“I can see you,” I tease, winking at him.
“Just admiring,” he says, pretending to fiddle with the syringe.
Once I’m done, we both go out into the hallway, dodging the crowds of people mulling about. I’m glad that Marco and I got our own room instead of sharing with Isaac; it would have made things very awkward. Marco calls out to Isaac as the blond boy disappears down the stairs. His head bobs back up, waving in confusion.
“What’s up?” he asks.
“The Wyrms are coming back in two days,” my boyfriend explains. “We kinda need a plan for it.”
“It never ends,” the blond boy moans. “I was just about to meet Braith; you two can explain there.”
30
Chapter Thirty
“Fucking hell.” Braith rests her head in her hands. “Now what do we do?”
“Well, we can’t go with them,” Marco says firmly. “They just want you back there to eat you and Hazel.”
“But they’re planning another attack.” Isaac rubs his eyes. “I don’t know whether we can hold them off this time, not without the shark and the bear.”
“Oh no.” Marco shakes his head. “If Hazel uses the shark, it might bring the serum failure back.”
“It’ll come back in a few days anyway,” I argue. “The Wyrm says I need to keep injecting.”
“You sound like a druggie,” Braith jokes, pushing me playfully but ducking her head when the boys turn to glare at her.
“How can we believe anything the Wyrms say?” the blond boy points out. “They could be lying to get you to go back.”
“But the serum worked,” I argue. “So they were telling the truth about that.”
They don’t look convinced as they start muttering to each other. Braith raises her eyebrows at me and shakes her head.
“I’m sure they’ll come up with something,” she says.
“If they can stop arguing,” I chuckle as their voices become more raised.
“This whole thing seems like it will never end, doesn’t it?”
“It will, though. This can’t go on forever.”
“I guess. It’ll feel weird going back to regular life after all this. I can’t imagine going back to school after all this freedom.”
I find myself agreeing with her. This has been part of our lives for so long; it seems weird to think that one day it will all come to an end.
“Look,” Isaac taps his hand on the table. “We’ll prepare for the Wyrms, okay? But I can’t guarantee that everyone will want to fight.”
“We need a strategy, that’s all. Send the dragons and Wyverns to take out the Wyrms so everyone else can handle the foot soldiers. I doubt Ray will turn up himself.”
“Rumour is that he’s in the city, though.”
“We’ll take each day as it comes, okay?” I interrupt by clearing my throat. “We can only do what we can. If people don’t want to fight, they don’t have to. But they need to know that the Wyrms think they’re associated with us now and will not let them go quietly.”
“She’s right,” Braith agrees. “The Wyrms won’t let anyone go from the town. They’ll consider them all the enemy.”
The blond boy bites his lip. “I can handle the others. Just focus on yourselves. We’ll all have to fight, so we may as well stick together. I’m guessing you’re all on the same level fighting-wise.”
“I’ll train Hazel up some more,” Marco promises me with a wink. “She didn’t get to learn as much as Braith and me back in camp.”
“Can’t I train her?” Braith grumbles, pouting. “If she’s naturally ice, I could train her how to harness that element.”
My boyfriend’s face darkens. “No way; I don’t want to bring the serum failure back sooner than it has to.”
This makes Braith clamp her mouth shut. Marco takes my hand and leads me out of the room, and I mouth an apology to the others. He takes us outside to the Wyverns, who all look over in our direction.
“You don’t need to be so harsh,” I reprimand him. “It’s not her fault.”
“I don’t want you getting sicker than you already are.”
“I won’t,” I promise him, kissing his cheek softly. “We know the cure now; I just need more of it. Hopefully I can keep my strength up for when the Wyrms get here.”
He gives me a sad look but drops the subject. “Okay, ready for another lesson?”
“Always.”
I’m excited to learn something new, and to have Marco as my mentor again. That night under the stars gave me a bit more knowledge but not enough. I want to become more powerful so then I can be more useful in battle.
