I take my time to survey the Colosseum and the people roaring in the stands. “For the Light, they sure know how to make a sport of hurting people,” I mutter, and Lore and Keaira hum their agreement.
“I guess underneath everything, maybe the line between Dark and Light isn’t as far apart as we thought,” Lore answers, and I can’t help but agree with her.
My powers and abilities were always seen as a sign of darkness. And I accepted that when I was thrust back into this world. I never questioned it when Master Rostova convinced me my powers were best used for malice—though something never felt right.
But since being here, I’ve realized that I’m not a part of the Light, either. Maybe there’s a middle ground? My eyes lift to the box where She is watching me, and I shake my head. It’s probably because I’m not human… not anymore.
I reach the end of the tower’s shadow, and a heavy groan fills the air. The golem’s eyes glow, embedded with rubies. Its grip on its stone sword tightens as it moves into a defensive position.
“I guess this is where we’re meant to fight it?” I mutter, and Keaira laughs, the rings around the hook of my staff glowing brightly.
“Just point and shoot,” she replies, and I seek out Lore’s thoughts, but she just hums in agreement, so I shrug.
“Okay then.”
I hold the staff in two hands and close my eyes, flooding it with my powers, intermingling and mixing with hers. The air whips around me, drowning out the sounds of the crowd and the world beyond the pit, and it’s a relief I didn’t expect. Opening my eyes, I watch in fascination as a glowing midnight ball grows within the hook, the power coming from it sending shivers down my spine.
“Fling her lose!” Keaira yells, and I draw the staff back before flinging it forward. The black ball flies through the air toward the golem, looking ridiculously small compared to it.
My stomach drops as it hits the golem with a tink before absorbing inside it, not even putting a scratch on the damn thing. I watch with a frown as the golem places one foot in front of the other, heading right for me.
It rears its sword arm back, and with an almighty roar, it sends the thing flying in my direction. But I make the mistake of looking at the sand; the rays bouncing from it strike at my eyes, disorientating me. I spin around and bring my hand to my face.
“SERENA, LOOK OUT!” someone shouts.
But it’s too late. Searing pain breaks out across my back, and I’m thrown to the burning-hot sand. I wheeze to draw breath back inside my chest, but each inhalation feels like I’m drawing nails into my lungs. I lift my head from the sand, wary of my aching neck, and spit granules from my dry mouth. Four sets of feet stop around me, sending more sand flying into my eyes.
“Oh gods, guys!” I reach my arms up to protect my face.
Next to my head, Keaira morphs back into her feline self and nudges at my face with her velvet nose. “Are you okay?”
“Honestly, I’m not sure.”
“Sorry, Serena.” Pax’s cooling hand rests on the back of my head. “How’s it looking Dane?”
“Not good,” he responds from somewhere near my waist.
A burst of light, followed by a loud grunt, makes me turn suddenly, sending another slice of pain down my back. Paxton is standing before the golem with Declan at his side, both wielding swords toward the beast.
“Get her away from here!” Declan shouts, waving his free arm back to us.
Dane goes to slip his arms under me, but I wriggle and swat him away. “No, no. Look!”
I point back to the golem. Its ruby eyes are no longer glowing red, but a deep purple. Light bursts from the cracks in the golem’s joints and the ones rippling across its body. Confused, Paxton and Declan back away slowly until they’re standing over me.
“You may want to run…” Keaira whispers.
“Guys,” I warn, drawing all four sets of eyes back to me. “RUN!”
Paxton and Rory spin on their heels and head back toward the tower, while Declan and Dane crouch to carefully lift me into their arms. I wince as they jostle me while they run, their eyes widening in horror as the ground begins to shake.
I glance over Declan’s shoulder just in time to see the golem explode, sending shock waves across the Colosseum. I grunt as I’m thrown to the floor, directly onto my wounded back. Strong arms wrap around me before a dome forms around all of us, protecting us from the blast.
As the trembling stops, Dane releases his tight hold on me and drops the dome, and I wince when I see the cave and the rest of the mountain lying in rubbly tatters. “Well, that’s one way of getting the trident,” Dane whispers with a chuckle as he points to a glistening golden rod protruding from a mantle.
I sigh with relief and let my head drop back to the ground as Rory jumps to his feet. “Let’s go grab us a trident!”
Declan and Dane whoop and get to their feet too, about to follow after Rory, when I shout, “Um, injured team member over here!”
All three bodies go rigid and turn back to me. Rory rubs the back of his neck sheepishly. “Right… sorry, Serena.”
“Why can’t Lore heal you like last time?” Dane asks as he sinks back down next to me.
“I’m tired, Dane. Plus, I can only hear minor wounds, and by the feel of it…” I trail off to groan when Dane rolls me onto my side, then onto my front to examine my back. He hisses through his teeth.
“We’ll need to get you to a medic, but I can give you something for the pain now so you can move,” he says as he rifles through the pouch strapped to his waist. He
