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I’m actually able to grasp it comfortably. My strength has increased more than I realized in the past month. I take stock of the balance of the blade. That was a thing, right? Do I know how to use this mammoth sword? Absolutely not. Am I determined to take at least one of those fuckers’ heads off with it? Definitely.
“It’s just in case, sweetheart,” Kyros explains, looking at the blade in my palm.
“Oh, I’m using it,” I declare, hefting the weight in my palm, holding it before me, and readying my stance.
“Do you even know how to swing that thing?” Maximus mutters under his breath.
“Nope.” I pop the ‘p’ just to piss him off. “That’s not going to stop me, though. You guys had all the fun last time. This time, I’m taking one of their heads.”
Mateo glances back at me, and I can’t help but mirror his maniacal grin. His battle lust has obviously rubbed off on me. That would be the only reason I would grin at that bastard.
“That’s all you brought with you?” Mateo asks, turning back to Titus. “I could demolish you and your little friends in less than twenty seconds.”
Titus merely grins back. He rolls his wrist again and the dark, shadowed forms of demons multiply behind him.
“Shut the fuck up,” Adrian warns through gritted teeth.
Mateo waves him off, focusing back on the demons. His body thrums with pent-up energy. The God of War preparing for a battle.
Titus and Mateo start forward at the exact same moment, meeting each other in a clash of steel and power. Beams of light arc through the air, colliding with their targets. Adrian and Maximus waste no time joining the melee. Charging towards the shadow demons.
Multiple Adrians pop out of nowhere, multiplying like the shadow demons had. Long swords appear in their outstretched palms mid-stride. Maximus drops his sword altogether, aiming his hand towards a group of attacking demons. Their shadowy forms crumbling to the floor in a puff of smoke.
I take a step forward, about to join them, when I feel a hand grip my arm, holding me in place. I turn my head to see Kyros there, an anxious expression twisting his face.
“You should stay back, Olivia,” he warns, glancing towards the battle ahead—the copies of Adrian meeting the demons head-on, swords arcing to slice through the shadowy beasts. Yet for every demon they slay, five more pop up.
Maximus opens a hole in the floor, trapping a group there, and the real Adrian forms bars atop the makeshift jail, trapping them in place. Kyros’ frown deepens, observing the chaos, spotting Mateo and Titus still locked in their fight. Titus surprisingly keeps up with the god of war, meeting him blow for blow.
“If we could just figure out what is unlocking his powers,” Kyros mutters to himself, eyes locked on Titus. He notices my brows furrowed in confusion and continues his internal thought aloud for me. “Titus’ powers are vengeance, he’s able to wield almost any power if he is avenging someone or something. I just can’t figure out what he would need to take vengeance upon in this situation,” he ponders aloud, keen eyes assessing the dark god.
I feel the blood drain from my face, remembering Titus’ earlier words. That I must have some idea. That, along with the dark power that pulses from him calling to the same void in my chest. I avert my gaze, hoping Kyros doesn’t see anything. I look at him from the corner of my eyes and see his gaze still firmly planted on the dark god.
“He must have a portal ward placed on the demons. Each time one is killed, it transports five others in their place.” He looks around, tapping his chin in thought.
“Could we somehow open a portal, like Adrian did with my closet?” I ask, looking at the demons. The group of demons trapped beneath the floor are now cracking through another piece of hardwood plank, attempting to join back in the fight.
“He should be able to.” A smile breaks across his face as his brain formulates a plan. “We can’t open one to the infernal realm, though, or else we may risk bringing even more through from the other side.”
A few of the shadow demons break through the formation Adrian’s copies have created. Kyros starts forward, his sword swinging down in a fluid arc, slicing through the demons. I take a moment to admire his form.
Despite his healing nature and thirst for knowledge, he can still fight just as well as any of his brothers. He lunges towards another, attempting to disable the demons without killing them. He swipes for another’s legs, but the creature levitates upwards, avoiding his strike.
Well, I guess it’s time to pull on my big girl panties. These demons aren’t going to take care of themselves. I raise my sword in both hands, still unsure of the weight, not wanting to falter in the midst of an attack. Feeling the new weight at my back, I pull in my wings, tucking them closely into my back on pure instinct. The appendages already feel like an extension of my body.
Pulling on my combat training, I approach, assessing the group and their weaknesses. Before I can second guess myself, I strike out at the closest demon, my sword slicing at his exposed side. I pivot, narrowly avoiding one’s outstretched arms.
“Don’t let them touch you,” Kyros shouts over the roars and grunts of battle sounding around us. “They can turn you to shadow, and they’re the only ones able to reverse it.”
“That would have been nice to know before I lunged towards them,” I grunt back while swinging my sword at the demon. The blade arcs, slicing his outstretched arm in half. The creature’s scream pierces my ears, and dark shadows flow from the wound. I lunge forward while he’s distracted, stabbing through his robe and skin. The blade slides easily through his middle, and I withdraw as I meet resistance. Hoping the blow wasn’t lethal yet, just enough to disable him.
I stumble at the thought that this is my reality now. That fact that I could so easily take this creature’s life, sours my stomach. I jolt when I hear my name shout from behind me. Kali’s voice filters in through the fog and I jerk to the side at the last moment. Narrowly avoiding another demon’s outstretched palm. I repeat the same motion, taking his hand before skewering him with the sword.
I turn, seeing another demon coming from behind me. Before I’m able to react, the demon crumbles to dust. A seething Maximus comes into view on the other side, visible through the pieces of disintegrating demon billowing through the air.
“I thought I told you not to throw yourself at demons,” he growls, eyes blazing with fury.
“I have a sharp pointy sword this time and shiny wings,” I state proudly before raising the pommel of the sword towards him. He blinks in surprise, jerking to the side before the metal connects with the withering forehead of a demon. He narrows his eyes on me before nodding in thanks. The pompous prick is too proud to even give me a proper thank you, so I simply shrug back at him. Maybe now he will have a little more faith in me.