“Now,” he hesitates, rubbing the back of his head. “This is quite an advanced move, and it took me ages to master it because we had to leave Aria. But hopefully you’ll grasp a bit of it before the Wyrms arrive.”
“How advanced are we talking?” I rub my hands together in excitement. This should be fun.
“Pretty advanced.” He puffs his chest out. “But I can do it no problem.”
“Less talking, more teaching then.”
Throwing his jacket on the floor, he ignites flames that end at his elbow. Pushing himself forward, he throws the flames at a pine tree in front of him. They explode in a cloud of orange before fizzling out entirely. All that’s left of the tree in front of him is a charred stump.
“You prefer fire over dark, don’t you?” I say with a smirk.
“Huh?”
“You always use fire to attack.”
“I use fire to attack and dark as a defence.” He straightens out his sleeves. “It makes sense: fire is more offensive than defensive.”
I throw my hands up in agreement. “So, I just need to throw it forward?”
“It’s harder than it looks,” he scoffs. “Uses up a lot of energy, really.”
Standing behind me, he takes my arms and bends my elbows to aim at the tree. “I’ve never created this much water before.”
“It’ll take some getting used to. Concentrate on letting it flow up to your elbows.”
Taking a deep breath, I squeeze my eyes shut and concentrate on the water flowing in my palms. Slowly, a thin trail snakes up to my elbow, weaving around my arm like rope. It’s nowhere near as much as Marco generated, but it’s a start. With a huff I force the water forward, but it just sloshes to the ground at my feet.
“Oops, sorry.” I put on my cheesiest grin as Marco mumbles about his shoes being wet.
“You need more water and more power.”
“I gathered that. Maybe before the Wyrms get here I can get their scales wet.”
“Anything but the shark,” he reminds me coolly, though I can see the fear in his eyes. “It’s dangerous and you can’t really control it.”
“Maybe when I get serum regularly, I can practise,” I continue as he gives me a glare. “As long as the serum keeps the serum failure at bay, I can use the shark as much as I want.”
“I’d rather you didn’t.”
“But it’s a powerful ally.”
“That drains you every time. Not to mention the mental trauma.” He drops my arms. “Keep trying by yourself for a bit; I’ve got research to do.”
“Marco, I’m just saying-”
“I know what you’re saying, and I don’t agree with it,” he snaps, his eyes burning with fury. “What’s important at the moment is that you stay healthy; keeping away from Draca and the shark will help you. Once I’ve found a permanent cure, you can do whatever you want.”
Before I can answer, he’s stormed back inside, slamming the door behind him. With a sigh I concentrate on the tree stump once more, charging for another attack, when Lil Red bumps into my feet. The red Wyvern stares up at me with disapproving eyes, and headbutts me towards the door.
“I’m not apologising,” I mutter.
I sound like Rocky sometimes. And his stubbornness doesn’t get him anywhere.
Glancing back at the hotel, I slump my shoulders in defeat.
�
��Fine,” I tell him sternly. “Maybe I did push him too far.”
The red Wyvern smiles and hops away as I turn away. Even the dragons have better sense than I do sometimes.
31
Chapter Thirty-One
“Today’s the day,” Isaac mutters, twirling a ball of light on his finger.
The Wyrm deadline has come around way too fast, and we all know what’s coming. We look up at the sliding wooden door, patched up with planks and nails after the last attack. Behind us stand the rest of the Aislados, their faces expressing a mixture of fear and anger. I don’t blame them, but I’m glad they’re staying to fight. The ones who have left lost contact with the town yesterday; I can only imagine what the Wyrms did to them.
“They’re here!” someone shouts as Ariadne roars on top of the gate.
It’s now or never.
“Everyone ready?” Marco asks quietly, taking my hand and squeezing it gently.
“As I’ll ever be,” Braith declares, forming an icy spear in her hand.
Isaac nods. “Open the gate.”
As soon as the gate starts sliding open the Wyrms come into view. There are masses of them, twisting and curling their grey bodies around each other in excitement. Once the gate is fully open, three people step forward.
