Chapter 3 - The Wrath of The Wraithborn

Nyra's POV

Boom!

We heard an explosion outside, and the Earth beneath us shook. It felt like the Earth's bones were being shattered into pieces.

The wolves howled in response, and claws were drawn; steel clashed against steel. It was a full-blown war; the wolves were ready to go aura for aura.

I was so carried away with the commotion that I didn't see the large object coming for me. I ducked it, but it hit the wall behind me, littering my hair with stone fragments. I turned around to find Kade gone. What was I thinking? He was an Alpha; of course, he had to play hero in times like this.

Everyone was carried away, busy trying to slay the enemy before them, but I stood still. Something felt fishy. I listened to the darkness that crept through the chaos. There was something there. Hidden. The smell was utterly alien, a blend of chilly and harsh.

It wasn't a crescent. It was not even a rogue. No. It was far hungrier. Far older. Ancient even.

A sickly green fire appeared; it formed the shape of a blade. It pierced through the wooden door, causing it to fall apart. I stood my ground, ready to attack, but just then Kade reappeared in front of me, shielding me from the scene.

My jaw ticked in annoyance, "Move, Alpha. Go find your match."

"Oh, I sure have found my match, princess."

If looks could kill, Kade would be in a beautiful white and golden casket, fitting for an Alpha." They aren't here for you!" I shouted, but he didn't move an inch.

He just replied in a voice as cold as death, "They will be."

Before I could muster a comeback, a green force orb appeared out of nowhere, exploding inward. We ducked quickly and took cover behind a metal box to avoid the impact of the force. A strange being stepped out of the force field. His eyes glowed like the stars, but the rest of his form was all shadow.

Dark. Deathly. Outer worldly.

Two more beings with the same form crept out and stood behind him. They moved around the room in a predatory cadence I hadn't seen in years. My heart raced with recognition. As they neared, their eyes were fixed on me, as if I was the only one here, as if Kade wasn't standing right in front of me, trying to protect me. Alpha and all, he can't protect me. He wouldn't even stand a chance against them. Chains or not, they were no match for me. Kade moved first. He was quick, I'd give him that.

His wolf claws tore into their skin, but instead of bleeding, the creature hissed and twisted strangely before disappearing in a cloud of smoke with a pace that even his wolves couldn't equal.

The other two closed in on us. One swung for my throat, but I dove low, twisting away as the chains dug into my wrists. Their scent tore at my memory, whispering in moonless skies, burnt ground, and old sigils. The wraithborn.

"Kade!" I lost my temper. "That's not how to fight them."

"Thank you. But I don't need your advice." The second creature raised a sharp, rune-carved blade that hummed with enchantment. Even before it hit, I could feel a heartbeat humming in my bones. He nicked Kade's arm with the tip of the knife, but Kade was quick enough to move before it could do more harm.

He hissed from the burn; the sigil had done its job. The icy flames from weapons didn't scare me as much as that blow.

I yelled at Kade, "Stop flailing," and blocked the claws of the Umbra in front of me with the length of my chains. The jolt shook up my arms, almost dislocating my shoulders. "They feed on wasted strength!"

Kade let out an angry growl as he violently tore his attacker to pieces. A total waste of time and energy.

"I don't take orders from you." He snarled.

After disintegrating into black smoke, the Umbra reassembled behind him and slashed across his back. He stumbled but remained on his feet. My heart raced. They were playing with him. Before they bind, they always toy. Memories filled my mind, as clear as day.

Murmurs in an old language that promised eternal servitude, chains made from shadows, and symbols searing into bare skin. I'd gotten away once. Barely. I felt sick to my stomach at the sight of them now.

No!

Not now.

Not ever.

I snapped the chain taut, throwing my weight forward. It encircled the wrist of the Umbra I'd been fighting. I gave it a violent yank and slammed my knee into its face before it could escape. My knee went through half-solid, half-smoke flesh instead of bone. It let out a deafening scream as I dug into its chest, aiming for the heart. Kade took advantage of the opportunity and tore the Umbra into tiny pieces.

"No!" I panicked.

"You're welcome." He said.

"You're not welcome. I was about to kill it, but you saved the damn…" I felt a sharp blade slide into my back, aiming for my ribs. The asshole had gathered together behind me. Using the chains on both arms, I grabbed its arm, twisted, and used the momentum to spin around.

Another blade whistled by my side, close enough but not quite. I shoved the umbra hard against the wall. The stones shattered, but the creep remained unscathed. Its head turned in a complete circle, and its sickly green eyes grinned with a mouth that wasn't really a mouth. Its shadows crawled in my direction, but I didn't care; it'd be dead in the next second.

Or so I thought until Kade tore it from me, his claws glowing faintly where he had been burned by the rune. Slash after slash, till it was torn to shreds.

"Stop interfering!" I shouted.

"Stop being ungrateful."

The wraithborn appeared again. This time, it was behind Kade, ready to strike. I thoughtlessly sent a pulse of energy right into the umbra, sending it crashing into the wall at the other end of the room. The hit was hard enough to keep it there for long. There was a violent flicker in my eyes. I wanted more. Kade's eyes burned into mine keenly, but I broke our contact quickly.

"That was magic." He said. His tone was accusatory, as though I'd actually killed him rather than saved his life.

"You're very welcome," I retorted.

Another best of umbras came crawling through the cracked doorway, but I heard it before I saw it, or rather, them.

"One. Two. Three. Four. Five. Six." I counted aloud. "Would you just stand there and watch me count, or would you release me so we can fight them off together?"

After a very long pause, he unlocked my cuffs and put a crescent-shaped sword in my right hand.

"Don't make me regret this."

"Thanks. I don't need it." I said, returning his blade and pulling out my blade from my matted hair. "Plus, I'm left-handed."

Immediately, we attacked.

Kade's blows were vicious, ripping through both fabric and darkness. Mine were few, precise, and deep-cutting. I went straight for their hearts, their life source.

Steel and snarls reverberated through the hall.

I'd gotten rid of most of them, but Kade was still battling the last one standing. I walked over, grabbed it by the throat, and swore into its ear. As it tried to escape, I dug my dagger into its heart as it collapsed into ash. The air felt colder and thinner after the last and final one fell.

With his chest heaving, Kade stood over the ruin, staring at me incredulously.

"How did you do that?"

I shuddered in response. He wouldn't understand even if I explained.

"You knew what they were." He swallowed hard but continued, "They knew who you were, too. They came for you. What are they? And who the hell are you!"