A Courtroom of Ashes by C.S. Wilde

Author:C.S. Wilde [Wilde, C.S.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: C.S. Wilde
Published: 2019-01-06T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 20

The leader of the Shades watches us from beyond the fire, and when he roars a battle cry, the nine pairs of shiny eyes return, popping out of the night.

The fizzling sound of blood traveling through veins fills my ears as the monsters close in. As if on autopilot, I unsheathe Foxberry, fully aware that I could vanish from existence today.

Suddenly, loud cries shatter the buzz in my ears and wake me from my panic. John and Irving are attacking the Shades, fighting back-to-back in perfect sync. While Spritebreaker beheads a Shade, Irving’s sword cuts across another Shade’s stomach, almost slicing the monster in half. Blood sprays from the wound, but it morphs into black sand that swooshes in the air. The Shade stares wide-eyed at its own blood turning into dust, but soon black sand infects all of its body, and as it disintegrates, Irving jumps over a rock and bellows a guttural cry that sends shivers down my spine. There are no two things more opposite than Irving and primitive, yet here they are, working perfectly together.

Some of the monsters step back. Irving’s roar clearly scared them, but only for a second. The Shades walk forward now, hungry eyes on Irving. He doesn’t flinch before diving into the middle of them with a bloodthirsty grin.

Holy shit.

John darts to join Irving, but the bulky leader of the Shades lunges toward him from behind.

I shout, “John, watch out!” just in time, and the Shade’s tattered sword misses him by an inch.

Their weapons clash in loud clangs, but Spritebreaker finds gaps in the monster’s defense, slicing at his ankles, arms, and legs. The Shade blocks Spritebreaker’s slash at his neck, then crashes a blow over John’s face with his free hand. John stumbles backward, and I lose the ground beneath me. Sword in hand, I run to help him, ready for whatever comes, but someone grabs my arm. Barbie. She’s looking to our right.

We have an audience.

Three Shades approach, staring at us with starving eyes. One of them, a toothless woman, jumps at me, a flying shadow with silver moons behind it. I lift my hands to protect myself—as if that could ever stop her— but Barbie meets her in midair and both fall under nearby bushes.

I let out a relieved breath, but it doesn’t last: The remaining two Shades lick their lips and grin at me.

I’m alone.

With them.

Straight back, steady base. I can do this. My muscles clench as I grip Foxberry with all I’ve got, but that’s when Irving comes from some dark spot behind the shades and slashes one’s throat and the other’s stomach. He didn’t take more than a heartbeat. I stare completely speechless at this William Wallace incarnated, and he seems to find it amusing because he winks at me and smiles before leaping over the fire to engage in another fight. Before I can shout a thank you, a sting pierces through my scalp and I crash with my back to the ground. All the air in my lungs flees.

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