Chapter Seventeen: Alive

She was alive.

“Thank you,” she whispered into my chest. With my boosted senses, she might as well have screamed it. It was music in my ears, unbelievably sweet. It almost made me laugh, because I wanted to say the same thing right back to her.

She was alive. I hadn’t been too late. Not this time. She was a little worse for wear, but she was warm and breathing and alive. She’d been so out of sorts I doubt she noticed how desperately I’d clung to her those first few minutes. Hearing her heartbeat slow. Smelling her blood all around us. Feeling every tremble of her frozen and battered body. How could I not have pulled her away from the corpse of that beast and wrapped her up in my arms as tightly as I dared?

She was alive! I’d made it in time. A part of me knew that it wasn’t just that, either. If she hadn’t lasted as long as she did, I never would have made it. Hells, if she hadn’t had the strength to stand back up after everything and throw herself back into the fight, I doubt I would have walked away either. She was strong and fast and skilled and beautiful and amazing. I made up my mind then and there.

“You’re staying with us tonight,” I told her. I’d heard enough of her and Fel’s conversation to get the gist. “And that isn’t up for debate.”

She nodded into my shoulder. “Okay.”

I ran my hands through her hair a few more times. Even plastered with blood and sweat, it was soft and full against my fingers, and it seemed to go on forever. I could have sat there all night, but she needed a warm bedroll and some real clothes.

I conjured an extra pair of boots. She argued weakly, but I wasn’t taking no for an answer. Not after I’d almost lost her. She tried arguing again when I started to put them on her myself, but quickly gave up. Unable to stop myself, I ran my hands up her legs and counted her every injury, all still sealed by my skill. They weren’t the jagged rips that the blightwolves left, but rather deep, clean slices. If I hadn’t seen the fight with my own eyes I might have thought blades did this.

“Wait here for a moment.”

She nodded, her emerald eyes searching mine. I stepped away from her reluctantly and immediately missed her warmth, but I had to see them with my own eyes. They were smaller versions of the creatures Grimsbane had summoned on that day. Something not of this world. If I hadn’t used the cursed blade to weaken them, we wouldn’t have stood a chance.

Speaking of the cursed blade…

I went to retrieve it where it had fallen. I thought I’d come to understand the blade over the last few years of the war, but I was starting to doubt every secret I’d uncovered. It had changed, but I had no clue how or why. I should be unconscious at best, dead at worst. The meager levels I’d gained since drawing it at the tower shouldn’t have been enough to protect me. I’d drawn it assuming I might not survive the act because it had meant saving Serena, but the moment I’d undone the clasp…

The only emotions I’d ever felt from it were rage and anger and hate. I’d always appreciated that since those were the only things I knew after I’d escaped Karn. I felt those again when I pulled it from my storage and undid the clasp, but that wasn’t all I felt. There was something new. Something achingly familiar. A loneliness that I’d never realized had become such an integral part of me until Rhallani had stepped in to fill that gap. Then Scarlet. Then Serena.

But that wasn’t even the weirdest part. Those emotions had shifted in the fraction of a second where my hand had first wrapped around the hilt. I felt something else from the blade. A desire to protect. It had torn through countless enemies through the years and caused untold destruction, but this was the first time I’d felt it demand the deaths of monsters for the purpose of defending a life.

I touched two fingers to the scabbard. “I have to put you away now,” I told it, trying not to feel foolish for talking to a sword, “but not because I want to. Thank you for saving my friend.”

The sword, because it was in fact still a sword, didn’t answer. I banished it, trying to decide if that faint sense of reluctance belonged to me or not, and retrieved my other weapons. I stopped long enough to hack the head off one of the beasts, then I banished both bodies and all the parts I could find into my storage. They nearly filled it, but I wasn’t planning to keep them there for long.

Serena had stood by the time I returned. Her cloak was wrapped tightly around herself and she looked more than a little ridiculous in my boots, but she was alive. She clearly favored one leg, so I turned around and crouched down. “Hop on.”

She spluttered. “It’s fine! I can walk on my own!”

