Warrior Beautiful

by Wendy Knight

  The heat nearly seared her skin. The soul stealers erupted in fresh screams. Scout’s eyes flew open as Ashra’s bright horn stabbed viciously through the soul stealer holding her hair. It exploded in a shower of blood and ash. “Ashra!” Scout gasped.

  “Use that thing, Princess!”

  Scout wrenched her arm free from the soul stealer’s claws and reached for the scepter she’d dropped at her feet. Swinging it wide, she knocked the others away from her, into Ashra’s flames. They shrieked in agony until there was nothing left.

  “Come on!” Ashra started to form the stairs, but the soul stealer dropped from above, its claws digging into her back. She screamed, that weird horse-like scream that seemed so odd coming from a unicorn. Scout sprinted, leaping, stretching as she swung the scepter. It sunk deep into the demon’s chest, shoving it backward as Scout landed on Ashra’s back. Ashra kicked her sharp back hooves, pummeling the soul stealer as Scout wrenched her scepter, now glowing with fiery unicorn magic, from the soul stealer’s chest. It lit bright from within, slowly burning from the inside out.

  Ashra’s tail wrapped tight around Scout’s waist as her mane plugged Scout’s ears, cutting out the horrendous screaming. Her mighty wings flipped out, igniting, and she shoved off the ground, launching them at the next soul stealer in line. Scout mentally flipped through the attacks, but the one Ashra wanted exploded from her scepter. The soul stealer shot into the sky, but couldn’t escape. The fire wrapped tight and Scout jerked the scepter back, cutting the demon in half. She looked away from the gore, looking for her next target.

  “Scout, look out—” Trey’s voice was barely audible over the soul stealers’ howls, but Scout felt the claws ripping into her back, digging for her soul. She screamed and Ashra plunged forward. The demon’s claws fell free, but it reached again, and it was too close. They couldn’t get away.

  Trey landed hard behind her, between the soul stealer and Scout. Its claws, reaching for Scout, dug into Trey’s chest instead and he screamed in agony. Torz attacked it from behind but he wasn’t powerful enough on his own. Scout twisted on Ashra’s back, cradling Trey with one arm as she swung her scepter at the soul stealer, trying to knock it back. Trey’s soul, beautifully incandescent, slid free through the wounds. “No!” Scout screamed, reaching for it, but her hands flew through it.

  I love you, Scout. Forgive me. Trey’s voice echoed through her head, the eyes of his soul watching her sadly as he was drug away.

  Torz, above them, fell sideways, weakening as the soul stealer escaped with Trey’s soul. The mighty unicorn crashed to the ground and the remaining two soul stealers fell on him like carnivores, tearing at his flesh.

  “Ashra!” Scout screamed. The light that suddenly lit from within was so bright Scout would have thrown herself from Ashra’s back if she wasn’t tied on.

  The bond.

  “Attack, Scout!” Ashra screamed, her whinny more frightening than any soul stealer’s scream. Scout swung her scepter, aiming toward the creatures on Torz. A wall of fire exploded from her scepter, encompassing both soul stealers at once. They screamed as they burned, but Ashra didn’t hesitate. She swung around and shot into the air, after the demon that still held Trey’s soul. His body fell from behind Scout, sliding toward the ground, but Torz rocketed into the air and caught him before they both crashed back down to earth.

  The soul stealer was fast, racing through the air, so fast Scout’s eyes could barely hold on to its image. But Ashra was faster. She flew after it, her fiery wings leaving trails of light behind them.

  “Now, Scout!” Scout aimed it for the soul stealer’s chest — where its heart would be if evil could have a heart. The fire that shot from her scepter nearly knocked her backward with its power. Ashra’s horn lit up, magic of its own winding around Scout’s flames, chasing the demon down. There was no escape.

  The attack plunged into its chest. It shrieked and screamed, and its grip on Trey’s soul slipped. He broke free and escaped to earth where his body waited. The soul stealer burst into an inferno of hot magic before it, too, exploded into blood and ash.

  Ashra tucked her wings and they plummeted back to earth. At the last second her wings shot out, catching them, and they landed softly next to Trey and Torz.

  “Trey!” Scout slid from Ashra’s back as Trey stumbled forward. She caught him as he fell to his knees, weak and shaking. “You’re okay. You’re okay,” she sobbed, unsure who she was trying to comfort — him, or herself.

