just a few meters away.
I had to let my body reform, to strengthen the connection. It was the only way to find him. I approached the shrine with caution. He would not be taken by surprise this time. I looked for him, his silvery hair would stand out, but instead, I saw something that shocked me.
Behind one of the pillars of the shrine, was a mess of bright red hair. A girl stepped out from behind.
"Sybelle?" I cried out.
"Esther, I'm so sorry," she cried, burying her face in her hands.
"What happened?" I asked fiercely. "Why are you out here?"
Just then a man emerged from behind her and put his arm around her neck. It was Lord Morningstar. He was unmistakable. I circled around them, trying to gain a vantage point.
His words were as silky as they were threatening, "It's no use, Esther. I'm sure you wouldn't have me harm her." He tightened his grasp around her.
"What do you want with her?" I said, my voice as fierce as I could manage.
"To be honest," he said with a careless voice, "I don't care much for her." Silent tears were rolling down her face.
"I was so stupid," She moaned.
"Oh to be sure," He continued. "I thought she might serve a purpose once. She was plan b, you might say. But now..." He drawled. "Now I have you, so I'm not sure what use the girl will be to me."
"Then let her go," I said the words slowly.
"I suppose I could do that," He said in a teasing voice. "but where's the fun in that?" I faltered for a moment. He grabbed Sybelle and moved blindingly fast towards me. I stepped away quickly, barely dodging him. He laughed. "You're going to be a lot of fun aren't you?" He asked me.
"I won't give you the pleasure," I hissed at him.
"I will admit," He said lightly as he stalked me. The shrine between us was the only thing standing in his way. "that you caught me off guard once. You look so much like her, but I guess you wouldn't know much about it." He said cruelly.
"Maybe not," I admitted trying to gauge a plan of attack. I let the fire build in my palms, charging it for an attack. He raised an eyebrow at me. I raised my hands quickly to release the flame