I didn’t bother looking back at her. “Your two options are either hop on my back or I can throw you over my shoulder. Your choice.”

Thankfully, she didn’t argue any further. I tried to think pure thoughts when I felt the heat of her press into my back and she wrapped her long, toned legs around my waist, but the way she shivered when my hands gripped her firm thighs did a number on me. Despite her protests, she wasted no time in wrapping her arms around me and pressing her cold face into the warmth at the back of my neck.

We didn’t speak while I picked my way back towards camp. Not until we could see the flames through the trees and the forms of people moving about. I felt her legs tighten around me, then she said, “please put me down.”

I paused. “I’d rather not.”

“Please, Ren. I don’t want to be carried into camp. I don’t want him to see it.”

Reluctantly, I set her on her feet. She swayed slightly, but I steadied her. I was going to have words with Fel before this was over. I put a hand to her cheek, and she gasped. “You never have to deal with him again. Not if you don’t want to.”

She placed her hand over mine and closed her eyes. Her lips curved a little. “Thank you, Ren. For more than just saving me.”

Her legs were unsteady underneath her, so I wrapped an arm around her waist. I may not be carrying her, but I wasn’t about to let her limp into camp unassisted. Serena leaned on me gratefully, and we walked into the light.

With the fire behind them and my eyes used to the dark, it was hard to make out the silhouettes of the people around us. One stood up and turned towards us, and I recognized Vaze after I had a second to adjust. She was grinning.

“Finally. I wonder what you two were up to out there that she’s having to lean on you like—” Her smile fell and the color drained from her face. “Cilrien, go get Mihrel now.”

I looked at Serena and winced. In the light of the fire, she was in bad shape. Her face was covered in blood and dirt, and the side of her head was already darkening with bruises. Other than the red of her blood, the darkness of the dirt, and the gold of her hair, there was no color in her face.

She ran to us and draped Serena’s free hand over her shoulder. “What the fuck happened this time, Ren?”

Serena shook her head, then leaned into me as if that took too much effort. “Not his fault,” she protested weakly. “I was stupid. Got attacked. Ren saved me.”

For the third time in as many days, the caravan started collecting around the back of the medical wagon. “More blightwolves?” Pierce asked.

I could only shake my head. “Whatever they were, they made blightwolves look like bitches.”

Korey swore. “Dead?” I nodded, and he let out a relieved breath. “That’s good at least.”

The men were kind enough to avert their eyes while Mihrel parted Serena’s cloak and started looking at her injuries. He swore, then made a comment about how useful my stitching ability was turning out to be. With a gasp, Rhallani came up with Scarlet in tow. She grabbed my arm, unable to take her gaze from Serena.

“Is she alright?” she asked.

I pulled her in for a quick hug. “She will be. Stay with her, there’s something I need to take care of.” She nodded, and I looked around for the face I wanted to talk to most.

“What the fuck is the big deal?” Fel demanded, walking up, “so she got a little cold, she’s a big girl—” The words died in his throat when he saw Serena, then he saw the look on my face and took a step back. His hand went to his sword, but I stopped a few feet from him.

I conjured a tendril, then used it to dramatically drop the head of the monster we killed at his feet. It was just as terrifying in the light as in the dark. It flopped to the ground with a splatter of blue-black blood, its jaw hanging limp and its tongue lolling out the side. I heard gasps and one hastily muffled scream, but I didn’t take my eyes off Fel.

“That should more than cover whatever debts Serena’s incurred to this point. Keep your shit, she doesn’t work for you anymore, clear?”

His expression twisted. “Who the fuck do you think you’re talking to?”

I took another step and I let out the Zaren who’d fought a war for three years. Who had spilled enough blood to fill a lake. Who had seen more pain and misery and suffering than anyone had the right to and gone back for more. When I spoke, I barely recognized the voice that came from my mouth.

“I think,” I told him, “that I’m talking to a spoiled rich prick that I could take apart and bury so deep in the woods that nobody would ever find you. And I wouldn’t lose a wink of sleep over it.”

