Moroda by L. L. McNeil

Author:L. L. McNeil [McNeil, L. L.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2017-03-30T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seventeen

Moroda tried to scream, but her breath caught in her throat. The wind rushed as she fell, the dark, angry sea rose to meet her, and towers of swirling water raged closeby. Aciel had let go of the mental hold on her body the moment she stepped off the ship, so her mind was once again clear, but fear gripped her as she plummeted.

Half a second later, she felt cold hands gripping her waist, feathers all around her as she stopped falling and began to rise. ‘Kohl?’

She closed her eyes, dizzy, and only when she was laid down on solid ground did she open her eyes. But she was not safe on Khanna. Fires burned around her. She struggled to breathe and coughed, shaking her head as she tried to get her bearings. When she glanced at the Arillian who had caught her, Moroda realised it was not Kohl.

‘You… you’re Jato?!’

‘Pleased to meet you, my dear.’ Jato flexed her wings, a cruel smile on her lips as she leered at Moroda. She had dark blonde hair and grey eyes, and her wings were dark brown. She wore a little armour and had a small, oblong shield fixed to her right arm.

‘But… Aciel said…’

Jato laughed, a hollow noise without true mirth. ‘Aciel lets me play games.’ She raised her hand and spread her palm wide; blue-white light flickered from her skin, and she struck Moroda with a ball of lightning. The force of the strike sent Moroda flying, and she rolled over when she landed. Her hood covered her head, and her skin smoked from the intense heat of Jato’s attack. Moroda cried, tears streaming down her cheeks as her body convulsed.

Moroda heard Jato’s laugh and attempted to push herself onto her hands and knees, to get away, but was struck by the next ball of lightning before she managed it.

‘Pathetic. No fight in you. Not so fun, anymore, is it? Where’s your fire now? You killed my followers. Destroyed my airship! Perhaps I should have let Aciel make you kill yourself.’

Moroda coughed again, her hands burning as her entire body stung. She rolled over and lay flat on her back, and her breathing quickened as panic took over. She was exhausted from using magic, Aciel’s compulsion, and the intense fear, and she was unable to get up or defend herself. She screamed as Jato attacked her with balls and bolts of lightning. The corners of her vision dimmed as the pain took hold of her, her body spasming under the intensity.

‘Oh I wonder whether you’ll cook first? Or ignite? You like the fire, don’t you?’ Jato taunted, sending forth another strike.

Moroda shivered as she was buffeted about, her cloak singed. ‘Please…’

Jato laughed, taking to the air and diving back down, striking Moroda with lightning bolts with renwered intensity. ‘Aciel has already won. You’ve thrown your life away by coming here. So silly.’

Another strike.

‘Looks like you’re almost done, now!’

Another.

And another.

‘Get up, Moroda.’

Moroda opened her eyes, only half-conscious. Her vision blurred, made worse by the heavy rain, but the figure in front of her was unmistakable.

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