“Time’s up. Your band of woodland creatures will fulfill my bargain with the devil when they are slaughtered, and he’ll have no choice but to grant my wish. I will have all that you possess. I will even look after your brat, but I want more.” She stroked her belly, making her meaning clear, and Ella wriggled, horrified at her innuendo.
There was no way in hell she would give in. It was time to fight. To fight for what was hers. She snapped her hand away and whirled around, calling for her sword.
“Over. My. Dead. Body.” She reached out for her sword and the shiny silver weapon appeared, settling into her right hand. She flicked her wrist, pointing the sharp tip at the woman’s throat.
The Morrigan spun around. “If you insist. I don’t need you alive. A fresh corpse will suffice.” Her sword materialized in her hand and she gripped the hilt, deftly swinging the blade to cut the air with a swoosh.
There was no way the Morrigan was getting what was hers. She quickly slid her gaze at her son.
“Mama,” Nate called, raising his hand out to her.
“It’s all right, baby… Nate doesn’t need to see this. Issac…if there is even a sliver of humanity inside you, I’m begging you to take my son…your nephew…away from here.”
She couldn’t afford to let down her guard and switched back to face the Morrigan. But the goddess kept her attention pinned on her brother as he stepped away, headed outside.
“Where do you think you’re going? Stay right there,” the Morrigan yelled.
Flicking her eyes toward her brother, she watched as he paused.
“You lied to me. All along, you lied…about everything. I want no part in this.”
The Morrigan stuck her hand out and twisted it. A dagger shot across the hall, landing in Issac’s chest.
The man twisted and grabbed the end but stared down at her son. “Run…boy…run.” The man struggled to move, but another blade landed in his side and he dropped to the ground.
Deflecting her attention away from Issac and her son, Ella launched her sword, striking the goddess in the side, and she kicked her leg out, hitting her mid-torso. The Morrigan bucked and grunted, but spun around with her sword raised, ready. As the goddess aimed her sword, it lifted out from her hand into the air and flew across the temple, landing several feet away.
Ella glanced at her son, who stood there with his arm out in front of him. He had disarmed the goddess. With no time to assess his action, she wielded her sword, slicing across the Morrigan’s arm and drawing blood. But the goddess darted to the side, pulling out a small blade, and as she raised her sword to protect herself, the blade sliced across her arm. Blood trickled down. They advanced and withdrew on each other, taking blows and delivering them without mercy. Ella struck across the Morrigan’s chest and the goddess slashed across her legs. Both were bleeding.
“You’re no match for me, little one.”
The torches went out, plunging the temple into an inky darkness, and thunder cracked overhead. It was impossible to see where the Morrigan was, or Nate. Ella called out to all the elementals, knowing the temple was little more than an illusion hiding them from reality. Words filled her head and she focused on dispersing the magic surrounding her in this place.
Cast out the past and bring me once more to the present.
She blew at the magic on the air. As she imagined the forest, it came into view. The temple lay in ruins once more. The stone circle was to her left as mist swirled around. In between the fog, she caught glimpses of Nate and Issac, who lay on the ground.
Marcus, where the hell are you?
Coming through the trees.
At the edge of the forest, the trees and bushes moved. Ella spun around, seeking the Morrigan, who stood a few feet away. “Do you truly believe that? You see, I’ve learned a few things lately, and you’re right, having an exceptional family tree is fascinating,” Ella shouted, advancing on the goddess, pointing her sword at her.
I have Nate. He’s safe. The others are fighting. Do what you need to do.
Hearing Marcus confirm her son was with him, she kept taking one step after another. The eerie mist swirled around, and a soft rain fell. It reminded Ella of the time in the graveyard and how the Morrigan deceived and played her and Isabella. Through the patchy fog, she saw the goddess darting around the monoliths. Her burgundy dress stood out and she ran toward her, lunging her blade to the right, hitting its target, and was rewarded with a keen yelp.
The mist thinned and Ella spun around, launching her blade in the other direction but missed. The goddess retaliated, pushing forward and slicing across her belly. Agony shot through her; she glanced down to see her shirt torn and saturated with blood. Holding her stomach, she poured her energy into the wound. But she could not risk being distracted as the Morrigan closed in again.
“You can’t win. You’re no match for me,” the Morrigan taunted before vanishing.
Twisting around, Ella searched through the trees and stones for the woman, but a screech from the skies had her lifting her head. A red scaly dragon flapped its wings, diving right at her and breathing fire. She dodged out the way of the orange flames and hid behind the tallest monolith. But more flames burst to her left, burning the bushes and grass. Seriously?
“I thought we were done playing games,” Ella shouted out as she peered around the stone, searching the mist, looking for the Morrigan.
“And I told you, you would
