My Ethereal Form

Chapter 6

My Ethereal Form Part 2

Xanth caught her mid-air, slamming her into the ground with enough force to rattle the balcony. She wasn't down for the count though. She rolled away before standing. She backed away, wiping the blood from the corner of her mouth. She laughed hysterically before going back in for another round. I signed to Masha, and she grinned. Kira caught Masha's eye and nodded. She sheaved her quiver and bow and dipped forward, drifting down on her knees. Masha ran in behind her as she yelled out. "Now, Zaylee!" The walls near Xanth sparked erratically, pushing Xanth into a corner. Daisha did not miss a step as Kira and Masha joined the fight. She spun to the side, making room for them. Xanth took them all in stride, taking all three of them on with expert agility. He dodged a few of their hits still, keeping up with their speed. He took down Daisha first. She yelled as she flew over the railing, landing with a thud. A checked the length making sure she was okay. It jumped back. She was pissed but okay. Filling the gap Daisha left. Masha and Kira used each other to pick up the pace in the battle. Quickly notching an arrow, Kira launched off of Masha's back, flying through the air before shooting it. It flew. Xanth swirled away from it, using his momentum to kick Kira in her side. She yelped, folding inwards before slamming against the electrified wall. She fell face-first to the ground. She was twitching but still breathing. Xanth fought with Masha, both of them barely keeping up with each other. Sweat pouring down their bodies. Now, was our chance. I breathed in, feeling my dragons vibrate against my skin as they morphed into daggers. I jumped on the railing running at full speed. Zaylee's electricity form zapped next to me. She shot out a lightning bolt. Xanth had just enough time to dodge it, using Masha's body as a shield. Masha fell to the ground next to him. Smoke rising in the air as her suit reflected the lightning bolt. He had enough time to swerve the second bolt Zaylee launched, but not enough time to dodge me. I jumped, flying through the air. His head rotated in my direction, but it was too late. I made eye contact with Xanth, a spark lighting the brown depths of his eyes. He smiled up at me. It was a look I would remember for the rest of my life. A look that would always hold a deep place in my heart. His shoulders dropped just right before I wrapped my legs around them. I pivoted, using my waist to flip him on his back. We landed on the ground with a thud. I rotated on top of him, placing my knife against his throat. He glanced down at it, a smirk spreading across his face before he looked up at me. Zaylee fell on her knees near Masha with a thud. Her abilities exhausted to a T. The whole room was silent as the blue and white electricity faded completely. Xanth and I the only ones still standing. Well. The ones who were still fully conscious. Our heavy breathing mingling as we continued to stare at each other, smiling. Underneath my hand, I felt his heart pounding erratically. His chest slightly vibrating as he whispered. "Well done." Xanth's liquid brown eyes peered up at me, locking with mine. I shifted, slowing sliding from on top of him. Xanth sat up, placing his arm on top of his knee; wincing as he rolled his bad shoulder. My dragon shifted back to its original form. Xanth watched it as it slid into position on my arm. His eyes sparkled with amusement. "It would have been nice if those were included in your Bio-file." I blinked at him. How did he...? No one was supposed to…. I never got the chance to voice my thoughts. Clapping filled the silence as Drakson strolled across the training room. "Well done ladies." He spread his arms wide as he said. "Now, it's my turn."

…

The next day it took us one hour to take down Drakson. Compared to Xanth he was a training exercise for young Bios. Weeks had passed, and it was like a barrier had dropped between us, and our leaders. Xanth's cold exterior was less present in the weeks passing. Things seemed to be going smoother, and my teammates seemed to grow even closer to each other, including Masha. I was consistent with distancing myself, Masha, on the other hand, gravitated more toward the others. It was something I had foreseen. We all worked as a team, training, and learning how to fight alongside each other. It was inevitable that soon things would start to feel like family. Instead of training again today, Xanth thought we had earned a break. None of us argued with that statement. We were all sitting at the table, stuffing our faces with the food Drakson had prepared. Xanth at the head table with a slick smirk plastered across his face. Drakson sat to the left of Xanth, sighing as Zaylee teased about how easy it was to take him down. Zaylee sat cross from Drakson with Masha to her side. "By the gods, do you not have a better tale to inform us of. We all understand it was easy to render me." Drakson frowned down at Zaylee as she threw her head back, laughing. I fought a smirk as I took a bite of the sweet zown, a purple-colored seed sack with a plushy exterior. The sweet juices creating an explosion of flavor on my tongue. I watched with a smirk as Masha covered her pointed ear when Zaylee's throat gave a high-pitched squeak. Daisha, sitting to the right of Xanth, snorted when Drakson motioned like he was going to strangle Zaylee. Zaylee wiped at her eyes, breathing heavily as her laughter subsided.

Kira, who sat next to Daisha, rolled her eyes even as the corners of her pink lips rose. She leaned over whispering, something in Daisha's ear, causing her to nearly choke on her drink. I watched as Kira smacked her hand on Daisha's back trying to soothe her coughing fit. Drakson turned to Xanth motioning for him to do something. Xanth's smile only grew wider as he took a sip of his drink. Masha removed her hand from her ear when Zaylee's laughter subsided. She narrowed her eyes at Drakson as she spoke. "Leave Drakson alone Zaylee. It's not his fault that his ass can't handle a little kicking." Masha's canines appeared as she took a harsh bite of her meat stick. She gave Drakson a greasy smile when he began rubbing the bridge of his nose in frustration. His eyes skyward as if begging the gods for solace. Daisha chuckled. "Literally." This time Masha lost it. I stiffened as her light laugh echoed across the room. It was the first I had heard her laugh. Not a chuckle, or a snort but a laugh. It reminded me... so much like… My eyes burned as I fought to keep my tears at bay. My heart ached in all the wrong places. Her laugh was so much like my sister's. It nearly sent me into shock how alike they sounded. It was similar but still wasn't hers. It's not her. It could never be her. My grip on my wooden fork turned fierce enough to snap it in half. The loud snapshot across the room and it grew quiet as all pairs of eyes landed on me. The light mood sobering as Masha rose to make her way toward me. Her feet echoed as my mind blanked.

"It's your fault she's gone. Mute"

Elvira's words rang in my head. I shook it, trying to block them out. "Mute, are you okay?" She reached out a hand toward me, and I shot out of my seat. The wooden chair causing a scratching sound as it raked across the floor. I took a step back, moving away from Masha. Hurt registered across her face. She looked around the room before her eyes landed on me. "What do you need?" I had to physically fight myself from signing the answer. Instead, Masha's high voice translated to the others as I signed. "Sorry, I'm just tired. See you tomorrow for training."

"Mute wait…"

"Give her space Masha." I heard Xanth interject. His deep voice, sounding gravely to my ears.

I threw my plate into the cleaning dome and slipped out the door before anyone could try to stop me.