Fel puffed out his chest, but whatever he saw in my eyes was enough to scare him. I could feel his fear and, for once, I didn’t hate the feeling. I glowered at him until he deflated, then he awkwardly picked up the head and ran away with his tail between his legs. Once he was out of sight, I returned to where everyone was fussing over Serena.

Mihrel was wrapping the last of her injuries while Rhallani wiped her down with a damp rag. Someone had put some food in Serena’s hands, and already she was starting to get some color back. Scarlet sat by her side holding her hand with her lips slightly turned downward. Serena, though, only had eyes for me. I worried I might have overstepped, but there was only gratitude in her face. Gratitude and something else I didn’t want to think about tonight.

Rhallani smiled at me, then gave me the damp rag. She whispered something in my ear about getting the tent ready and disappeared, so I started gently wiping the mud and blood. Once Mihrel seemed satisfied, she stood on her own. She seemed a little steadier, but didn’t protest when I offered my arm and she hooked her own around it.

We passed Rhallani on the way to the tent, and she grabbed Scarlet and headed off to find Vaze to see about getting replacement equipment for Serena so she would have something to wear in the morning. When I led Serena into the tent, I rolled my eyes.

Rhallani had taken the bedrolls and untied them completely, spreading one out on the floor like a full sized bed and the other set aside to presumably use as a blanket. “I have an extra if you aren’t comfortable with this,” I told Serena.

Her only answer was to shake her head and grab my arm tighter. She let go long enough to let her cloak fall to the ground and kick off her borrowed boots, then she looked at me expectantly. “Don’t make me be the only one half naked,” she said softly.

My shirt was barely off before I felt her still-freezing fingers brushing my abs. Once again tracing the lines of my scars. I kicked off my shoes as well, but she only gave me a pleading look. Chuckling softly, I untied my pants and let them drop. She eyed where my undershorts were quickly starting to tighten, but I left those on. I didn’t know if she was ready for that yet.

“You saved my life.” She stepped closer so that our bodies were almost touching.

I took one of her hands and massaged some heat into her fingers. “Pretty sure that makes us even.”She gulped and moved close enough that her breasts were pressing into me. I could feel the heat radiating off her. “And I’m pretty sure you said you owed me two. That means I’m still up one.”

After tonight, I had no room left for reticence. One hand still wrapped firmly around hers, I slid the other to her waist. I pulled her body against mine and she let out a soft gasp. “I guess that’s true. Come up with anything I can do to settle the score yet?”

Her eyes left mine for as long as it took to glance down at my lips. “There are just so many things to choose from. I don’t know what I want most.”

I let go of her hand so I could cup her cheek. The one that wasn’t bruised and cut. She released a shaky breath at the contact. Her eyes fluttered, but didn’t close. “I guess I can knock a few items off the list for you. Try and make your choice a little easier.”

Her face rose towards mine with her lips slightly parted and I leaned down to close the gap. Her lips were soft and plump and scorchingly hot on mine, but that just drove me in deeper. It was chaste at first, but she quickly wrapped her arm around my neck and used it to pull me closer. I felt her tongue prodding at my lips so I answered with my own. She melted into me and her legs gave out, but I held her against me to keep her from falling.

“You taste even better than I dreamed,” she breathed, still clutching to me. Then her already flushed face grew redder. “That was supposed to be in my head.”

I just laughed and tilted her head upwards so I could capture her lips again. Her taste was nothing to shake a stick at either. It was only her injuries and the fact that I was supporting all her weight that kept me from pushing further.

Then, all too soon, Rhallani returned. She pushed open the tent’s flap and walked in with a bundle of clothes. “Well, Vaze said she’d have to look for something to fit those big boobs of yours in the morning, but for now—” She froze mid-word, her mouth open while her eyes traveled over our bodies that were almost entirely exposed.

Serena froze. “I’m sorry! I’m so—”

“Finally,” Rhallani said with a roll of her eyes. Then, over her shoulder, “it’s fine, they’re just making out. And it’s really fucking hot.” The last part was whispered under her breath, and I doubt anyone but me heard it.

