Caged by Damnation (Caged #2)(54)
Maloc may have been a weathered soldier, but he was ready for battle. The club descended, but Maloc sprung backwards and deftly cut off the club with a backwards thrust. He pushed the attacker towards his front, away from us, and took a defensive crouch in front of our group.
The rest of us gathered with our backs to one another, waiting for others to notice us. I stood facing Maloc in the safest position. However, I would have rather been on the opposite end. If one of the others were injured or killed, it would weigh on me for the rest of my life. Though, given my current predicament, I wasn't sure how long that would be.
The four of us grasped hands and bowed our heads, calling on the elements to protect us. My power raged against my control, demanding to be set free to consume those around us. I couldn't allow it with the innocents still in the mixture of fighters. If I gave in to my darker side it would ravage everyone without consideration for those who did not deserve to be delivered to Death.
Reining in the part of me that wanted the wild abandon of magic, I pulled on the lessons I had been taught. Focus could make or break a spell. Right then it was the difference between life or death.
Tendrils of Griffin’s power trailed through our connected fingers, and through me was absorbed into Liam. I could feel Isis's consciousness in her magic. She attempted to hide it, but she was terrified of the iron scent, of the cries of agony surrounding us, but mostly she feared the ones who begged for death. I felt her flinch as a hand grabbed onto her ankle, felt her shame at kicking him away from her.
Connected by our power, we removed all individual thought, centering ourselves as one. Liam burned with fury, Isis was drowning in terror, and Griffin drew gusts of air to calm our minds. I was grateful for the reminder that we needed to use the elements as protectors, rather than allowing lack of judgment to cloud our use of them.
Without intending to, the others had each named an element: Liam for fire, Isis for Water, and Griffin for Air. I had been left with the weight of earth, maternal in nature with a wrath unlike all others. I would ground Liam's anger, absorb the worry emanating from Isis, and sway with the soothing nature of Griffin. Each of them looked to me for guidance, leaving me as the spirit of our circle.
I screamed as they all funneled their energy into me. I hadn't expected them to wield so much, nor did I think that they would provide me with utter control. It was too much, but I didn't have time to beg them to evenly distribute the responsibility.
Normally, as a circle is built on trust, it would be a matter of equality and a singular task, but it wasn't the case. They did trust that I would make the right decision, but had given up their rights to a voice in the matter. The urgency of the situation had made them panic, but I didn't blame them.
Using their fuel, I created layers of barriers between us and the war. Each layer was fused with a separate element and the last was tied to my lifeline. If anyone managed to get through the other layers, my existence would bar them through my sacrifice. The others would go on, but I would perish.
Maloc was still fighting the man with the hanging flesh. It looked like his skin was half melted off and it sickened me. He drew his club back, hefting it, and brought it back in a rush that collided with Maloc's stomach, drawing a grunt of pain from the guard. He seemed to be losing the battle, curled in fetal position, as his opponent came to deliver the killing blow. When the club raised above his head, ready to slam down and rip through Maloc's skull, I realized that appearances were deceiving. Maloc straightened, flipped onto his back and thrust his sword through the stomach of the demon.
Intense relief rushed over me that Maloc wouldn't be joining the others who had fallen. It was quickly squashed when he disappeared into the melee. Where had he gone? Was he abandoning us?
My body jolted as I felt someone incinerated by the first layer of our defense. Their life was taken away on the wind and I could only hope that they were an enemy, rather than someone seeking aid. Seconds later, another jolt happened, followed by a frozen wasteland. Someone had made it through the first layer and now perished, as the second laid claim to their existence. It quickly became obvious that the enemy had outsmarted us. They were sending demon after demon, attacking the same location until they reached the next layer. When they reached the last I knew I would die, but also the others would then be vulnerable.
My eyes opened to search out the mastermind. Suddenly, they were thrown into the anarchy, along with all the others before and after their path. I was confused until I followed the cleared area to find Maloc holding the club of the thing he had killed. Apparently, it had the ability to be thrown and return to the user.
I saw the threat at the same moment that the others did. Several of the creatures attacking the compound had spied our group and were now making their way towards us.
Maloc had acquired a way to push through the crowd, but not with the danger approaching. He reached out his hand to me, offering salvation, the chance to live. At what price?
Four of us were braced for the coming battle but there was only enough time for one to escape. The logical choice was me since I was nearest to the way out. However, I couldn't bring myself to drown in such a selfish decision.
Linking my arms with Isis, with her back pressed to mine, I leaned forward to take her weight and swung around in a fluid movement. I now resided in her previous position, forcing her to draw the straw that would see to her safety. She was now the only one who could be saved.
Isis screamed as Maloc pulled her away. "No!" I turned to watch, my eyes locked with hers. She held a wild determination in her eyes, begging me to turn back time and switch places.