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This wasn’t going to be a normal stand-in-place-and-duke-it-out sort of fight. Outnumbered like this, I’d need to keep moving, getting in whatever hits I could. I couldn’t guard Mei and keep myself alive at the same time.
I must’ve had a death grip on her arm, because she snarled in my ear, “Let go. ” I’d backed us against one of the rocks and was edging along the side. “I can help. ”
I ignored her, keeping my sole focus on Masha. “You don’t have to do this, you know. ” I’d keep her talking as I inched farther sideways, waiting for a plan to present itself. If I stood still and three girls jumped me—jumped us—that would be it. They’d be clearing bits of us off the rocks for a vampire snack.
“I don’t have to do this,” Masha agreed magnanimously. “But I want to. I want to see you dead, Acari Drew. Your friend, too. Hugo says she also no longer matters. ” She craned her neck, trying to catch Mei’s eye. “Hear that, little girl? You no longer matter. Step out from your hiding place. I’ll make it quick. I promise. ”
I stepped aside, shoving Mei. “Run. ”
My roommate flinched away, pushing out from behind me, looking pissed. “I won’t leave you. ”
“Go, run, little girl,” Masha purred. “We like to chase. ”
“Leave her out of this. ” I shoved Mei again, but she didn’t budge. “Go. Get out of here. ”
Masha shook out her whip, a cascading strip of black leather, so elegant and fluid in her hands. “Hugo thought he wanted her. He said she’s fair game now. ”
“I won’t let you touch her. ” I honed in on Masha’s neck. Only one of us would survive.
Masha giggled. “Said you’re fair game. ”
“All’s fair, isn’t that what they say?” I pinched a star between my fingertips, eyes on her jugular. I threw.
But Masha darted aside, and my shuriken flew past her, arcing and dropping into the sand. “Too slow,” she said. “You’re not fast enough to beat me. Not strong enough. ” Large rocks littered the base of the hillside, and she sprang onto one of them, cracking her whip at me as she spun into place.
But I was faster this time. I ducked and threw, and my star hit her arm, still extended in midair. I laughed, feeling momentarily giddy with the tiny success. “I am smart enough,” I said. “Smarter than you, Masha. And you hate that. It’s why Alcántara—why Hugo—wanted me. ”
“He doesn’t want you anymore. ” She shook her whip out, twirling it from where she stood on her perch. “You’re not good enough. You’re nothing anymore. ”
I slid another star into position. Only two left—I’d run out soon, and if I had any hope of surviving, this fight would have to get sloppy. Fists, sand, seawater…whatever it took to win.
Which meant I really had to get Mei-Ling out of there. I slammed my hip into her, hard. “Go. ”
Finally she listened. She took off, and hearing her scuffling, frantic footfalls, something in my chest released. I needed her safe—I wouldn’t have her die on account of me.
But then one of the Guidons took off, chasing her. She was a strong, broad one, and she sped after Mei, flicking open her butterfly blade as she ran.
I didn’t think. My right hand wasn’t in a good position, so I punched my left arm out, sliding the stake from my sleeve into my hand, and impaled the Guidon in the chest as she flew by.
Her body bucked in midair, and she dropped, spasming in the sand. Dead.
Masha’s face hardened, her eyes narrowing, glittering with hatred. “Lucky hit. ”
I spared a quick glance for the remaining Guidon. “Two on one, Masha. I think you should leave Mei-Ling out of this. You might need all the help you can get. ”
“We’ll find her,” Masha said. “Don’t worry. We’ll just get rid of you first. ”
I’d pinned my focus on Masha and realized too late the other Guidon was on the move, rustling with something. Masha cracked her whip, aimed at my face, and I ducked, but as I did, I heard the sickening meaty thunk of the other girl’s throwing knife skewering my shoulder.
I stumbled back a step. “Goddammit. ”
I tore the blade out, which was stupid. Combat medicine rule number one: When stabbed, do not remove object from wound. Blood flowed from my body in a hot gush, soaking the front of my shirt almost instantly.
I slung the blade back at her, but it was my left hand, wet with my own blood, and my throw went wide.
I clutched my shoulder, backing away. So much blood. It would summon something to us, for sure.
I imagined I heard the distant snarling and moaning of the Draug already, rattling in their cages.
