Page 54 of Elysian

I bit my tongue to halt a sob from exploding. There would be no escaping if I faltered.

While the focus was on her, I lifted my heel so I rested on my toes, popping the back of the slipper free to offer space to grab the blade. As I stood, I kept my hand against my robe, tears trickling down my cheeks. Egan stepped closer to his father, hand on his sword’s hilt and the other gripping the effigy.

Screams continued echoing. Shrill and piercing—full of grief.

“Shut them up,” Vaner complained.

Blue blood bubbled to Hester’s lips, but a look of rage flitted over her features. She met my eyes, blood draining from her lips. Her shaking hand fell to her thigh where a section was raised . . . as if there were a book there.

“Kill them if they will not shut⁠—”

Damien sliced his blade through the chains binding Cassiel’s legs together, freeing the piece attaching them together.

Everything happened in a blink of time. Cassiel lunged forward, wound the chains connecting his wrists together around the nearest council member’s throat. In a move so quick, he snapped his neck. An officer brought the sword down behind him. A shout caught in my throat. I needn’t worry, because as they grappled, Cassiel broke the wooden leg from the chair and slid it into the officer’s face, rendering him unrecognizable. He whirled around and grabbed Lord Dillon, wrapping his chain around his throat before pulling the chain taut. Blood and skin burst through the chain links.

Chaos erupted.

Hester had dragged herself until she reached Egan’s ankle. He staggered and fell on his face.

Unsheathing the blade, I dashed past Vaner shouting orders, and lunged for the effigy that slipped from Egan’s hand.

A different officer dove for the effigy at the same time. I threw my body forward, reaching his back, and brought the blade into the back of his neck until I hit bone. He screamed and reached over his shoulder. In panic, I kept shoving the knife until the hilt was against his skin. I must have hit something vital because he seized and fell to the side. Even with his topple forward, I kept hold of the small knife. The silver surface came away with a coat of sapphire.

I killed him . . .

I seized the effigy, hugging it as gently as possible. I turned to face the chaos. Cassiel cut a path toward me. Vera and Branwen had seized swords from felled officers. They stabbed at the men Cassiel flung aside, finishing what he started.

Blood sprayed across my face, and I swiped it away. One of the councilmen lay on their face. The man from southern Sycarious.

“Give it to me!” Vaner bellowed, taking hold of my hair. He yanked, and pain shot down my neck.

“She has a weapon!”

The shout only offered me a split second of surprise. Vaner turned. Instead of sliding the blade into his throat, it slammed into his shoulder, raking down. He hissed and slapped me across the face. Hard enough that I lost my footing. As I stumbled back, I caught sight of his flesh beneath the wound. A familiar greenish shade.

Rot. Vaner had the Hollow Plague.

A thick layer of gelatinous material oozed from the gash. “Bitch!” he shrieked and swung his arm at me again, sending me to the ground.

Two officers converged in a blur. I backed away, scanning where to run when my back hit something hard. Terror stole my breath.

‘It’s me.’

Cassiel gripped my side and prodded me back a few paces. The two officers hesitated for a breath. Behind them, Vaner escaped. The officers finally rushed forward, but Cassiel was already slashing the sword across in a smooth glide, easily pulling it through their torsos. The blade snagged, and he yanked through, bringing with it a piece of spine.

My stomach rebelled, and I forced myself to look away. Bodies writhed, blood dripping from various places. Any of the Guard that still lived had begun to run.

“Come,” Cassiel said, catching my arm.

“Wait!” I exclaimed, scanning the blood-splattered corpses until I found a familiar brown frock.

I pulled out of his grip and crouched beside Hester. Her parted lips had stopped moving and her eyes were unfocused.

“I am sorry,” I whispered, lifting her frock to expose her thigh.

Strapped to the middle with a bandage wrapped around it was the Lore of Old. I slid the blade through the fabric, and it was free. I hugged it close with the effigy, leaving the small blade beside Hester. Cassiel grabbed my arm and hoisted me to my feet while balancing both blades in one big hand.

‘Stand behind me,’ he ordered, moving forward with prowling steps. Once I gathered my balance, he released me and took one blade in each hand.