Ambrose cocked her head to the side in mockery of how he had. “My turn.” With all the focus she had, she closed her eyes and let her magick consume her. As she fully opened her channels, the rush was almost overwhelming but she let it build until there was nothing inside of her but pure Magick, swirling with a current that reached towards the clouds. Purple-white light ripped through the space where she stood and when she raised her hand to the sky, her current called for everything the clouds could offer as her lightning ripped the sky in two and killed the disciple that had been battling Oryon, though her eyes had been on the deacon.
Fuck. She missed.
The deacon shrieked and tore at his robes. “No! Impossible! How is it you can wieldtwoElements? What kind of tricks are you playing?”
Podara was still frantically pouring buckets of water on a fire that wouldn’t quit, the edges of it now touching the house as the upper floor burst into flames.
Eurus was locked into battle with the disciple who held Lyda, who used his vines to try and take him down, though the knight cut them and didn’t falter. He leapt forward and with the strike of his blade sank it into the disciple’s chest all while catching the infant before she fell.
Danthan faced a disciple, using what Magick he could, but as a healer hewas practically defenseless as he fell to the ground screaming, “Get out of my head!”
Felius had successfully released Artie who was helping him tear the vines from his wife as carefully as they could, the thorns biting her skin as they freed her.
Akadian faced two disciples in hand-to-hand combat, though it was hardly a fight. The mages threw Water and Ice at him but it was no use. Their Magick evaporated before they could even touch the prince who hadn’t even broken a sweat. His own rage steamed off of him, though he didn’t unleash his magick.
Why isn’t he using Fire?Ambrose wondered, frustrated.
“We could really use some Water Magick right about now!” Podara shouted and Ambrose was fairly certain she was speaking to her.
This ends. Now.
Ambrose went to take the final steps that would close the distance between her and the deacon when a voice tore through the chaos.
“Stop!”
Everyone’s attention snapped to where the voice had come from. The last disciple had Antony in his grasp, a dagger held at his throat. The poor child screamed for his parents as Felius and Artie finally freed Marybeth. As soon as the binds were off her, she launched herself screaming at the man that threatened her child.
The mage cut his hand through the air and a sharp blade of wind sliced her head from her shoulders and her lifeless body fell to the ground.
“No!” Artie roared as he ran to his wife. Blood spilled into the ground from where she had fallen, soaking her dress.
The family’s anguished screams filled her head as Ambrose tried to process what had just happened.
Marybeth.
The woman who not six hours ago welcomed them into her home and fed them a home-cooked meal now lay dead on her own property.
Marybeth.
Antony cried even harder as he reached for his mother’s still body.
Marybeth.
Ambrose completely abandoned the deacon and ran towards the disciple restraining Antony. She’d tear his throat out with her teeth if she had to. Nothing else mattered anymore.
On her approach, the disciple pressed the blade into Antony’s neck, a drop of crimson beading from where it punctured as Antony whimpered. “Do not come any closer.”
She stopped in her tracks.
The only one still moving was Podara as she threw water on the flames that had overtaken the house like a burning beacon, telling all what was happening. Though, Ambrose knew no one was coming to help them.
Danthan lay unconscious as blood trickled from his nose. The disciple he’d been facing stood over him with a wicked grin on his face.
She didn’t know what to do. Didn’t know how to help. She raised her foot, wondering if she could be faster than him. Could she save Antony?
The disciple noticed her movement and pressed the blade further as Antony sobbed. “I said, stay back.”
She hissed at him but backed away a few steps as her mind raced for possibilities. What could she do?