“B-b-but I—” Serena stammered, tears in the corners of her eyes, “I kissed him! He’s yours, and I shouldn’t have! Oh Goddess, I’m such a—”

But Rhallani just scoffed. She grabbed Serena’s cheeks, then pulled her down to plant a kiss of her own on Serena’s perfectly plump lips. “There, now we’re even. Now by all means, go back to making out. Don’t let me stop you.”

It seemed that Serena’s brain had ceased all function, so all I could do was laugh while Scarlet slipped silently into the tent. “As much as I would enjoy that, maybe we should get horizontal first.”

Rhallani grinned, already peeling off her outer clothes. Per her new usual, she wore no bra. “I can get behind that. Or you can. I’m not picky.”

Serena made a squeaking noise, so I rapped Rhallani on the head. “Bad Arelim. No horny tonight.”She stuck her tongue out at me, but she still smiled. “Fine, fine. The real question is how we want to do this. I vote Serena gets to be in the middle since she’s the one who almost died.”

Serena’s only response was another squeak, but she let me and Rhallani lead her to the bedrolls. After a few minutes of tangled limbs and questing hands that I wasn’t entirely sure belonged solely to Rhallani, we all ended up under the blanket together. To my surprise, it was Scarlet who appeared from under the top bedroll to claim Serena’s front. She planted her head in Serena’s sizable bust and wrapped her arms around her chest so tightly I feared we’d never get her off.

Serena looked a little concerned, more by the fact that she’d wanted to nuzzle back into me than anything else, but she made no complaints when I pressed my front into her back, wrapping my arm around both girls to spoon them. Rhallani ended up the other piece of bread in the Scarlet sandwich, and the tiny girl ended up squished between two sets of breasts. I was only a little jealous but, from the light hum that emanated from the valley, I could give her tonight.

I blew out the lantern that lit the inside of the tent and plunged us into darkness, which had the wonderful and unfortunate side effect of amplifying every inch of Serena’s heat pressed into my chest and my thighs. I kissed the nape of her neck, and she sighed.

“Ren, I—” she started.

I could hear the uncertainty in her voice, so I reached around and tilted her chin up so I could silence her with a kiss. “Worry about tomorrow, tomorrow. Right now, just enjoy this. You’ve earned it.”

Her bottom lip trembled, but she just nodded and rested her chin on the top of Scarlet’s head. I laid down with my nose just far enough from her hair that I could breathe and closed my eyes. In the dark, I could tell the exact moment each of them finally drifted off to sleep. It was only after all three were out that I allowed their steady breathing to lull me into unconsciousness.

# # #

Allie hated second watch. It always took her so long to sleep she never managed to get a wink beforehand. Tonight was no different. Her watch wouldn’t start for another fifteen minutes, but the last thing she wanted to do was lie there and wallow. Her bedroll felt colder than usual, though she knew that it was all in her head. She was just lonely, but she’d always been lonely. Tonight just felt worse than normal for a number of reasons.

“Whatever,” she mumbled. She climbed out of the bedroll and threw on some clothes and tied her raven-black hair into a tail so it wouldn’t get in the way. Some days she loved her hair, thought it was beautiful and luscious and one of her most beautiful assets. Today she strongly contemplated cutting it all off just so she didn’t have to bother with it. She didn’t feel like completely gearing out either, so all she did was throw her leather chestplate over her head and lace up her boots, then she strapped her swordbelt on and crawled out of her miserable little tent.

At least it was Nora who sat at the edge of the dim firelight. Nora, the other newcomer to the group she’d joined up with. Allie was only here because of Alenden, and now she was pretty sure this would be her last outing with them. Nora would be the only one she missed.

Nora didn’t look up when Allie approached. Tall and muscular yet feminine at the same time. Scars crisscrossed her tanned arms, but she wore the proof of the battles she’d fought with pride. She normally wore armor, but it seemed on this hot night she’d also opted to spend her watch in less than normal, which meant Allie could practically see every muscle that rippled every time the fighter breathed. Her vibrant red hair barely made it to her shoulders, but Allie had never seen it not tied back. Allie had never been attracted to women, but Nora did something for her.

“Allisandre,” Nora said in greeting, not taking her eyes off the dark plains.

