“Sever it,” Domino urged ... and I did, reaching out to pinch it off at the base before giving myself a chance to reason.
Pain like I’d never known burst through me, shoving a scream from my throat.
“You’re all right, you’re all right.” The librarian treaded water, holding me up as my body ceased working properly. “Most people do this in stages, the pain trickling in. There wasn’t time for that. Now, at least, you have a chance to save him. And yourself. I’ve seen it.”
“I still love him,” I said and sniffled.
“Use your pain to your advantage.” Domino swam us forward again, and the feeders started drooling. “Fight. Return your focus to your flames.”
Okay, yes. Domino was right. I needed to fight. I couldn’t help Cyrus if I died, and Iwouldhelp him. I must. Letting Astan win wasn’t even an option.
The flames burned hotter, one growing brighter, calling to me. The tie to Soal at the heart of them all. I reached for it.
Suddenly, flames leaped from the orb. Heat spread over my arm, tugging my consciousness outward. From my shoulder to my fingers, those flames crackled. Just as easy as Domino had promised.
Though the flames brushed him, he remained uninjured. A smile of pleasure lit his face, inspiring a return grin despite the awfulness of our circumstances.
“How many other things do I not know I can do?” I asked.
“Many,” he said, and I sighed. Figured.
My feet grazed the ground, and I stood.
“Get ready.”
Anticipation among the feeders turned frenzied.
We sloshed forward, coming out of the water. The librarian swung his arm as feeders rushed us, a flaming sword appearing in his grip. Heads dropped without their bodies.
As other feeders approached, I did some swinging of my own. To my shock, a sword of fire appeared in my grip, an extension of my hand. The blade sliced through everyone within reach, body parts plopping to the sand.
Best. Weapon. Ever.
I stayed on the move. Working with Domino, I sliced and diced through the masses. I ignored the chilly wind beating against my wet skin. The weight of my waterlogged gown. The squish of my soaked sandals. Swing, swing, swing. More feeders fell.
Beyond us, an engine roared, the volume cranking fast. Bodies went flying amid a series of thuds before a huge truck came to a screeching halt. Armed guards poured out, Winslet among them. Exactly what we didn’t need.
Each soldier carried a harbinger and peppered the area with bullets. Domino maneuvered in front of me, spinning his fiery sword with such speed he created a shield of heat more powerful than metal. The bullets melted, dripping to the ground, never reaching us.
I watched the masterful defense with my mouth agape. Between the ebb and flow of gunfire, when our challengers paused to reload, Domino dipped and turned, moving forward, tossing flaming daggers. Different guards fell until only a handful remained.
“You won’t make it on foot,” Winslet called. “Cyrus and Lolli are almost battle ready. Time is running out.”
“You die today, unless you give your life to Soal,” Domino called back. “Did Cyrus tell you that? In order for all of Astan’s essence to fill him, you must lose what you were given. The moment you do, you’ll bleed out. Don’t spend your final moments wounding the only people who can stop him from doing to others what he’s done to you.”
Compassion welled. She’d reached the end of her story, the final scene set. “Winslet.” It was all I could say. I didn’t know her well, but I liked her. Her life had meaning. “You can be healed, if you’ll let—”
“Shut up,” she snarled.
Domino dipped, tossing another dagger. Winslet screeched, and a thud rang out. Injured. I darted around the librarian and charged the remaining guards. He didn’t stay behind me long but moved forward, keeping pace at my side.
One, two, three shots rang out. My heart pounded in time, the beats so hard they felt like a hammer against my ribs.
“Lesah,” Domino shouted, a command unlike any I’d ever heard, as if he spoke with many voices, all of them from a different rushing stream.
In a flash, the world decelerated to a crawl—but I didn’t. Nor did Domino. We blazed. “Lesah?” I asked, having never heard the word.
“Through Soal, we can slip outside of time for short bursts,” he explained, mowing down a cluster of feeders. “It takes discipline and strength. Don’t try it on your own yet.”
