34: And in the Event of Untimely Death
Author: Daer'on
Entry directly added by the Phoenix.AND THEN HERE
Tya and Enirah caught up with me on Rose's street.
By this time, I'd slowed down, keeping ears and eyes out for anything that could be watching. My friends noticed and crept low to the ground with me, though I assume anything hunting a werewolf is liable to notice a mixed-species gaggle hunting it. Perhaps it would at least serve as an intimidation tactic, I hoped.
I hoped, and hoped wrong. In broad daylight, clearly desperate, was the assassin guardian herself, slinking like water into a crack in Rose's window - a tactic of hers, perhaps? The beast typically larger than a wolf twisted around and like tar, became something the size of a mongoose for just a moment. I turned to signal Tya, only to see that she and Enirah had already vanished - Tya in her animal form on Rose's windowsill and Enirah inside Rose's house, having teleported in at the front door. I slipped into position late.
I slipped into position late, and the door opened to chaos.
Rose, standing as if to block our assistance, something ceramic thrown down on the floor, on Thoriane, on the table, pieces everywhere. Enirah, turning to face me, her attention somewhere away from us all. Tya between the assassin and the artist, arms outstretched as if to stop them, but ducking low beneath the two swiping claws at each other. In the back of the house, her face glances at me before she leaps out a window, and I reach out in my distraction.
My hand closes - closed - forgive me, it's all still coming back to me - on the back of the assassin's neck, just as a slip. There was a beat, a sense of waiting. Our eyes met, and I let my hand melt down into metal, to scythes ready for the reaping.
Our eyes met, and she understands (something deep and burning in me still knows this). Her neck swiveled back for a final charge at Rose, and I plunged silently into the Guardian's back.
Our eyes met as she fell, and there was nothing. Blue blood washed over me, I fought a legendary beast and won, and all I can remember was the anger in Rose's face.
It was never my fight to finish.