Chapter 145
There was a bone-jarring impact. My skull collided against the sidewalk as the Lithid tackled me to the ground. It outweighed me significantly, and as my lungs compressed, it became nearly impossible to breathe.
Strong arms grabbed me and began to yank.
It's trying to get us both out of the way.
I locked an arm around its neck and kicked its knees out from under it, forcing it into a grapple. I was slower than normal because of the poison of clouded judgement, but that worked to my advantage. The lithid reacted to my intentions rather than my actions, and I was able to secure it in a clinch.
Its body juddered violently twice as two of the arrows pierced its upper back. I shouted in pain as the third pierced my forearm.
The lithid roared, its version of my mouth opening inhumanly wide as it shrieked.
Thats the second dose of the same poison. If I dont get another round of antidote soon, this is over.
My survival instinct kicked into overdrive. I needed to do whatever I could to end this quickly.
I sunk my teeth into its throat. Bilious liquid ran into my mouth and eyes as the lithid squirmed. A chunk of flesh came free, and I spit it out, blindly plunging my dagger into its side, over and over. It swatted at my wrist, and I felt something break.
All at once, it slumped, and I rolled over on top of it, both hands gripping its neck tightly even as pain radiated up my fractured forearm.
Fucking. die. already. I growled, shifting my grip and bearing down harder.
Matt it hurts. Jinny said. She stared up at me with terrified eyes, hemorrhaging crimson from the wound in her neck. You dont have to do this. Anyone can change.
My grip loosened for a fraction of a second.
Three spears of darkness pierced me. Subconsciously, I could feel the lithid attacking my mind. I tried to push it back. The street from my childhood was overtaken with the crimson flesh from region six. Jinnys body was still there, lifeless on the ground, as Nick sat beside her, watching impassively as I struggled.
Hey man. You have to know Im probably donezo. Im not you. Never been good at biding my time. Nick rubbed his head sheepishly. Probably did something stupid already, and its not like the suits would ever let that pass.
And even if hes not, you have me to worry about. Ellison walked in front of me, hands stuffed in his hoody. He studied me impassively as I writhed on the ground. It wasnt chance that I ended up with a special class that could also disguise itself. Theyre going to use me against you. And sure, maybe youll win, but do you really want to deal with the aftermath of killing your brother?Updated from novelbIn.(c)om
I felt the lithids grip on my mind grow tighter.
Another spear pierced Talia. I tried to stand, forcing my way to my hands and knees, struggling to stand.
Its funny. So fucking funny. The lithid seethed. Those memories you cherish so deeply? Of the pups that suckled on your teats in the dead of winter, as you all huddled in a cave for warmth? None of them are real. Youre just like me. A construct of mana that exists solely because this human drew breath. I wanted to reveal that, eventually, once Id wrung you dry of every drop you had to give. As a parting gift. Those children you mourned were never real in the first place. They were always lifeless corpses in the snow.
Talia roared. Her body exploded, awash in silver flame. The influx of heat was so intense I had to shield my face with my hands. When I lowered them, the spears of darkness were gone. And Talia had changed.
At first, I thought shed reverted to her original form. She stood nearly a foot taller than before. The navy in her coat was gone, giving her stark resemblance to the winter wolf Id fought on the fourth floor. Only, her eyes were golden instead of red. And the reflectiveness of her fur was different. It wasnt white.
It was silver.
You The lithid started
Talia tackled it in the center of its dark, formless mass, driving it to the ground. White flames engulfed the lithid, and it shrieked in pain, squirming beneath Talias paws.
Talia spoke directly to the squirming mass. It will be some time before I can hold my creator accountable for their cruelty. In the interim, I will settle for you.
I winced as the flames consumed the lithid, and it writhed desperately. The display went on for a good minute, the lithid shrinking rapidly to the size of a beachball, before Talia stopped to regain her strength, exhausted and panting.
Why Even the lithids voice sounded small. I needed the power only wanted to be free
Even if they never existed. They were real to me. Talia shouted, pressing down on the lithid and burning it around the edges.
Talia. I called to her weakly.
She spun towards me, an expression a rictus of grief and anger. What.
I tried to stand and fell back to one knee. Its your prey. Your prerogative. The lithid needs to die. That much is obvious. But I think, if our roles were reversed, you would advise a clean kill.
Talia bared her teeth. For a moment, her fire burned brighter. Then her face relaxed, expression growing stoic. Revenge is a distraction. We have to stay focused on the whole.
Yes.
She turned her stoic gaze down on the lithid. She reached out with a paw, placing it on the center of the dark mass. Be at peace.
What was left of the lithid burned away in seconds.