  “You saved me. You didn’t let them take me,” Trey mumbled, his head against her chest.

  Scout met Ashra’s eyes over Trey’s head. She flicked an ear at her. “We did it, Scout.”

  “I like it better when you call me Princess.” Scout smiled. “Things are a little too real when you start calling me Scout.”

  Ashra snorted. The street stood silent, after all the screaming and the pain. There was nothing left but spatters of black blood and ash.

  “We need to get you back to Paradesos,” Ashra said. “Where we can heal you both.”

  “Why did you come for me? I thought—” Scout started. Ashra tossed her head and stomped her foot, cracking the asphalt under her hooves.

  “You thought wrong. I was stupid.”

  Scout would have thrown her arms around Ashra’s soft, furry neck if she weren’t still holding on to Trey. But he was quickly regaining his strength — his arms tightened around her as he got his feet under him. Torz, too, was back on his feet and looking less like he’d just been through a war.

  “Ashra, I can’t go back. I have to find a way into Aptavaras. I can’t give up on my sister. I’m sorry.” Scout shook her head sadly. “I just can’t. I promised.”

  Ashra and Torz exchanged a long look, no doubt talking or tele-whatever-ing it was that unicorns did. Scout laid her head against Trey’s broad chest. She’d almost lost him. He’d thrown himself into the soul stealer’s claws for her. And she didn’t ever want to let him go again.

  She would have to, she knew. She had to save Lil Bit. And she couldn’t ask anyone to sacrifice themselves to go with her. But for now, she held on to him as tightly as she could.

  “The entire town… are they all—” Scout couldn’t finish the sentence. Kamille, her drill coach. Mr. Zornes. Andi. And Trey’s best friend Cole. Kylin’s friend Kasen. Were they all dead? Was being dead better than being taken by the soul stealers?

  “I don’t feel anyone here, Torz said. The soul stealers have either killed or taken everyone in this town.” He flicked an ear at Ashra, who dipped her head in some kind of silent agreement. Torz continued, “They undoubtedly did it to punish you for joining us.”

  The whistle of wings nearly scared Scout out of whatever was left of her soul. She spun out of Trey’s arms, swinging her scepter and willing it to attack before she realized that one, she wasn’t on Ashra’s back and the magic wouldn’t work and two, the creature that landed lightly on the ground before her was a unicorn. Magic wouldn’t have worked on him anyway. He flicked an ear toward Scout and away again, lowering his horn toward Ashra. “Havik is in trouble. We need you.” Another ear flick toward Scout, and he continued, “all of you, if you are willing.”

  Scout glanced at Trey. “There’s no way he’s ready to fight. He just had his soul snatched back from the hands of a demon!”

  Trey shook his head, motioning toward Scout. “And Scout still has claw marks in her back. She needs a Leerha.”

  Scout hadn’t even noticed the gashes until Trey mentioned them, and suddenly the constant throbbing and stinging made a lot of sense. The Ekse slowly turned his long graceful neck toward them, eyeing them both with something akin to discomfort and grudging respect. “That’s why I brought her.”

  On cue, a shadow passed overhead, and the Leerha swooped down gracefully, landing with barely the whisper of hooves on the asphalt. “Come here.” Her horn already sparkled, awake with magic and ready to heal. Scout looked at Ashra. “You first.”

  “I’m not hur
t, and we’re in a hurry.” Ashra tossed her head.

  Scout rolled her eyes. “Yes, we’re in a hurry, and you’re covered in blood, horse. Stop arguing with me.” Ashra snorted indignantly, blowing hot air through her nostrils, but the Leerha ignored them both and leaned her horn to Ashra’s wounds, fluttering her wings to lift her high enough to reach Ashra’s back. She turned her sapphire magic on Torz next, and then Scout shoved Trey forward. He healed as easily as the unicorns, but Scout knew the Leerha would have trouble healing her. They always did.

  Leerha magic was less fire and more sparkles, bright blue and white barely wrapped in the shimmer of light flames. Scout craned her neck to watch over her shoulder as the Leerha touched her horn to Scout’s bloody back, but instead of fighting when it hit the wounds, it seeped in easily, twisting and wrapping until the skin was healed and only a light pink scar remained. The Leerha raised her head. “Well done, Scout.”