Allie sat down next to her. “I wish you’d just call me Allie.”

She grunted. “Your name is very…pretty.”

“It’s a mouthful is what it is.”

Nora eyed her. “Fine. Allie, then.”

For some reason, that was enough to make Allie smile. Something she did precious little of these days. “I can’t sleep, so I can take watch early if you want.”

“Thanks,” Nora said, though she made no move to get up. She shifted uncomfortably. “Are you…alright?”Nora struck Allie as someone who had never been very good with people, but she did try. Allie found it annoyingly endearing. “Oh, I’m fine. Just one more thing, right?”

That earned a snort from the muscular woman. Every time something had gone wrong on this particular expedition, which had been often, Nora had simply said it was ‘just one more thing’ they had to worry about, as if it was no big deal. The others had been getting annoyed by it, but to Allie those words had felt like a lifeline. She’d already dealt with so much shit, so what was one more thing?

Nora turned her deep blue eyes to the guys’ tent. “You could do better than Alenden anyways. He is a fool.”The sheer fact that Nora was trying to cheer her up made an unfamiliar warmth bloom in Allie’s chest. “He’s not so bad.”

The corners of Nora’s mouth twitched downwards. “Why end things, then?”

Allie wasn’t even sure if she knew. “It’s…complicated.”

Nora’s eyes shifted away, and Allie figured that would be the end of the conversation. Then, “the others, I don’t think they like me much. I doubt I’ll be invited back either.” She fingered the massive warhammer leaning against her leg. “I may not understand, but I’d like to try.”

Oh, what the hells. Why not? “Alenden is great. Charming, handsome, not an idiot or a dick.” He was actually rather sweet, if she was being honest. When she’d met him, she thought she’d finally found the one. The man who would clear that final hurdle. “Honestly, he was perfect in just about every way. Exactly what I’d always wanted in a partner. There was just one problem. Something he was missing that I needed to be able to truly love him.”

It felt like Nora was leaning towards her in anticipation. “What was it?”

Allie huffed. “I wish I fucking knew.”

Nora’s brows drew together. “I really don’t understand.”Neither did Allie. “Maybe I’m just an unlovable bitch. Maybe I have too high standards. Maybe I’m destined to die sad and alone because I’m too busy waiting to stumble across the perfect man who doesn’t exist to make the effort to love the people right in front of me.”

The words came tumbling out against her will. By the end, she was nearly in tears. She was so tired of it. She craved…something. Someone. She hated being alone. She’d read romance book after romance book just trying to live off the faint warmth that living vicariously through them provided. She wanted someone to lie down next to at the end of the day. Hell, she wanted a friend that stuck around more than a few months. She’d tried over and over until her heart felt like a raw and exposed nerve.

“Sorry,” Allie said, shaking her head, “you don’t want to hear about my shit.”

But Nora looked more thoughtful than annoyed. “You have a right to be as picky as you want in a partner, and I’ve met many women so trust me when I say you are not a bitch.” She punched Allie’s shoulder softly. “A bitch would have used Alenden for pleasure and cast him aside when they found someone better, but you let him go when you saw no future with him.”

It was probably the most Allie had ever heard Nora say in a single sitting. “Thank you, Nora.”

She grunted, then they sat in silence for a while. Long past when Nora’s watch should have ended, but she made no move to leave. Allie made no move to mention it either. Even if they weren’t talking, it was too nice just sitting in someone else’s company. “Nora, would you want to pair up after this? Try and find a new group together?”

Nora didn’t answer, and Allie immediately felt stupid. Nora was a monster with that hammer, and she fit into many more teams than Allie’s Spellblade class did. She didn’t even want to think about her secondary class right now for a number of reasons.

But then she glanced at Nora’s expression. The woman’s scarred hand was gripped tight around her warhammer, and her eyes scanned the darkness intently. Had she seen something? Heard something? Allie got to her feet slowly, making a show of stretching in case they were being watched. She used the movement to scan their surroundings, but she didn’t see—

There. Movement. She put her hand to her sword as nonchelantly as she could. “Southeast,” she whispered, “someone slinking towards us.”

