Ylva made a small noise of acknowledgment. Even in her tiny form, surrounded on all sides by combat, Ylva managed to project an aura of superiority. She kept her head high as her gaze swept over the remaining demons.
Just her looking at them sent the creatures backing away.
“This travesty will not go unanswered. The Keeper will be interested in the creator of these abominations.”
“Keeper?”
“A direct entity of Void. He punishes those who break His rules.”
“Creating these creatures is against the rules?” Zoe frowned as a thought occurred. “What about Eva’s hands?”
“Given willingly. It is doubtful that so many demons would contract to mutilate themselves in creation of these abominations. Many likely perished. We would not offer Ourself for such a fate.”
“Not many would,” Zoe said as she glanced around. Aside from simple limbs, many of the creatures had more important parts of demons attached to the human parts. Heads and torsos, for the most part. Those demons had died without question.
“We believe false contract–”
The giant wall around the Rickenbacker exploded outwards. Huge chunks of earth pasted a good number of the creatures.
Zoe’s eyes went wide as one boulder careened in their direction. Fueled purely by adrenaline, she created a miniature tornado in an instant to deflect it away.
She winced as the adrenaline settled down.
Genoa and a blood-covered Arachne stood at the entrance to the Rickenbacker. Neither looked happy. Understandable in Genoa’s case, but Zoe would have expected Arachne to be happier about dripping with blood.
It didn’t take them long to notice the ash filled clearing. Without regard to collateral damage, the two started moving.
Zoe couldn’t even see Genoa moving her dagger or glancing around herself as creatures were skewered by spikes erupting from the ground, crushed between slabs of earth, or otherwise decimated.
Arachne was much the same, though creatures actually had to come near her. She only had one leg sprouted from her back and even that one was looking battered and broken. Still, it lashed out and skewered anything that approached either of them.
Working together, they made quick work as they waded through the army.
“Where’s my daughter?” “Where’s my Eva?”
The two glanced at each other before returning their glares to Zoe.
“Eva skipped class along with another student. I’ve not seen them since. Juliana and Shalise disappeared shortly after the attack started. Presumably to find and assist Eva.”
“Juliana wasn’t with Eva?” Oddly enough, Genoa’s glare was aimed at Arachne.
“I only said she was with someone. I didn’t ask for their name.”
Genoa turned and punched Arachne in the face. A crack spread through her carapace from her mouth to her nose.
The spider-demon clenched her fists. For a moment, Zoe thought she was going to return the favor, but her fingers unclenched. She merely smiled. A smile with far too many sharp teeth. Black blood leaked over her white teeth from the part of her mouth that was cracked.
Arachne held a dagger in one of her hands. A light-eating dagger adorned with gems–with bloodstones. She noticed Zoe’s gaze and held the dagger up. “Eva wouldn’t have left this behind. It is… concerning.”
Zoe opened her mouth to respond, but Genoa stepped forwards and cut her off.
“Take me to Nel. Now.”
Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Ylva give the faintest of nods.
Zoe reached out, taking Genoa’s hand in her own. With a twitch of her dagger, the two were gone.
The walls of the women’s ward appeared around the two women. Genoa took one look around before she glared at Zoe.
“Why here?” she said through grit teeth.
“I can’t teleport into Ylva’s domain. Let’s hurry.”
Before Genoa could argue or complain, Zoe moved out the front doors. She stopped just at the edge of the inner women’s ward wall as a sound reached her enhanced ears. Carefully, she motioned for Genoa to glance around the corner.
Two groups fought in the pathways between cell blocks. One side was a random assortment of peasants from various eras. Every now and again, Zoe caught the glimpse of more knightly members of that faction. They wore armor and wielded swords as opposed to the peasants’ pitchforks and torches.
The other consisted of black-cloaked mages wielding the white magic of the Elysium Order.
Genoa narrowed her eyes. “Which side is the enemy?”
Nel
Nel huddled in the corner of Devon’s cell house while the two argued out a plan.
A seizure ran through her body. Nel avoided collapsing thanks solely to her already being crouched down. She tried hard to keep her eyes off of all of the demons they had summoned. It wasn’t easy. Her eyes
It’d be worse if she connected to the source. As it was without being connected, she retained some control.