“Shit, it’s Wes!” I exclaim, pointing to my old friend.
“And Sadie.” Marco clenches his jaw. “Should have known that she would be on his side.”
I squeeze his hand, but he doesn’t tear his gaze away from the blonde girl. I’m going to enjoy kicking her ass.
Ray beams upon seeing the three of us, opening his arms in greeting. “I never thought I would see you all again!”
“I don’t believe that,” Braith spits under her breath.
All three of them are dressed in steel armour and carrying wooden spears. As Sadie strokes her spear, a small ball of light glows on top of it. The spears must help them channel their elements.
“Braith, Marco. It is lovely to see you again.”
“Wish we could say the same!” Marco shouts back.
The Wyrms hiss and spit behind Ray, their eyes lit up with excitement. They can’t wait for this battle; this is exactly what they wanted. Making us come quietly was never their plan.
“Now, we can either do this the easy way or the hard way.” Ray points to the Wyrms, who cheer in anticipation. “Which would you prefer?”
“We aren’t going anywhere,” I tell him. “We don’t want to be Wyrm food.”
Ray rolls his eyes. “But it is for such a good cause!”
He’s getting angry. The veins all over his body are pulsing violently, as if his heart is beating faster than the blood can pump around his body.
I shrug. “Sorry, but we’re not making it easy for you.”
“What if I give you something in return?”
“Like what?” I ask, though Marco mutters something in my ear that I don’t catch.
Ray nods to Sadie. “Give me your spear.”
The blonde girl complies but raises her eyebrows in confusion. Upon passing it over, Ray tosses it behind him, ignoring the cries of hurt from the Wyrms it lands on.
“What is he doing?” Braith asks.
“Giving me something in return, it seems like,” I growl, my gaze locked on Sadie.
“I am glad you understand, Hazel. I know you and Sadie have some things you need to sort out. Unless…Marco would like to take your place?”
My boyfriend recoils in horror, snuffing out the flames around his wrists. Sadie glances between Ray and me, confused.
“I still don’t understand how this is supposed to make me come with you.” I strut confidently outside the gate into the circle of Wyrms that now surrounds Sadie and Ray.
“I am giving you a chance at revenge, Hazel. I know how badly you want to take it.”
“Doesn’t mean I’m coming with you.”
“Ray, this isn’t-” Sadie begins, but is cut off by Ray raising a hand.
“Maybe not, but I want to see how this plays out. Winner gets an advantage for their side; how does that sound?”
“What advantage?”
I know it’s dangerous bargaining with Ray, but if it gives the Aislados a leg up then I’m happy to do it. Plus, I don’t mind fighting Sadie. I hate her for what she’s done to Marco, and I’m getting revenge on his behalf. She deserves everything that’s coming to her.
“If Sadie wins, the Wyverns leave. If you win, we free the Aislados that tried to escape yesterday.”
I swallow back my fear. “And if I refuse?”
“Then we will kill them, and the rest of the Aislados, in a battle you will lose.”
Shit. None of this is good, but I can’t leave the people who ran away to die. They were scared; it’s natural. I’m not punishing them for trying to save themselves.
“Fine.” I take a deep breath as the Wyrms cheer around us, blocking out the cries of Marco and Braith on the other side.
Ray’s smile widens. “I was hoping you would say that.”
“Hazel!” Marco calls out, but the hissing of the Wyrms drowns him out.
As soon as he steps back, the Wyrms form a tight circle as a battlefield, cackling and taunting the two of us in the middle. Sadie charges towards me, igniting balls of light in her palms. When she gets close, I duck underneath her arms and trip her up, making her stumble into the wall of Wyrms.
“Get back in there!” a Wyrm hisses, pushing her back into the fray.
The two of us circle each other, elements in hand, both of us contemplating our next move. The smug look on her face makes my blood boil. After everything she’s done, she deserves this.
“You okay there, Hazy?” she taunts. “Or are you too scared to take me on?”