A nearly imperceptible tip of the head was the only indication Nora gave that she’d heard. Allie silently cursed. What a night for both of them to be without their full armor. Nora stood, using the warhammer to push herself to her feet.

“I should get some sleep now. Good luck with your watch.”

Allie didn’t want to alert whoever was watching, but she didn’t want Nora to leave her alone either. “Sleep well,”

A grunt of affirmation, then Nora went to her tent. No, not her tent, the guys’ tent. She was going to wake the others.

Allie began to walk the perimeter of the camp, her sweating hand on her sword. She’d almost made it around to where she’d seen the movement when someone spoke.

“Ah, shame. Seems I’ve been spotted,” a male voice said. She whirled and drew her sword in a single motion. He looked to be a few years older than her. His sandy blond hair was messy and matted, and there was a darkness in his eyes that made her shiver.

“Who are you and what do you want?” she demanded.

“What do I want?” The man scoffed. “You idiots are the ones trailing me.”

Allie froze. That made no sense. The contract was to hunt whatever beast had been mutilating travelers, there had been no mention of a man. Trying to ignore the dryness in her throat, she raised her sword and activated [Blade of Fire]. Blue flames licked their way up her sword, heating it but not harming it. “You must be mistaken.”

“Not likely.” He pulled something out of his pocket. Allie crouched, ready to dive in a moment’s notice. “But it’s fine. I’ve been wanting to test my little beastie against real adventurers.” He held the object to his lips and she realized it was a whistle. He blew it twice, though the only sound was a faint whine. It glowed darkly, and he smiled at her. It was a dead smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes.

She didn’t know what sixth sense told her to throw herself to the side, but the instinct saved her life from the…thing that swooped out of the darkness. She heard the sound of something as sharp as a blade cut through the air where she’d been standing, missing her by inches.

She got to her feet and yelled, “Attack!” Then she looked at the thing that had nearly killed her and her blood turned to ice in her veins.

It was taller than her though it walked on four limbs, though its front two looked more like arms than the forelegs of any creature she’d ever seen. It’s paws were long and double jointed, like fingers, and even as she watched it flexed its hand and long, lethal claws slid out and dug into the ground. Its maw was shorter, like a cats, but its fangs were long and protruded down well past its jaw. It had mottled gray and blue skin, and glowing crimson eyes with no white in them at all. Something behind it shifted and she realized that the damn thing had wings. Massive and black-feathered, they folded into its back so tightly she would have thought them part of its flesh.

Before her shout had even finished echoing across the plains, four figures had exploded from the tent. Nora ripped through the side like it was wet paper, hurling herself straight between Allie and the monster. The others, Alenden, Roarke, and Evern, were much slower to her defense.

“You owe me a new tent after this you wild—what in the hells is that?” Roarke screeched.

They stopped short, but Nora’s expression didn’t change. Allie saw something else moving in the dark and acted on that same instinct, throwing a [Winter’s Shield] in front of Roarke. Long black spikes as long as Allie’s forearm slammed into it, stopping an inch from the annoying mage’s face. A tail. The fucking thing had a tail that could shoot projectiles.

He screeched and fell back, but the man just chuckled. He raised the whisle and blew it three times, then the thing attacked. Nora swung her hammer at it, but the thing was too fast. It rushed past her and delivered four strikes in rapid succession at Evern. The ranger didn’t even have time to scream before it carved him up, then sank its fangs into his throat and tore.

Evern fell, gurgling, and Roark hit the thing with a firebolt. It did little more than piss it off. It snarled at him, but Allie and Nora charged it. Nora hit it with an empowered strike and the beast flinched a little, but its tail just whipped towards her. Allie threw up another [Winter’s Shield] while she sprinted across the battlefield. She landed a strike on its back, and her blade cut into its flesh with a hiss.

Alenden fell to his knees beside Evern and started chanting. A glow settled around the ranger, trying to knit closed the gaping wound at his neck before he bled out. It was all Allie was able to make out before the thing whirled on her. She and Nora tried to stay out of reach of its claws, but it was too fast to dodge. Nora’s warhammer too slow to land a solid blow. As soon as they’d managed to flank it, it would spin and unfurl its wings to give it space and reposition.

