Page 54 of Lethal Souls
Hassha’s eyes shift upward when she spots Carra near a palm tree. With a sigh, she plants kisses on both girls’ heads then sends them off with their caretaker.
“Protect them at all costs,” Hassha demands of Carra.
“I’ll do so with my life,” Carra promises, taking the girls by hand and rushing to the shoreline.
When the girls look back, an ache develops in Hassha’s chest. It feels like her heart is splintering to pieces. It’s only done this once before, after an unbearable loss many, many years ago.
Hassha floats into the sky again and scans the island, making sure no one is left behind. When she doesn’t find a trace, she drops her eyes to Milandra and a row of warriors.
“It’s time,” she declares.
Milandra nods, though reluctant. Hassha smiles and plants a whisper into Milandra’s mind. Don’t worry about me. Worry about keeping our people safe.
Milandra’s nostrils flare, but she nods again then shouts an order for the warriors to surround the women and children. Once everyone is lined up at the shore, Hassha raises her hands to part the ocean.
She grunts. Water is much harder for her to control, but she manages, using copious amounts of energy so her tribe will have safe passage.
A wet path forms, and Milandra leads the way. She doesn’t stop until she reaches a cavern. Milandra stands back, allowing the women and children to rush down the stairs of the cavern to reach safety.
Once they’re all in, Hassha nods and Milandra takes the stairs too. Shuddering a breath, Hassha allows a blanket of safety to conceal the cavern. There is plenty inside for her people. Food, water, shelter, light. They’ll be safe for now.
Knowing this, she allows the ocean to spill back into place, and just as it does, she senses Korah.
“I tried to stop him,” Korah says when Hassha lands next to her on the island. “One of those Council members was there. He stabbed Caspian and gave the blood to her before I could reach him. She’s out there, Hassha.”
“I figured as much.” Hassha frowns as she studies the island. “What she did here was a distraction. Warren, the Garrett man from Earth, Lilith—all a distraction. It was enough to keep one of our hands tied while Caspian journeyed there.”
“None of that matters. She’s can’t defeat both of us, that’s why she created the distractions. If we can find her while she’s weak, we can put an end to this before anything begins. I’ve protected Blackwater for now, so as long as Caspian remains within his territory, she won’t be able to get to him.”
Hassha starts to speak, but both sisters freeze when they feel a hot sensation drag across the backs of their necks. Hassha doesn’t think as she twists around and throws her hands in the air to deflect a flaming ball of fire. The fire bursts into more flames and spills down like fiery rain drops on the sand.
Both Hassha and Korah tap into full energy as they look toward the sky, grimacing at their sister.
“Sisters!” Selah sings, floating above the island. She’s completely nude. “Making a plan without me?” she asks before flinging another fire ball. Korah slices through it with her conjured sword before looking at Hassha.
Both fly toward Selah at full speed, but Selah dodges them by vanishing. She appears several meters away, smiling.
“The one thing I hate most in all the universes is a traitor. But when there are two? Oh, I hate it twice as much.” Selah’s hands spark with orange flames.
“If anyone is the traitor, it is you, Selah,” Hassha returns. “Look what you’ve become! You are so full of anger that you want to destroy a place that was given to us.”
“It makes no sense to care for this world anymore!” Selah shoots back. “Look at it. We may as well burn it and start anew.”
“That is what you want,” Hassha snaps. “That is not what we desire.”
“Ah, right. Because you have a tribe. Children. Where are they anyway?” Selah’s eyes dart around the island, searching. “Surely they cannot be too far. They should come out to meet their aunt. I am the fun one.”
“You will never set an eye on them,” Hassha growls. “Not while breath still fills my lungs.”
“Well, how about I rip those lungs out of you.”
In a flash, Selah slams into Hassha, sending her hurtling toward the ocean in a chaotic splash. Korah belts out a battle cry as she rushes for Selah, wrapping her in her arms from behind and pressing the blade of her flaming double-edged sword to her throat.
“You won’t do it!” Selah chuckles. “You know what happens if you do.”
“You’re right.” Korah grips her by the hair and spins her around. With a solid blow to the face, Selah sails to the ground. When she lands, the ground splits beneath her.
A gust of water surges up, and Hassha returns with not a drop of liquid on her. She vanishes from the air, only to appear next to Selah who sways as she stands. Korah lands, and she and Hassha withdraw their swords to slice through Selah’s thighs.