I throw a ball of water at her head, but she dodges it easily. At least the Wyrms have kept some distance away so we can use our elements. “I’m not scared of you,” I hiss in reply.
Her eyes light up. “You aren’t, but I know Marco is. Tell me – does he still shudder when he-”
I don’t let her finish before I’ve tackled her to the floor. The Wyrms cheer and close in, snuffing out the elements in our hands. Punch after punch lands on her stupid face before she kicks me off and knees me in the stomach. I kneel on the ground, winded, as she kicks me repeatedly, the Wyrms going crazy over our fight. I can feel the familiar burning rising on my back, but I try to block it out. I can’t get sick from using the shark, not now.
“Is this good enough for you, Ray?” Sadie raises her hands in victory. “She is weak, just as you said she was!”
While she is busy boasting, I get back onto my feet and grab her hair from behind. She screams as I yank on the blonde extensions, ripping them out of her head. She stumbles away from me, clutching the parts of her hair that she still has left.
“You bitch!” she screams.
I toss the extensions to the floor as she charges for me again, but this time I keep her back with a punch to the face. This knocks her off her feet, and she hits the back of her head on the ground. Dazed, she looks around in dismay as the Wyrms start cheering for me. They obviously just like the fight and don’t care which side wins.
“You can kill her, Hazel.” Ray steps out from the Wyrms, a dark grin on his face.
“No, I can do it!” Sadie protests, clambering to her feet in her heavy armour.
“I’m not killing her, or anyone. She may be a monster, but death is a step too far.”
Ray examines my stern face, his smile fading slightly. “You disappoint me.”
“It’s what I’m here for.”
“I think you were starting to win anyway,” he says with a smirk. “We’ll release the Aislados.”
“No, please!” Sadie begs as the Wyrms part to let me through. “I can do it; just give me my spear to stab the bitch!”
“You shouldn’t need the spear,” Ray scolds her. “You should be able to take her out on your own.”
Marco rushes towards me as I
cross the barrier, holding me tightly. That fight was weird; it’s as if Ray wanted me to win.
“You okay?” Braith asks.
“Yeah. My reward is that the trapped Aislados are freed.”
“Trapped?” Isaac echoes.
“The ones who tried to escape,” I explain. “That’s why no-one can get hold of them – they were captured.”
“Will he keep his word, though?”
“I don’t know,” I admit shakily. “But I’ve tried.”
“Silence!” Ray screams. “Time for the big finale!”
We all step back over our side of the barrier, each of us concerned with Ray’s sudden madness. His mouth is curved into an unnatural smile and his eyes are so wide that they’re practically bulging out of their sockets.
“I don’t like this one bit. Should we shut the gate?” Braith mutters as the Wyrms shuffle behind Ray once more.
“I don’t think a door will keep them back,” Isaac admits. “I think our only choice now is to stand our ground.”
“Sadie Brookes!” Ray announces, throwing his arms up in the air. “Has pledged loyalty to us!” The Wyrms cheer, but Ray cuts them off. “But she has betrayed us!”
Oh shit.
Sadie’s eyes go wide with fear. “No, I-”
“You assisted the others with their attempted escape. Did you think that we would just let that go?” Ray thrusts his face into hers, making her recoil.
Rocky and the others tried to escape? But when we left none of them wanted to come. What’s changed?
Has Ray descended that far into madness?
“I changed my mind!” The blonde girl sinks to her knees, begging her leader for forgiveness. “I knew it was better to stay with you rather than be with them! I saw through their plans!”
“But your loyalty wavered.”
“Only for a second.”
“A second too long!” Ray screams at the top of his lungs, making the Wyrms scream in unison.
Wes looks scared by what’s about to happen. As Ray’s right-hand man, I presumed he would know every part of Ray’s plans, but obviously not. I lock eyes with my old friend, but he quickly looks away, scuffing his spear along the floor. Maybe his loyalty is starting to waver as well.
Glass and Ice (Elemental Dragons Book 3) Page 22
