Chapter 7: Let Me Show You What I Can
Nexi heard his voice and the sickness in his eyes. He hated her so much he would rather feed her to the beast than risk his own skin.
'They want me to beg, but I won't,' Nexi thought.
So despite the heavy rope cutting her wrists and the throbbing in her cheek, Nexi was standing straight. She was also terrified, but she focused on the anger in her chest, using it as a shield.
Before Kaelen could even turn his head, the Werewolf roared and launched itself forward.
"Silence, Joss! You idiot!" Kaelen shouted. He knew the hunter's terrible idea would only make the beast stronger.
Kaelen spurred his black horse forward. He met the Werewolf's charge head on.
His silver sword flashed, cutting deep into the creature's shoulder.
The blow was solid, but the Werewolf barely stumbled. It swiped at the horse with a huge, clawed hand.
Kaelen rolled clear just in time, landing on the muddy ground, and he was on his feet instantly.
Tomas and Lorcan finally charged, too. Roric took the flank, and Nexi was pulled to the side by the rope.
Joss held the other end, his face white with fear, trying to hide behind the horses.
The Werewolf was pure muscle and ancient-looking. It was too fast and way too large.
Lorcan managed to strike its leg, but the creature spun in a blind rage. Its claws caught Lorcan across the chest with a terrible sound.
Lorcan went down, clutching his bloodied ribs, gasping for breath.
"Lorcan is down! Roric, watch your back!" Tomas shouted.
Roric rushed to help, but the beast caught him. It grabbed Roric's arm and crushed the bones with its powerful jaws.
Roric's shouting was cut short. The creature tossed him away like a sack of garbage.
Two men were down. The sight of their quick defeat terrified Nexi, but she forced herself to observe, not panic.
'Focus… Find the opening…'
Kaelen was the only one left fighting. He danced around the Werewolf, so precise and deadly. He was magnificent in his cold, violent skill. But the beast was tiring him out.
So, Kaelen's breath came faster and faster.
Then Kaelen slipped on the bloody grass and fell.
Before he could raise his defense, the Werewolf's massive paw came down. Kaelen blocked the strike with his sword, but the hard impact sent the weapon flying.
It cartwheeled into the dark woods…
Kaelen was completely exposed. The Werewolf was just over him, its jaws dripped, ready to kill.
Nexi knew this was the end. Her fear was absolute, cold, and clean.
She knew if Kaelen died, she was next. She also knew that saving him might mean a longer, more painful life under his thumb.
'I save myself first,' she decided…'I save my parents.'
Nexi ignored the agony of her bound hands, and ran forward, screaming the first desperate words that came to her mind.
"You ugly dog! Look at me!" Nexi cried, drawing the creature's attention.
The Werewolf paused. Its terrible yellow eyes turned from Kaelen to Nexi, and it saw the small, delicate girl, bound by rope.
Nexi pushed every bit of her weak, healing magic into her hands. It was not a weapon, but a shield of pure life force.
A brilliant, clean green light erupted from her bound hands, shining between the creature and Kaelen.
The Werewolf recoiled slightly. It was confused by the presence of unhostile magic. The gentle light felt wrong to its dark nature.
That moment of confusion was all the time Kaelen needed. He scrambled for his sword, finding it just as Tomas, full of desperation, slammed into the Werewolf's side.
The beast stumbled…
Kaelen stood up and raised his sword. He plunged the silver deep into the creature's heart.
The prince was breathing hard, shaking his streaked, dirty, and sweaty head.
And the green light vanished from Nexi's hands. She slumped against a tree, suddenly feeling dizzy and weak. This magic had drained her completely.
Tomas immediately went to Lorcan. Joss stayed by Nexi's rope, staring at the spot where the green light had been.
"Lorcan is barely breathing. Roric's arm is shattered," Tomas reported in a shocked tone. "We can't move them."
Kaelen walked over to his fallen hunters. He looked at the deep claw marks on Lorcan's chest and the impossible bend in Roric's arm. He knew those wounds were death sentences in the wilderness.
Nexi pushed herself up even if her legs were shaky, she had to show them what she could do.
"What are you doing-?"
Kaelen stopped him and let Nexi do what she was going to…
She knelt by Lorcan, but Tomas drew his knife, and Kaelen raised a hand to stop him once again.
"I will allow it."
Nexi ignored Kaelen because it wasn't up to him to decide if she could save them or not.
She placed her bound hands just above the hunter's wounds and pushed her healing magic into him, forcing the power out of her already empty core.
And the warm, green glow returned…
"What the…?" Lorcan gasped.
The pain left him instantly…he stared down as the deep, raw gashes sealed themselves, leaving only angry, red scars.
Then, Nexi went to Roric. She took his broken arm gently and pulled deep, painful reserves of power.
Her body was shaking with the effort, but this time, a brighter green light surrounded the shattered limb.
The sound of grinding bone was terrible, but it worked since the bones locked back into place.
"Aaaauch…" Roric groaned.
Nexi fell back onto the grass, completely exhausted.
She felt sick, faint, and utterly drained. She looked at the hunters.
Lorcan stared at his chest, touching the new scar with trembling fingers. Roric carefully flexed his newly healed arm.
"Did she just use her magic to heal us?!"
"No…the bitch cursed you! She probably spread some venom through your blood!"
Tomas grabbed exhausted Nexi by her hair, forcing her mouth to open.
"What did you do to them, witch?"
Kaelen however, let the corners of his lips go up.
"Interesting."