Lienna.
Luckily, the soldiers’ swift reflexes saved me from the arrow’s deadly path. Their swift intervention bought me a fraction of a second. I squeezed my eyes shut, hands raised defensively, bracing for impact. But instead of the expected thud, a faint hiss echoed through the air.
My eyes snapped open to a horrific realization the arrow wasn’t made of wood. It dissolved into nothingness, leaving no trace. No splintered shards, no arrowhead, just an eerie disappearance.
Panic set in, my heart racing. Shit, Veronica was here.
I frantically scanned the surroundings, searching for the source, but the woods seemed eerily still. The trees stood silent, their branches swaying gently in the breeze.
“Quick! We need to get out of here!” I screamed, spinning on my heels and sprinting away from the woods.
Adrenaline fueled my legs, propelling me forward with unnatural speed. The soldiers flanked me, their faces set in grim determination.
The sun vanished, shrouded by an ominous dark cloud.
I glanced up, bewildered, and my heart sank. This wasn’t a natural cloud.
Dark magic forged this shadowy veil, its malevolent presence suffocating. The air thickened, heavy with malevolent energy.
Fear threatened to root me to the spot, but survival instincts drove me forward.
If this darkness engulfed me, it would kill me instantly. I couldn’t let that happen. I pushed aside branches, my feet pounding the earth.
“Run!” I yelled to the soldiers, though they were already at my heels. The cloud spread, its tendrils snaking toward us like grasping fingers.
My breath came in ragged gasps. Veronica’s presence loomed, her dark magic closing in. We had to escape, or risk being consumed.
This wouldn’t do. I needed to cut a way out of this. Sucking in a deep breath, I unleashed the moon goddess powers within me. Energy surged through my veins, and I raised my hands. A shimmering blade of light sliced through the dark cloud, clearing a path.
“An opening!” a soldier shouted.
We barreled through the gap, racing toward the camp. The shadows pursued, relentless. As we burst into the camp, armed soldiers awaited, their faces set in grim determination.
“Lienna!” a voice cried out.
Hermes pushed through the ranks, his eyes scanning for me. Our gazes met, and he stiffened before sprinting toward me. My legs trembled beneath me as I stumbled forward, rushing towards him.
“Are you alright?!” Hermes asked, urgency etched on his face. His armored fingers brushed across my cheeks, searching for injuries.
“Yes… Veronica is here,” I began, but Hermes cut me off.
“I know,” he said gravely, his voice low and urgent. “Go, get away from here.”
He pulled me back, positioning himself between me and the darkness.
“What? No!” I protested, digging in my heels.
Hermes’s gaze remained fixed on the horizon. The dark cloud loomed, its shadows twisting into grotesque forms.
“Oh no…” I whispered, horror creeping in. Hermes led the soldiers into formation, but they were vastly outnumbered.
Is this what Adonis and Caspian had faced these past few weeks? The weight of their struggles crushed me. Veronica’s powers had grown stronger.
“Hermes, we can’t-”
“Get Lienna to safety!” Hermes bellowed to the soldiers.
They closed in, forming a protective shield around me.
“No!” I shouted, resisting. “Let go of me!” I screamed at the one who grabbed my hands, my eyes blazing with anger. Hermes’s eyes locked onto mine, a silent plea to trust him.
But I couldn’t abandon him. The darkness closed in, its presence suffocating. Veronica emerged from the shadows, her eyes blazing with malevolent intent.
“Now, where do you think you’re going, young lady?” Veronica spoke, her voice dripping with malice as she swirled within the dark clouds. A sinister smile twisted her face, sending shivers down my spine.
I froze, my heart plummeting to the bottom of my sandals. Hermes had underestimated Veronica’s strength. Her powers had grown bigger than I would have ever imagined.
Her gaze pinned me, and I felt a terror so intense it threatened to consume me. Fear’s icy grip clenched my heart, and I staggered backwards, my heart pounding in my chest.
“Don’t you know I came all the way for you, and you just want to leave me hanging?” Veronica’s voice dripped with mock hurt. “That’s not very nice.”
I willed myself to stay strong, despite my trembling legs.
“Are you still afraid of me?” Veronica taunted, her eyes glinting with sadistic pleasure. “That would be very unfortunate. I was hoping for a good fight all this time.”
Her cackling ignited a wave of anger within me. I balled my hands into fists, glaring at her.
If I fled, Veronica would kill everyone here, leaving destruction in her wake. I couldn’t let that happen. The thought steeled my resolve.
“So, what do you say?” Veronica asked, cocking her head to the side, her smile twisting. “We fight, or you run away like the coward you are?”
I forced the words through clenched teeth: “I am no coward.”
Veronica’s laughter sent shivers down my spine.
“Brave words, little one,” she sneered. “Let’s see if you can back them up.”
With a flick of her wrist, dark tendrils snaked toward me. Hermes and the soldiers stood ready, but I knew this fight was mine. I raised my hands, channeling the moon goddess’s power. The icy powers burst through me, cutting through her dark magic, dispelling its oppressive presence.
“Oh…” Veronica purred, her eyes gleaming with amusement. “Still very weak. This is great.” She giggled, the sound sending shivers down my spine.
“Lienna, I told you to get out of here,” Hermes growled, his gaze burning with urgency as he glared at me.
“I can’t,” I replied, standing firm despite the trembling in my legs. “If I do, she’ll kill everyone. It’s better for me to face her.”
Hermes’s expression twisted in desperation. “If you do, you’ll die!” he yelled, his voice echoing across the campground.
“At least, I’ll die trying,” I said, my resolve unwavering. “It’s why you brought me here, isn’t it? I’m just doing what I’m supposed to do.”
Hermes’s face contorted in frustration, his jaw clenched. He let out an exasperated breath, his shoulders sagging.
“You want to fight?” Veronica announced, clapping her hands together with childlike excitement. “Great, let’s fight! Finally, a worthy opponent!”
Then, her eyes narrowed, her tone turning sinister. ” This will be fun.”