73. Head to Head SKYLA.
Here goes nothingâ¦
I jump up, feeling the power within me surfacing. My Lycanâs dominant power, embodying it fully, I channel everything I have.
âYou will never win! I destroyed her and her kind a long time ago! A mere wolf is weaker than a tiger!
Do you really think you can win?!â His chilling voice wraps around me as the darkness begins spreading along the ground.
The snake and I block and attack one another. Heâs trying to get those teeth into me. I can see the poison in them. The darkness around me is also trying to pull me down into that smoking abyss of the ground beneath us.
âTrue, in a one-on-one battle, a wolf would lose to a tiger⦠but thatâs the difference between the two species.â I begin grunting as I manage to slash into his side again.
He hisses, as he spins around and lunges at I can smell blood in the air, the hissing and shouting of the wolves battling the serpents.
People are dying.
I hear the shouts as Mama is trying her best to heal.
I block but he strikes again. This time, Royce. is by my side in a flash, taking the full force of his attack, using his sword of ice to block him.
âThere is no difference! You are dead! Those stripes you wear are nothing!â His rage and hatred thrum in my mind, painful.
Thereâs a madness in his eyes, but the anger heâs feeling is only making his attacks more aggressive.
I channel my inner rage, but with a clear mindâ¦
He will slip upâ¦
âYou are no match for a god!â Apophis hisses.
Sorry Malevolent, but remember, I count you as one of us, anyway. Sorry Bastet, Iâm not taking a dig at your expired race, but facts are fucking facts.
âAnd thatâs why we are the superior species! A tiger may work alone, but a wolf⦠a wolf is part of a pack, and a pack, united, is always. stronger than the one alone⦠just as you are now! Because look around you! We are united!â 7 My heart thunders as my own words echo powerfully in my own mind, knowing that every alpha in the vicinity can hear me.
I want them to know that hope is not lost!
Iâm not alone⦠there is a calming clarity in my mind as I swing my sword at him, only for a wave of dark smoke to knock me back.
I catch my balance as Royce deflects another blow. Spinning his sword, he manages to drive it into the lower part of its jaw. He roars in rage, throwing Royce back.
âRoyce!â I scream through the link, He catches his balance, and as he gets to his feet I see heâs fine⦠but Iâm fucking pissed now.
You donât hurt my fucking man.
My eyes are blazing. I spin around and run at him with incredible speed, and slam the blade into his scaly body.
He roars in rage, his tail hitting the ground and Iâm thrown back. Royce catches me as Apophis thrashes around, grabs the sword with his teeth and pulls it out.
He drops it fast, his mouth burning, as spits it out. The metal clangs on the ground before he launches himself at me.
The only thing is, no matter how fast he is, Iâm fucking faster.
âYou have nothing!â He snarls as I slash into his face, wanting to gouge his eyes out, He roars in rage, and I canât help but scoff internally.
Jumping back, I grab the sword.
âI have far more than you ever will!â I shout as something detonates nearby and Apophis leaps back, thrashing violently.
Far moreâ¦
A pack, a family, loved onesâ¦
I look around. I canât see them, but they are all there⦠ready to help when they need to and they are trying⦠united, we ARE stronger. 1 Another serpent falls, and I see Rayhan. And is that Aunty Raven jumping back from the fallen snake, which vanishes into the smoke?
Itâs not often I see her in action. Sheâs a badass. 4 My eyes blaze as I realise that is it. The true power lies in what we have⦠they are here if I need them.
Even if Aleric has somehow merged with Apophis, he is still alone.
His serpents are still around us, but they are being slayed, one by fucking one.
By my Pack. United to fight together, once again.
I spent my life trying to shut them out and now I realise handling things alone was never the solutionâ¦
3 âAnd that is why you will win.â A whispery voice comes. 7 Itâs not Bastet⦠4 âNow!â I say to Royce, wanting him to create a glass ground beneath us.
Apophis lunges at me, a blur as his mouth opens wide.
My own eyes flash, and I feel a surge in my own power.
Blinding gold light swirls around me, mixed with a dark black shimmer, and it washes. over me, enveloping me in its fold.
