Raiden turned back to the three Wingless trapped between Lia and Cael. “You’ve been hunting down all those that came from her, because of the vampires. Because of what Wingless blood does to them.”
“We’re not here to chat,” the dark eyed man said with a feral grin and Lia cried out.
She threw out her power before Raiden, shielding him from the strike of the man’s magic. The light flashed between them, bright enough to cause auras in Raiden’s vision, but through them he saw the man fall back, his arms in front of his face as if to ward off something hot.
“She’s stronger than them,” Alatar’s mouth fell open, and then he snapped it shut. “Lia, don’t stop!”
She stepped forward, drawing on her power, and holding it before her like a shield. She saw a shimmer of light behind them as Cael did the same. The three Wingless looked between the two constricting shields and joined hands. Their combine powers formed a bubble, holding Cael and Lia at bay.
“We seem to be at an impasse,” the dark eyed man was the leader and spokesperson. “What do you seek to achieve through this little demonstration?”
“I have an idea,” Cael said through his teeth. “It seems that I have detained three criminals who escaped their sentence somehow. I’m sure there’s people back in my realm who would be very interested in that. Move backwards, Lia. Warlock, I need you to create another portal.”
“Alright,” Alatar was uncertain. “But I don’t have anything to use to set the destination.”
“Just create the portal,” Cael replied. “Let me worry about setting the destination.”
Raiden took Lia’s waist between his hands and guided her backwards. She was breathing heavily, fatiguing under the use of power. The Wingless’ bubble was beginning to retract as their brows beaded with sweat, their power waning, and Cael’s jaw was set, the strain showing across his face.
Alatar ran around the lawn setting up spell components as Lia and Cael walked the warlocks out onto the lawn one agonizing step after another. The Wingless let their shield collapse and the woman and man gripped the dark eyed man by the upper arms, focusing their power into him. He formed a sword out of light and energy and drove it into the seam where Lia’s power overlapped Cael’s.
Lia cried out as the impact of that blow ricocheted through the shield, stinging sparks dancing up her forearms. She saw Cael flinch away, and his side of the shield opened. The Wingless exploded out, striking Cael as they passed, and she saw him spit blood as he hit the ground.
A portal opened like a tear in the air, a vacuum forming around it that tugged at their hair and clothing and whipped the grass and leaves. The Wingless leapt through it.
Lia’s shield collapsed, and her knees gave way. Raiden lowered her to the ground, going with her, the Other still flaring brightly in his eyes as he crouched protectively over her, growling low in his throat.
“Oh, cool,” Alatar said with appreciation as the portal closed behind the Wingless with almost a scream of sound as the vacuum was cut off abruptly. “That is… impressive magic, making a portal on the fly like that.”
“F-k,” Cael wiped blood from his chin. He sat up, resting his elbows on his knees, his hands dangling between them, and groaned, stretching out the muscles of his neck by rocking his head from side to side.
“Hard work holding that shield, eh?” Alatar said with empathy. “Need to take a nap, and you’ll be right, angel-man.”
“Devil, actually. The original Angels divided into two factions,” Cael replied, his eyes half-closed and his tone slurred with weariness. “Those who held with freeing the slaves, and those who did not.”
“What side are you on?” Tara wondered.
Cael’s lip curled. “What side do you think?”
“What the f-k are you doing in a farmhouse in the middle of nowhere?” Raiden demanded angrily. “You didn’t bring Lia back. You were meant to heal her and bring her back to me!”
“Of course, I didn’t f-king bring her back,” Cael replied, rolling his eyes. “That’s like bringing the prey back to the hunters. Lia needs to stay the f-k away from you. She would have been safe here, with me. And I never,” he added with a sneer, “said that I would return her.”
“He used some sort of magic on me,” Lia said wearily, leaning back on Raiden. “To make me forget. He was going to rape me.”
“Wouldn’t have been rape,” Cael muttered. “If you weren’t so f-king stubborn.”
“That’s it. Thanks for saving Lia’s life,” Raiden stood, lifting Lia up with him. “Now stay the f-k away from her.”
“Can’t do it,” Cael tried to stand, but sank back down, still too weak. “Tied to her.”
“Well, find a way to untie yourself,” Raiden replied. “Open the portal, Alatar.”
Alatar muttered an incantation, and the portal leapt to life.
“See you soon, Lia,” Cael smirked as Raiden carried her over the threshold of the portal. “Dream of me.”