Cursing, Allie let the flames on her sword go out. She needed speed, which meant she needed her newest skill. She activated [Conduit] and felt herself crackling with arcs of lightning. The world seemed to slow, and her sword glowed with arcs of blue electricity. Now able to react to the monster’s insane speed, she hurtled forward.

She landed two strikes, but her [Blade of Flame] packed more of a punch. Her sword couldn’t get past the thing’s thick, ropy muscle. Roarke, having finally stopped pissing himself, started throwing a barrage of spells at the beast. Flame and lightning and arcane bolts slammed into it. They did damage, but not nearly enough. Allie landed two more strikes, but then the creature turned to face her. She saw intelligence in the way it tracked her movements. The way it followed her blade. When she tried to attack it now, its tail met her every strike.

It spun and knocked her aside with its wing, then launched a barrage of spikes at Roarke who was fumbling with a mana potion. He threw himself to the ground, but not before he caught two in the arm and one in the upper leg. By the time Allie got to her feet, it had pounced on Nora. She fought the beast valiantly, but she was one warhammer against claws, wings, and a tail.

It pressed her methodically even as Allie, still juiced up with [Conduit], tried to close the gap. It tore her defenses apart and landed a single, sickening blow down her face and chest. Nora went down without a sound, and Allie cried out. The beast turned back to her and its eyes found her blade again. She tried to get past it, to get to where Nora was bleeding on the ground, but everywhere she tried to go it blocked her. [Conduit] had worked for a time, but the beast had adapted to her speed and the skill was draining her mana fast.

“Help us!” she yelled at the other three.

Roarke, who was moaning in pain, just pulled away. “Leave him, Alen, he’s done for! Heal me so I we can run!”

Run? He was going to run? He wasn’t even bothering to try and help Nora. He’d given up on Evern, who was gasping for breath. The beast watched her with its terrifying crimson eyes, waiting for her to make the first move. She released [Conduit] and her shoulders sagged. This thing was way out of their league. Nora was down, Evern was dying, and Alenden was a healer, not a fighter. She couldn’t count on Roarke, if he even had any mana. It was over. As the tip of her blade dipped closer and closer to the ground, the only thing she could find the strength to think about was how much death was going to hurt. If this would be a fitting end to the decently miserable life she’d led.

Then she saw Nora stir. She moved, but not quickly. Her arm reaching blindly for her weapon. Allie wasn’t afraid to die. Not really. It wasn’t like there was anyone who would miss her when she was gone. She couldn’t just give up on Nora, though. She didn’t know the girl well, but she’d been the first one in what felt like years that had even tried to understand her.

With the creature watching her every move, she lifted her blade and activated the core skill of her new class, [Sword of Night]. A black glow enveloped the metal, making it look like a sword-shaped hole in the universe. When she raised it, its outline trailed behind it like shifting afterimages. In her hand, it felt weightless. If she managed to land a blow, though, she knew it wouldn’t be the same for whatever she hit.

She took a breath, then let out everything. She dashed forward and swung. She felt the thing’s tail moving to intercept her, but it missed. It missed. She landed a deep cut in its flank and spun away, trying to lead it away from Nora. It lunged at her with a roar, but she just caught one of the claws with her black blade and activated [Riposte]. The retaliating strike cut deep into its limb, and it roared again.

Then she noticed its eyes. They were still following her sword. Or, at least, they tried to. They seemed to shift in and out of focus, and the thing kept blinking. Her skill made the sword harder to track! Something about it seemed to work doubly on this monster!

She had a chance. She launched herself with renewed energy and reigned blow after blow on it. She threw out an [Air Slice] and, just as she’d hoped, the beast couldn’t track it. She threw three more, and by the time the last hit there were four deep cuts on its flank. It snarled, but instead of attacking it backed away.

She was just getting ready to attack again when she heard the faint ringing of the whistle. Four bursts. With one last snarl, the beast turned and disappeared into the air. That could only be a bad thing. Allie turned her blade on the man, but the curious look on his face sent chills down her spine.