It makes Apophis hiss as he swiftly pulls back, and I feel it wrap around me tighter. Looking down, I can see my body is encased with a gold and black armour-like shield. I see Apophis lurch forward only for Royceâs slippery ice floor to slow him down. 3 He hisses, rearing his head as he lurches at I raise my sword, swinging it at him. This time it buries deep into his side.
He roars, black blood gushing out A blast of power rushes at me as several serpentâs hiss, changing direction and heading my way as I dart backwards, causing two to smash into one another.
Royce cuts through one, a flash of lightning slicing it in half.
Heâs at a disadvantage, not using his abilities to their full extent.
I rush through the smoke, seeing Leo, Dante, and Royce take on more serpents.
I let out a menacing growl as I turn to Apophis, slashing into him again.
His blood splatters everywhere, and a dark wave of power comes rushing my way.
Itâs immense, and Iâm ready to dart to the side when I see a glimmer of pink, magical wisps of an aura around me. 2 I recognise them and see them flutter to the ground around me, they look just like cherry blossom tree leaves. 9 Her scent and her blond hair are in front of me as she raises her hand. I still flinch when that tidal wave of darkness hits her.
She doesnât move. A soft gasp leaves her before the blast is gone. 1 She raises her other hand, the petals of her power swirling around her as that dark power rushes forth from her hand. 1 It hits Apophis straight in his mid-section, throwing him back as he roars in fury.
She turns, winking one of her blazing pink eyes at me before she backs away. 26 âThanks. That sure is fucking awesome.â I say.
âAnytime.â She replies.
Several gunshots go off, searing into his skin as his entire body sparks with lightning sent by Royce, making him shriek in agony.
I turn to Apophis, this time I run at him as fast as I can, and raising the sword â I throw It hits his eye, he roars and I smile as the darkness diminishes slightly.
To my satisfaction, heâs shrinking and soon the smoke shrivels away to reveal Aleric clutching his eye.
His body is a bloody mess.
An array of thoughts suddenly fill my mind so suddenly I wonder if itâs even my own.
I am more than just a Lycan⦠1 âYou whore!â He spits as I slowly advance towards him once again.
I possess the strength of a tigerâ¦
I swing the sword once more, my eyes blazing.
The darkness around him swirls, and his eyes are blazing menacingly.
I have the speed of a cheetah⦠1 Heâs battered, his heart thumping violently as his snake-like eyes burn into me.
I carry the title of the Lioness⦠1 âYou are fucking dead! Dumb bitch!â Aleric snarls. 1 Try me, fucker.
I am a Rossi⦠2 I run at him, and both of us are no longer focused on our surroundings, just one anotherâ¦
âThis is your last chance⦠stand down!â I warn.
Dad always said to give your opponent that chance, even though I know his reply before he even opens his vile mouth.
âNever!â He snarls.
âKill her or I will kill you!â Apophisâ hiss fills the air. âKill the kings!â
Foolish⦠the both of them.
Everything moves in slow motion as Aleric rushes at me, the darkness helping him, despite the glass floor beneath us.
But above all; I am myself. 1 I am a Lycan.
I raise my sword and swing it down on him.
Iâm a blur and Alericâs shriek of rage as blood splatters everywhere, fills my ears.
Heâs dodged it from being fatal, but heâs lost an arm.
Thereâs shock in his eyes as he stares at the limb on the floor. 1 âItâs over, Aleric.â I say quietly, shifting to my human form. A quick glance down shows Iâm covered by Bastetâs armour.
âNo, it isnât! No, it isnât!â He screams as he raises his hand. âI hold far more power than you think!â
He raises his hand. But where Iâm expecting black smoke or fire to lurch forward, thereâs just a spark of fire. He tries again as his eyes widen in horror before he claws at his neck.
âYou have done this! Bitch!â he screams.
Iâm sure he had his fire element after I marked him⦠but I can see that the mark hasnât healedâ¦
What a pity.
âIt seems Helios has taken back his gift.â A soft, remorseful, yet firm voice comes.
We both turn to see Catherine standing there, flanked by Uncle Marcel and Uncle Liam.
There are tears in her eyes as she looks at Aleric.
A mother in painâ¦