  Scout’s eyes widened as she looked at Trey. Her back didn’t hurt. Her wounds had healed. And her heart hurt least of all, like a huge weight had been released. This was what forgiveness felt like? She wished she had done it a year ago — if not for Trey, then for herself.

  His gaze went from the Leerha’s bright horn to Scout and back again. “Thank you,” he whispered.

  She smiled. “Iros needs our help. Ashra, help a girl out?”

  Ashra’s horn lit up, and bright fire swirled around Scout, leaving her in protective armor and a new helmet. The belt holding her scepter was covered in sparkles. Fiery steps waited for her, and she leaped up them and onto Ashra’s back — she’d made it once on her own but really wasn’t up for embarrassing herself by not making it now.

  Trey jumped onto Torz’s back. Ashra snapped her wings out, the fire enveloping the soft feathers and she shot into the air, Torz at her side. “Where is Havik?” Ashra asked the Ekse, who flew with them. The Leerha disappeared into the clouds above them — probably back to Paradesos.

  “He’s at the gate. He was ambushed. They seemed to anticipate Iros’ need to close the gate tonight.” The Ekse turned his small head toward Ashra, beautiful eyes haunted. “So many have been lost already.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  Lightning exploded from Torz’s horn, opening the doorway. They flew through the torn sky, into Paradesos, but didn’t hesitate. Ashra summoned lightning again and they flew out into the real world before thunder shook the ground and closed the tear in the sky.

  “How do you know where you’re going?” Scout leaned low over Ashra’s neck, trying to slow them down as little as possible.

  “See that constellation in the sky?” Torz pointed with his horn as they galloped through the clouds. “It’s the unicorn constellation. It’s called Monoceros. Greek for Unicorn.”

  Ashra tossed her head. “The horn of Monoceros points the way to the wound in the north that the Master of the soul stealers created as a gate between their world and yours.”

  Scout squinted, just able to make out the form of the unicorn in the bright pattern of the stars. “I thought the gate was the wound in Paradesos?”

  “No.” Ashra’s voice clearly told Scout that she’d asked a stupid question. “That’s a wound. Not a gate. You can get to Aptavaras from there, but it isn’t the gate.”

  “Oh. Well that explains everything.”

  Torz and Ashra both raced through the sky, following the direction the horn of the constellation pointed. A deep formation of storm clouds appeared on the horizon, growing bigger and bigger as they came closer. Without hesitation, both unicorns plunged into it, fighting their way through the lightning and pouring rain. Scout pulled her scepter close and ducked her head, trying to keep the rain from blinding her. Just when she was certain they would all drown, they found their way through to the other side.

  And into a war zone.

  Scout gasped. She’d never seen so many soul stealers. The unicorns were vastly outnumbered, and in the middle of it all, she could just see Iros and Havik’s light. They were being smothered by demons with evil red eyes. “What are those?”

  “Soul stealers with mended souls.” Torz’s voice was grim as they darted through the sky toward the battle.

  That’s why Iros wanted to close the gate. They’re ready to march on Paradesos, Scout thought.

  “Soul stealers don’t have legs. They can’t march,” Ashra sounded distracted as she tilted sideways to avoid a bird. Below them, the world was a frozen sheet of ice. That was why the “disease”, aka soul stealers, had spread from the north down. The gate was at the top of the world. “Unicorns don’t like the cold. We’re kind of hot blooded.” Ashra said, still distracted. “Ready, Princess?”

  Scout leveled her scepter as the first soul stealer found them, its scream nearly splitting Scout’s skull.

  “Scout!” Trey yelled, trying to be heard over the cries of the dying unicorns and the shrieks of the demons. Scout jerked toward him. “I love you. I always have. I always will.” Before she could respond, Torz shot forward, meeting the demon head on — literally, his bright horn impaling it. Scout flinched away from the blood.

  “Ashra? I’m scared,” Scout whispered.

  “Me too, Princess.” They flew above the thick cloud of demons. Trying to get to Havik. Light exploded from their mighty leader and several soul stealers fell from the sky, lost in the darkness, but not enough. Scout gripped her scepter tight in her steady hands as she felt Ashra gather her strength in her front legs, like she was about to leap. Instead she dove, straight into the middle of the battle. Across the sky, Torz followed as they both fought to free Havik from the clutches of the enemy.

