| "Is there any way we could talk this out like civilized creatures? — No? Ha."
My voice comes out raw, half a growl, as they surge closer, faster now that they've seen Eli taking off. So that's their plan — take her too. They really think they're going to get her that easily?
| "Drop dead!" I snarl, flaring up and sliding into my stance, feeling the pressure in my veins. I pray I have enough juice left to muster my gravity field, just long enough to slow them down. Two elves — not just any, but trained guards of Elveren. But I can't let them reach Eli. If they take her, we're both finished. She's already suffered enough because of me.
| "Stand down, Terrarian, if you don't want to get hurt!" one of them shouts, creamy hair flashing as he balances on a moving branch, a green-glowing staff raised in one hand.
| "Like hell I will." My muscles tighten as I wait for them to enter my range.
| "Terrarians. Stubborn as always," he mutters.
| "Fine. We will not hold back." He signals the other.
They leap, twisting midair before landing in perfect unison — a maneuver that lets them control these roots. CRACK. CRACK. More branches shoot forward like arrows.
But now they're close enough.
I glance down — my body is trembling. I'm at my limit. I can feel it. If I do this, I'll break myself. What I'm about to attempt will probably kill me before they do. But I won't lose anyone again just because I'm weak. I got a second chance at life. I couldn't save my mother back on Earth. I couldn't save Joan. Elsa. I couldn't protect my friends — the only ones who accepted me without question. That ends here. Right now.
BOOM.
I trigger my gravity field just as a branch screams toward my skull. Space distorts, the branch shattering midair.
I choke, coughing blood. Warm liquid streams from my ears, dripping down my jaw; bloody tears blur my vision. But I did it.
| "Not so tough after all," I rasp at the pinned-down elves, their root-steed shattered to splinters.
| "Is this all you've got?" I even smirk, though I can feel the reaper breathing down my neck.
Ting. My vision caves inward. Death's fingers close around me. Blackness swallows everything.
At least I held them back long enough. Eli must be far away by now. If I'm lucky, maybe I'll live. But I've used up all of Mr. Luck's trinkets in this lifetime.
Cold water slaps my face.
I jolt awake to the sting. Where am I? Stone and bars. A cell. Of course. My body is nothing but pain. This time I might really be done for.
| "These filth have been filling up our city lately." The voice belongs to an elf guard. My eyes roll toward him — different from the ones before.
| "Oh look, the animal's awake," he sneers, turning to leave down the corridor.
| "Didn't the Terrarian city get wiped out a few months ago? Thought they went extinct," he adds, and the other bursts out laughing.
| "What weak creatures," the second says.
Their words hit me like stones. Rage swells, but I'm chained to my weakness. Joan. My friend. My best friend. Dead. Goddamn it. Why am I so weak? Why, out of everyone, did I get a second chance I'm not even worthy of? I bite my lip until blood spills into my mouth. I hope Elizabeth's safe. I can't believe I dragged her into this. If she can't find my uncle, I'm dead.
Weak. Weak. Weak.
| "You dead yet?"
A voice echoes from across the cell, cutting into my spiral. I turn my head with effort. A figure sits in the shadows — black hair, crimson eyes, glasses glinting as he reads a book. Those eyes… why do they look familiar? I've seen them before, but where? Damn it, I can't place it.
| "Seems you aren't," he says lightly.
| "Terrans. The weakest race among the Thirteen. And yet… so fascinating." His eyes flick to me, then back to his page.
I don't answer. I don't have the strength.
He keeps speaking.
| "I got lost from my group and ended up being enticed by the delicious delicacies these elves cook up. That's how I got caught. If you haven't tried them, you should. They're to die for."
There's a ghost of humor in his tone.
| "But what surprises me is how easily a King's blood could be snared by a mere patrol." He closes the book with a soft clap.
| "Pathetic."
Wait. What?
| "Di…did you just—how?" My voice trembles out, shredded by pain.
| "Ah, he speaks." He smirks, eyes sliding back to the cover of his book.
| "Oh come now, don't look so surprised. It's not exactly difficult to recognize a King's blood. When all you do is carry that unique bloody birthmark around like it's some badge of honor."
I freeze.
| "Ho—"
Before I can finish, the guards return.
| "Your time is up," one says to the crimson-eyed man. They unlock his cell. The other grabs his arm roughly — and that's when I feel it. His aura slams into me like a wave. This man is no ordinary prisoner.
How could someone this strong get caught? Over food?
| "My name's Chrome, by the way." He glances at me as they lead him off.
| "Hope we meet again, little King."
He smiles and walks away, the elves extra cautious around him.
| "Who the hell is he?" I whisper. My voice shakes. Hope we meet again?
I'm not even sure I'm going to make it out of here alive.