On my screen, TR and Trix take out two more terrorists—no, two more soldiers.
I draw my sword and face Varian. "You'd use innocents to lure me? You'd lie to your people?"
He chuckles. "The people are pawns, and I their King. I will manipulate them again and again to win. But, innocents… Nightfall, you disappoint me."
What's he talking about… the hostages aren't innocent. They can be criminals or…
No.
"Trix, get out of there!"
I'm too late.
Varian whispers something into his eGlass, and the hostages rise, drawing pistols from under their clothing. They aim at Trix. She shoots one down. A soldier smacks the back of her head with his baton. She falls to her knees. All ten remaining soldiers aim at her. There were never any hostages.
"Stop!" I yell. "Don't hurt her."
Varian whispers an order, and the soldiers hold their ground. "Wouldn't it be sad if Trix never saw her mother again?" he asks.
His knowledge stuns me. "You bugged the sewers. Because of how I rescued the Shadow of Rome. You knew I'd use them again."
He smiles. "Finally, you're thinking. Tell me, what happens next?"
My mind rushes through the possibilities. There's only one. "I surrender."
"That's it?" He shakes his head. "You are nothing compared to Nyx." His answer surprises me. He wanted a challenge, and I gave none. I've been playing a game, only to find out I barely know the rules.
Varian taps his eGlass. "Execute the Shadow of Rome on my command."
"No, please. I'll come with you."
His voice is cold. "You will come with me, and the Shadow of Rome will die."
TR pleads into my ear. "Nightfall, you need to do something. You need to save her."
I charge at Varian with my sword.
He blocks me and knocks me back. I barely feel the blows, barely register they happened. He's so fast. I can't fight him.
I drop to my knees. "Please. Let her go."
Varian ignores me. On the screen, a soldier presses a gun to Trix's head. TR screams in my ear. "We're here because of you, Nightfall. Do something. Do something!"
Something dark shatters through the glass.
It hits the soldier, slamming him into the wall and away from Trix. The others try to fire at it. They cannot. The darkness glides through the room, cutting down soldier after soldier in an instant.
The darkness is death.
The darkness is Zorin.
He saves Trix. Because I asked him to.
I smile, a tear running down my face.
Varian sneers. "He's here." He steps toward me. "Let's see how long you last."
I fly for the door out of instinct.
His whip catches me again.
I talk into the eGlass. "Leave me. Leave me, or we're all dead."
Varian stands over me. I can see his purple eyes. There's no ruthlessness. Only calculation. He lifts his sword.
I clutch the Token of Strife around my neck. I won't give up.
I jump at him, trying to grab him, trying to use my powers.
Varian's sword flashes in front of me.
And cuts off my hand.
I collapse, frozen. My hand lays before me, pale, limp.
I scream.
Varian strikes.
He doesn't hit me. He stops halfway. Why?
And then I see it. The ground below him is turning red. He jumps up as it burns into ash. As Zorin flies through the dust.
His dark sword crashes against Varian's blade. They land and dash across the room, never standing still, weaving around each other. Their battle looks simple, elegant. But I know it is a dance of death.
My vision grows fuzzy. Zorin and Varian become blurs. Black fighting against gold. Someone kneels before me. Trix. She notices my hand and gasps.
I don't respond.
She shakes me. "N, we need to go."
She's right. I stand up, leaning against her. We walk over to the barricaded window, and she uses her abilities to burn open a hole. "N, you need to fly us out of here."
My strength is fading, but I have enough. I unleash my wings. I grab Trix and step to the edge. But I can't leave. "Zorin."
"He'll follow us. N, we need to go now."
No. Varian and Zorin are matched. Zorin won't be able to escape. He'll fight until more soldiers arrive, and then he'll lose.
I need to do something.
"Evie, hack into all the eScreens and networks. Play my conversation with Varian to the people."
I see two screens from where I stand. Both change to an image of Varian and me. The speakers boom through the city. "You'd use innocents to lure me? You'd lie to your people?" I ask in the video.
Varian chuckles. There is no sympathy in his voice. "The people are pawns, and I their King. I will manipulate them again and again to win." The video loops. People on the streets yell in protest.
And Varian hesitates.
It's only a split second. But it's enough. Zorin pulls away from the battle. He grabs Trix and me. And he carries us into the sky. Everything grows dark.
CHAPTER 5
KING VARIAN
I awake on a soft bed in a dimly lit room. I'm dressed in a white linen gown. Someone removed my armor and changed my clothing. I shiver at the idea of a stranger's hands on me. But, my mask is still on, so perhaps not a stranger. I'm at the Cathedral. I came here when...
My memories come rushing back and bile rises in my throat. I raise my hand, the hand Varian cut off. I cringe, expecting a bloody bandage.