Lyra pushed herself up slowly, wincing as she adjusted from being pinned to the ground.
"Tic-toc, Lyra," Sabrina said coldly. "I don't have all day."
"Five versus one," Alphonso muttered, cracking his knuckles with a smirk. "Let's see how this ends."
"No."
Sabrina raised a hand.
Alphonso blinked. "What? Why not?"
"This is my fight."
"It's not yours alone," I snapped, fists clenching. "I have a score to settle too. This is the first time I've met her face-to-face and I never got the chance to properly destroy her when she attacked us with those bombs."
Sabrina exhaled slowly. "Fine. The rest of you fall back."
The others stepped away, forming a loose circle and giving us room.
Sabrina rolled her shoulders. "Since you didn't run, I guess that means your time's up. What a pity. I really wanted to chase you."
"I'm not afraid of you!"
"You should be."
Sabrina moved first.
Her fist slammed into Lyra's jaw. Lyra stumbled back, clutching her face as blood spilled from her mouth.
"This is for that day," Sabrina said coldly.
Lyra grumbled and lunged, trying to catch Sabrina off guard but Lyra's punch connected with my nose instead. Pain exploded through my face, my vision blurring as I hit the ground.
I shook my head and charged forward, driving my shoulder into Lyra's side. She screamed as the air was forced from her lungs but instead of collapsing, she twisted away and sprinted toward Sabrina.
"Sabrina!" Ethan shouted.
Lyra elbowed Sabrina hard in the spine. Sabrina dropped to one knee, gasping sharply.
"I'm fine," Sabrina rasped, forcing herself upright. "Stay back."
But it was too late.
Lyra grabbed Sabrina by the hair and slammed her into the ground. Dirt flew everywhere.
"Every one of you should've died!" Lyra shouted.
Sabrina laughed through the pain. "My… I didn't realize you were this strong, especially without powers."
Lyra brought her knee down hard into Sabrina's ribs.
Once.
Twice.
A sickening crack echoed.
Sabrina screamed.
"That's it!" Ethan yelled. "I'm not standing by while my sister gets hurt!"
"No!" I shouted. "Stay back! I don't want anyone else injured!"
"But-"
"Now!" I roared.
I tackled Lyra to the ground.
"You're the most hated vampire to ever exist!" I shouted. "You took someone important from us, left others injured, nearly dead!"
We crashed into the dirt.
"Your mother almost killed my sister!" Lyra spat.
I swung at her but she dodged. Pain shot through my knuckles as they cracked against the stone.
"Too bad she didn't finish the job," I said.
In a single movement, Lyra wrapped her legs around my ankle and twisted.
I screamed.
"That's it I'm going!" Ethan snapped.
"But the Prince said-"
"Screw that!"
"Wait," Alphonso said sharply. "Look."
"You ruined my life!" Lyra screamed.
Suddenly, Sabrina was behind her.
Claws dug deep into Lyra's shoulders. A sharp cry tore from her throat as Sabrina slammed her face into the cave wall.
"You took the one I loved!" Sabrina roared.
Again.
"He was there for me through everything!"
Again.
"He was the father of my child!"
Again.
"And now he's gone!"
Again.
"This is what you get for killing Jonah!"
With one final, brutal slam, Lyra collapsed unconscious.
Sabrina staggered back, clutching her ribs, blood and dirt streaking her skin. No mercy. No grace. Only rage.
She extended a hand toward me.
I took it, limping as I tried not to put weight on my ankle. Pain shot up my leg.
"You okay?" she asked.
"I think I broke my ankle."
I glanced at Lyra's unmoving body.
"I didn't realize she could fight like that."
"Me neither," Sabrina admitted.
"How are your ribs?"
"Definitely broken."
Every breath was agony.
"Your knuckles?"
"I think they're fine."
"You guys!" Ethan shouted as he rushed over. "Sabrina, are you okay?"
"Now that I won? Yes."
"And you?" he asked me.
"Broken ankle."
"Well," Ethan muttered, "that's fantastic. Now you can't walk."
"I'll manage," I said through gritted teeth. "As long as I don't make it worse."
"How do you know how long it'll take?" Payton asked innocently.
"This isn't my first broken ankle."
Ethan turned back to Sabrina, worried. "Where does it hurt?"
"Lower right side."
"No more fighting," he said firmly.
"I can still walk," Sabrina insisted. "I'll endure it."
Ethan slipped an arm around her shoulder.
"Lean on me."
"Thank you."
"I'm sorry," He said quietly. "I should've helped."
"It's not your fault," Sabrina said softly. "You protect me more than you realize."
She hesitated, then whispered, "I just wish Liam and Selene were here and my baby boy."
"I do too."
Ethan helped her to the wall so she could rest.
Alphonso turned to me. "Come on, Zac."
"What?"
"I'm carrying you."
I rolled my eyes.
This is humiliating.
I climbed onto Alphonso's back.
"Comfortable?" He asked.
I sighed.
"I can't believe this."