A man with yellow wings flying above dove at Luka. She was just about to scream and draw attention to herself when Luka jumped back, out of the path of the diving man.
Reflexes lightning-fast, Luka shot his hand out and grabbed one of the yellow wings. With a roar, he wrenched the man to the ground, punching him hard until he stopped struggling and lay still.
Four left, she thought, feeling more helpless by the minute.
Two of the winged men circled above, shooting blue pulses of light no wider than a quarter. Kadion, Sal, and Luka dodged the shots as they fought to restrain the other two.
Her gaze flashed to the still form of Traef, and she felt herself heave. Helas, hair and eyes wild, was viciously ramming his boot into the unconscious male’s arm. A loud crack rang through the forest, and Helas tried to work the metal band down and off the bloodied, pulverized flesh that used to be the man’s arm.
She needed to warn them, but she couldn’t risk distracting any of them.
Sal tackled Kadion just as a blue shot of light whizzed past, then sprang up and began wrestling another winged man to the ground.
I guess his apology was sincere.
Kadion shot his legs into the air, propelling his body upward, and landed crouched on his feet. Throwing his hand out, he caught one flying man by the throat while mid-dive toward Luka and the entrance to the hut. With a sickening crunch that carried to her, he broke the man’s neck.
Momentarily free of attackers, Sal’s gaze swung to her. She waved her hands wildly and pointed to Helas, who was now pulling a black glove and a gleaming knife off an unmoving winged man.
Sal gave a sharp nod and charged at Helas. Just out of arm’s reach, Sal’s invisible tether to Kadion snapped taut, jerking Sal’s head back.
Momentary shock registered on Helas’ face before a cruel smile curved his lips. In the blink of an eye, he slashed the air with the glimmering blade. Alice shrieked.
Too late. Falling to his knees, blood gushing from a quick strike above the metal collar, Sal choked. Alice’s vision blurred with her tears.
A snarl burst from Luka, his eyes flashing to hers before two of the circling men dive-bombed him from either side. Fighting hard, Luka was a tangle of fists and legs.
Helas dragged each side of his bloodied knife over his pant leg while staring at her, a crazed smile spreading over his face. An icy stab of terror tore through her heart as he started stalking toward her.
Kadion and Luka were now all that stood between the attackers and Verakko. If they broke down the door before he’d freed the women, they might never find another way.
Knowing they couldn’t afford to be distracted again, she turned and ran.
Pumping her arms and legs as fast as she could, she made her way deeper into the forest.
Don’t look back. Don’t look back.
Skidding to a halt, she looked out over a steep cliff leading to a raging river below. She dashed down along the cliff edge. Dodging branches and boulders became more and more difficult as the canopy of leaves above her thickened, swallowing the forest in darkness. Slowing, before she entered into the area of the forest that was completely pitch-black, she ducked behind a grouping of high bushes and willed her breathing to be silent.
Helas was older and stocky, right? He couldn’t possibly be agile enough to sneak up on her without her hearing.
An anguished roar echoed through the trees, and she stifled a cry. Luka!
“There you are!” a croaky voice said from behind a large tree. “You can’t hide, stupid girl. You reek of fear.”
Struggling to keep her legs from shaking, she stood. Now only ten feet away, Helas’ clothing and pale orange hair looked more disheveled than she’d ever seen them. As he glared at her, his eyes glinted evilly.
No weapons. No fighting skills. No protector. Alice was shit out of luck.
Helas wielded the knife in front of him with one hand and wore the black glove on the other. He crept toward her, and panic tangled her thoughts. Rush a gun, run from a knife? But what if he has both?
Behind her lay only black forest. As a Clecanian, Helas had better eyesight and could scent her fear. She had no hope of outrunning him.
The river below churned and flowed, splashing against boulders. Alice knew she’d never survive if she jumped in, and drowning wasn’t a death she was interested in.
If she was going to go out, then she’d go out swinging. For once, she’d fight back.
Before she could reconsider, Helas lunged and swung the knife.
He sliced a shallow bloody line across her abdomen and cackled. She jumped back, falling on her ass. Instead of moving in for the kill, he hovered as if waiting for her to beg for mercy.
Fury flowed through Alice when she realized he was toying with her. Grabbing a handful of dirt, she threw it in his eyes, then tried to run around him.
She felt thick fingers slither into her hair a moment before her head was wrenched back. Twisting in his grip, she turned and kneed him in the balls. He threw her to the ground, ripping out some of her hair as he did. While still doubled over, he aimed a vicious kick at her ribs.
Pain radiated from her side, black spots dancing in front of her. She rolled, dragging her knees to her chest. And spotted her only hope of salvation.
Only feet away was a familiar small, round red object on the forest floor, just behind where Helas stood.
She
