Chapter 14. EPHIRIA

The cards had turned on us. We were back to the start. No, even a worse situation. I held my stand– there was no backing out now. He said, "You're barely finished processing your situation. Killing her would be the death of you both. 3 deaths in 1 day. Doesn't that sound a bit too much?" I said, "Wouldn't Twilight hate to lose a possible descendant of Stella? Doesn't his plan require one?" He said, "I must admire your calmness even at death's door. Let's how far it goes." He turned and pointed in a direction. The roof flew following the command.

I had to get everyone together and then use the bead to warp us out of there. I turned to Ella who was still in shock. I tried approaching her but sand formed a wall between us. I shouted, "Would you prefer I blast?" My palm glowed and the sand backed off. I took careful steps towards Ella. We were going to make it. I was so close but fate had other plans. Olivia woke up and turned me over. I landed back flat on the ground. She distanced from me. She muttered, "Why're you doing this to me? Where are we?"

Sand wrapped around all of us. From it, the blonde girl appeared. She said, "Thanks. That was helpful." I glared at Olivia. She had to just wake up and mess up the new plan. The girl continued, "Now that you have been subdued. Shall I dispose of them, Naviaf?" Naviaf replied, "Of course, Sandra. We don't need more mouths to feed." He turned and focused on maneuvering us through the air. The sand compressed my body. I was like someone was squeezing all of my insides out or a balloon about to pop. I willed my light to free us.

I tried to shorten the distance between us but the sand morphed into long-limbed slender humanoid sand golems that attacked us. My light was running out. I had to use the remaining effectively. I switched to my khopesh. I swung at my opponents. Ella was using the metal bars on the ground to block and thrust through her enemies. The only problem was they weren't staying down for long. The dismantled sand would come back regenerating them.

I tried many points to attack but none of them held the core that kept them regenerating. They were just puppets. Where they are puppets, there is a puppeteer. The core didn't have to be a heart but could be a person. Sandra. I turned to her and charged. She looked stunned but quickly got over it. 2 golems incepted my way. They waved their claws at me. You're not the only one with sharp claws. I dodged the attack. Weapons of sand formed in golems' hands. One swung a sword at me at a high speed. I bent to dodge and swept it off its feet.

An axe came down on me. I blocked. I felt steel pressing down on my body. Even if it left no injuries, my palm still ached. I kicked the golem–sending it back. I stood and ran for Sandra. Fear peeked into her gaze. Good, she better be. After what she and her friend have done, It'd be merciful to not leave a scar. I charged for her and tackled her to the ground like a rugby player.

I gave her a good old hug. You probably thinking, "WHAT" I let my light burst out into her. She screamed as she disintegrated. Naviaf finally paid attention to the situation. The sand rested into dunes. Naviaf turned as blue as his lightning. He flew towards Olivia. He was going to take and abandon us to die. I lunged for my bead and throw it at Olivia. At least she'd be able to escape. Before she could react, Naviaf caught it.

A grin ripened on his face. He said, "I guess the party is over." He lunged forward for Olivia. Olivia was t-pulled to Ella. He dashed to them with a punch. Metal bars formed a shield to block. He quickly charged the direction of his attack and jabbed but still hit steel. He rose to the sky and rained down lightning on them. I blasted him. He dodged and leapt forward for Ella. Ella t-threw bars at him. He dodged at lightning speed. He blew away the rest. He grabbed Olivia. I blasted the bead out of his other hand. Olivia turned his arm while Ella grabbed the bead. I ran to them to teleport but Naviaf had got aware of our plan. The wind threw me back. He shot out a bolt at Ella but she put Olivia in front of her. The bolt diverted. He remarked, "Coward"

He shot out multiple bolts striking from all directions. Ella mouthed, "I'm sorry." She broke the bead and teleported them away. My jaw dropped. Naviaf turned–enraged. He glared, "Now you die." He flew off. The clouds that were around the roof dissipated. Motion turned to gravity. I held onto a crack in the roof. My hair stood up. Panic and fear rose in my veins. A hint of betrayal was there too.

I watched us as I descended closer to a big building. The people in it were evacuated with screams echoing each other. Well, at least you have a chance to run. I'd definitely die if I hit that building. I tried to look around for ways to survive or escape but they all had the same ending. I prayed to God to forgive me for my sins. Death was inevitable for all and it was staring right at me.

I heard quarreling above me. It was Darius, Octaviet, and Carter. They were flying on Phil while quarreling about how to help me. If I still had energy, I'd have told them to stop it and get to help me. They looked on edge. Phil was being steered to dive down to me. I could see their bodies shivering. They were getting close but not close enough. They wouldn't be able to catch me before I hit the ground. I shut my eyes and waited for the impact. The end of Ephiria's story. Something fell on me. Crack. Bump.