Chapter 8

Chapter 8

Amasir remembered a time she was once told that a hungry Masnak was as fast as anything.

She felt her heart skip as she watched the scene before her. Nakar quickly lifted his sword into the air before the creature could attack him. He swung the blade, but the Masnak managed to dodge it.

Its pale white skin caught Nakar's head before he could jump onto his horse. Sharp claws dug into Nakar's flesh, and they all saw thick, dark fog seeping out of his face. The Masnak was feeding on his soul.

A howl made Amasir's stomach churn, and she turned her head to see more Masnak heading toward them.

Mikhaz growled behind her.

They really needed to get out of here, but they wouldn't be able to make it far if they left. At the same time, they couldn't abandon Nakar in this condition.

Amasir raised her hand toward the Masnak, preparing to use Aether, when Mikhaz pushed her hand down.

"Don't," he warned. "They'll sense your Aether and come for you."

"They're going to kill him," she murmured.

"Fight with your sword," he said, and before she could protest, he drew his sword and slid off the horse.

Amasir didn't waste time. She quickly pulled her sword and stepped down.

"Princess," one of the soldiers rushed toward her.

"I won't use my Aether," she said. "I know how to fight with my sword."

Mikhaz charged toward the Masnak that had Nakar pinned to the ground and swung his blade into the creature's back. The creature howled in pain, attracting the others.

Without hesitation, Mikhaz slashed his blade through the creature's neck, and it collapsed.

"There are too many," Mikhaz said, twisting his blade into the heart of another creature.

Amasir gripped her sword tightly, and suddenly, one of the creatures lunged at her. She slammed her blade into its shoulder, feeling disgusted as dark blood splattered onto her face.

The Masnak fell, and she drove her blade through its flesh, severing its head. Before she could balance herself, another creature attacked, and she twisted her blade through its heart.

"I didn't think you'd be this skilled with a sword," Mikhaz said from behind.

She chuckled lightly. "I started fighting with a sword when I was ten."

How could she not be this skilled when it was her mother who had taught her?

She turned, scanning the area, and spotted Nakar moving with cautious, and cutting down more Masnak.

Hearing the growl of a Masnak nearby, she quickly spun to see one rushing toward her. Amasir waited until it was close enough before driving her blade through its heart.

"Behind you!" Nakar yelled. She quickly spun around and killed the Masnak.

"Thanks," she breathed heavily, taking down another. The weight of the creature was too strong. When she tried to pull her sword free, she fell with it, hitting the ground hard.

For a moment, she saw nothing but thick fog surrounding her. As she struggled to free her sword from the creature's heart, another Masnak grabbed her hair. She screamed and punched it in the face. In that moment, her Aether slipped out, reducing the creature to ashes.

Amasir pulled her sword free and sat on the ground, trying to catch her breath. The fog slowly began to thin, crawling its way deep into the woods. With that, she saw no more Masnak around.

She turned to Mikhaz, watching as he pulled the heart from a creature with his bare hands before tossing it to the ground. Then she began counting the soldiers, making sure everyone was safe.

Her eyes widened when she saw Nakar kneeling next to the slave, who was not moving.

No.

Amasir shook her head as she stared at the slave. She lay on her back, her hand pressed against the doll. Her skin had turned deathly pale, and her long dark hair spilled to the side. There was so much blood. Sheathing her sword, Amasir walked toward Nakar.

When she looked at the slave's face, her eyes were hollow. Her skin had turned dry, as if life had been drained from her.

"One of the Masnak fed on her soul," Nakar said.

Lowering herself to the ground, Amasir slowly closed the slave's eyes. She had placed so much faith in that doll, believing it would save her. But she was dead now.

"We need to find our way out of this forest before more creatures appear."

"She's one of us," Amasir said. "We must bury her first."

"Bury?" Nakar scoffed. "We can't spend any more time in these woods, Princess."

"But—"

"Nakar is right. We must leave now."

Amasir slowly stood and took a few steps back. She remained silent as the other slaves gathered leaves and placed them over the slave's body.