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Jasmine
I WRAPPED MY FINGERSaround the blade tightly and waited for the monster to give me an opening. It would. No one controlled it now, and that was the sort of monster I was acquainted with.
The monster rose, raising its claws and opening its mouth to show teeth. There was a wild look in its eyes, a look that I recognized.
Muscle memory kicked in. I shifted on my feet to prepare myself. Before the monster could make its first move, I ducked away from it and ran my blade on the monster’s side as I got out of its way. It shrieked, but it did not turn toward me.
A little trickling of blood made the monsters torn skin glow. It was a flesh wound, but the monster howled at the pain. It took a few steps as I got out of its way.
As I hoped, the beast fell toward where I had been a moment ago.
And just like I had predicted, as soon as the monster was behind me and could reach the exit, it did not attempt to fight me. It was hurt.
Monsters ran away when they were hurt.
They always run away unless you force them, Cari send the thought toward me.
But I did not need her to confirm.
Without control, the monsters were wild animals. They wanted to live. They were predators and would fight if they thought we were easy prey, but if one showed them they were not easy to take on, the monsters would flee.
The monsters gaze darted away from me for a second. It kept its wings wide and stood up. It was an act of intimidation. The monster wanted to show me how big it was while trying to figure out a way of escape.
I waited without making any sudden moves.
Although they were predators, the monsters had been fae once. They did not want to attack their kind unless the queen was in their minds, ordering them to act against their nature.
The monster would flee given the chance.
And I had just given it an out.
I took a step back to show that I would not chase it if it were to go now. I kept my blade high so that it would not think me an easy prey.
The monster took a few seconds to evaluate its situation. Blood poured from the flesh wound I’d inflicted on it, but he could heal easily. There was no reason to fight me.
I saw his eyes twisting with the decision.
The monster did not look back as it darted into the hallway leading out of the castle. It disappeared into the darkness quickly and I watched it go, my chest moving up and down as my breathing calmed down.
I did not know if the monster could find its way outside, but one was gone for now.
“Give them an opening to flee!” I shouted at the others still fighting the monsters as my monster disappeared into the dim-lit hallway.
Kieran and Dearen heard me. I couldn’t tell if Qai could understand me.
As Dearen took a step back to show the monster that it could flee as he wished, Kieran injured it by slashing its arm and drawing blood. The monster howled, and just like I had hoped, it turned its head to find a way to escape.
Perhaps it had seen the first monster flee and knew precisely where to go. The monster saw the opening and darted toward the exit. We let it.
I knew that Qai had understood me when he, too, stepped away from the monster he had been fighting. He growled as he waited and faced the monster. Qai knew the way of the beast better than the rest of us. The growling was a warning; leave now, and I won’t follow you.
The monster understood too. As we watched, the last monster jolted into the hallway and disappeared behind the others. It limped as it went.
“Can you open the door for them to leave?” I asked. “They might return if there is no way to leave the castle.”
“I can,” Cari replied.
“Don’t!” Kieran warned. “What happens to the soldiers outside?”