“Well, now. Aren’t you interesting?” he mused.

She raised her sword, but he flicked his hand. There was a burst of sickly yellow light and the world turned upside down. Then she was on her back. Her sword was gone, and her entire body throbbed with pain. She tried to stand, but the man sunk a single knee into her chest and sat on her. He was much heavier than he should have been. “What’s the class that gave you that little trick? It seemed to work well on my Malek, so I’ll need to know everything about it.”

“Fuck you!” she spat, trying to dislodge him.

Tsk, tsk, he clicked his tongue. “The hard way it is, then.”

From under his ratty cloak he pulled out a thin dagger with a blade made from some sickly green crystal. She struggled hard, her eyes going wide, but he just flicked a hand. Another burst of yellow light and her arms felt like they weighed a thousand pounds. She tried to lift them, to do anything, but she couldn’t. Her legs were just as useless.

“You can still talk, so if you feel like telling me then by all means.” He raised the dagger.

“Go fuck yourself!” Why couldn’t she move? What was he going to do to her? Terror ripped through her. This was worse than being ripped apart by the monster.

He used the dagger to slice off the straps of her armor, then he stood up long enough to toss it away. He cut away her clothes next, baring her breasts. Oh gods, was he going to rape her? But instead, he just touched the tip of the abnormally cold dagger to a spot just above her left breast.

“This is going to hurt you a lot more than it hurts me,” he said with a feral grin.He pushed the dagger in, and she screamed. Pain worse than anything she’d ever felt ripped through her. Like she was being burned alive from the inside out and stabbed over and over again all at once. Like someone was digging around in her chest. Like a hand had closed around her heart and started crushing it.

Memories assaulted her, but not memories of her own. Strapped to a table, a scalpel cutting into her. A boy chained to a wall, screaming a name she didn’t know. The feeling of blow after blow raining down on her even as she begged for mercy. Fighting children her size with dulled and chipped blades. Fighting feral animals while being just a step above naked. Burning and cutting and ripping and stabbing and a pain between her legs that made her want to die and—

“Interesting.” The man pulled the dagger away after he’d cut a line across her chest about three inches long. “Your class? Night’s Blade? That’s a new one for me, and that’s saying something. What’s even more interesting is that soul of yours. I’m going to have fun cutting into you.”

He pulled the whistle out, but she barely registered it. Pain ripped through Allie again and again. Memories, overlapping, of some dark and awful place. Somewhere she only felt pain. She wanted to scream, but she couldn’t remember how to force the air into her lungs. He put the whistle to his lips, then—

A flash of silver. A spray of crimson. A foul cursing that she’d both heard before and never heard before. Nora, with a scream of rage, launching herself at the man. Allie wanted to help, but all she could do was curl up and beg the gods for mercy. The pain. Oh gods, the pain. It was everywhere. It was every inch of her. It was inside and out. To exist was to hurt. Watching people be hurt. People she didn’t know but cared for so deeply. A sharp sting in her chest. The feel of her own blood flowing out of her in buckets. The pain fading to a coldness. Welcome, except for one thing.

The boy with the blue eyes leaning over her. His tears falling on her face. The way he cradled her and, even in her last moments, made her feel whole. Safe. Loved. Lips that weren’t her own whispered words that tore at her very soul.

Don’t let this break you.

A feral shout. A blade wrapped in shadows. The man, standing over Nora with blood covering the side of his head. Her body moved without any input on her part. Flashes of flame and wind and ice and darkness. Screams that were and weren’t her own. She saw Nora on the ground, covered in her own blood, but it wasn’t just Nora. It was Allie, too. It was the boy with the blue eyes.

Then she was on the ground again. The pain was just too much. She just wanted it to end. Then Nora was over her, calling a name that was and wasn’t hers. She cried, too tired to scream. Nora cradled her, shouting something at someone, but she wasn’t just Nora. Allie had been here before. Pain assaulted every part of her while she died, but she wasn’t dying. She wanted to, but she couldn’t. Nora faded away. The boy faded away.

Everything faded away except those words. A plea, and a curse.

Don’t let this break you.