  Scout closed her eyes, searching for Lil Bit in her heart. Searching for her strength. Without thinking, her scepter lit up, shooting fire through the skies. She and Ashra had been powerful before, but the wall of flames that twisted together now was an inferno. The many soul stealers caught in the attack shrieked in agony, their cries filling the skies with horror. And then they were gone and Scout was searching for more strength as they fought their way toward Havik. But more red eyes surrounded them, closing in on them from behind. Unicorns fought from the other side, but without riders their power was too weak. Sparks from a hundred horns were a backlight in the pitch darkness, but it wasn’t enough. Scout couldn’t even see Iros through the cloud of evil, only his bright magic as he tried to fight his way to the gate. It was a mission he must have known he wouldn’t return from, not after he was ambushed, but he kept trying. Because it was the only way to save the world, and he would die trying to protect those who didn’t even realize he existed.

  But if he closed it, Lil Bit would be lost forever.

  Scout pushed the thought away. Right now, she had to focus on killing the demons in front of her and freeing Havik from their talons. She’d find a way to save Lil Bit later. She twisted on Ashra’s back, swinging her scepter like a bat at the head of a sneaky demon trying to get its claws into Scout’s soul. It screamed, blood spurting from its jaws as it fell from the sky. Scout glanced at it and then away, the next demon already falling on them. The fiery rope leaped from her scepter. Flames from Ashra’s horn twisted around it, tightening and strengthening as it wrapped around several soul stealers at once. Scout yanked hard and they ripped in half. Black blood spattered her armor as she swung on the next group. They were almost close enough to see Havik through the demons, but his light was fading. “We’ve got to do something more drastic, Ashra!” Scout screamed. Across the sky, Torz raised his head.

  “Okay. Hold on tight, Princess!” Ashra tucked her wings and dove deep into the cloud of evil, galloping through the frozen air as her horn impaled anything in her way and her sharp hooves attacked whatever she could reach. Scout lunged and jabbed with the sharp edges of her scepter, taking out as many as she could, even when her arms started shaking from exertion. Unicorns fell into formation behind them, spreading out like birds in flight. Ashra’s horn lit up but Scout didn’t have to be able to read her mind to know what h
er plan was. The concealing attack exploded from her scepter, surrounding the hundred or so soul stealers near them. The unicorns behind Ashra plunged in, their attacks lighting Ashra and Scout’s cloud like gunfire. Across from them, Torz and Trey did the same thing, throwing a concealing cloud over as many soul stealers as possible.

  Above them, Scout saw another concealing cloud descend on the soul stealers trying to attack. “What the—?” Scout jerked her head back, searching the sky. Another giant black unicorn swung sideways, holding his cloud while more unicorns darted in.

  And on his back, Kylin swung her scepter, bloody, bruised, and screaming like a banshee… and glowing slightly They had bonded already? “I thought Iros said bonding was hard.” Scout mumbled.

  “Let’s help her out, should we?” Ashra seemed to notice them at the same time Scout had. The demons in their cloud were dead, and Scout let it drop as Ashra’s wings snapped and she climbed through the sky, darting into Kylin’s cloud. Scout couldn’t see a thing. She had to rely on Ashra, hoping her flames would follow Ashra’s attack. Judging from the shrieks of agony, Scout was pretty sure her big unicorn had a handle on things, and she focused on finding the strength inside her to keep up.

  The cloud dissipated, and Scout found herself blinking at the stars in the night sky, surrounded by unicorns and nothing more. The soul stealers were dead.

  Except for the ones below them, the ones still attacking Havik. Their mighty leader was falling lower and lower in the sky, but he hadn’t given up. He wouldn’t give up, not if he still had a heart beating in his chest. Scout knew that and knew that his rider was the same way.

  “Come on! They need our help!” Kylin shrieked at them as her unicorn plummeted after Havik. Ashra’s wings tucked close and they followed, Torz at her side. Scout leaned low against Ashra’s neck, looking sideways to meet Trey’s eyes. He smiled weakly, as bloody and beaten as she was. But refusing to quit.

  They were a small army, but the strength between them was stronger than any evil. Scout didn’t realize she was yelling her own crazy version of a battle cry until she saw Iros’ head snap up below them, saw the relief on his face, and the hope.