Chapter 72: Into the Shadows

There was a wind that blew the eastern gate off hinges and shook shockwaves across the castle as smoke rose into the evening sky amidst the cries of bruised warriors who had been crying out within cold stone. Standing amidst all of the Chao, Reika went in to assist any of the injured and damaged persons.Her instincts from her wolf had already fired off. She went further, with a pale voice, white as the paper her words were penned upon: "Your Majesty, the eastern gate is broken! Enemies are pouring in!"   Fists clenched with the surge of anger which flowed inside her chest with every thought, "Get word to Kael and Alpha Ileus immediately. Let them fall out of our troops, secure the inner courtyard-that would be our last stand". After saying that and nodding she flung herself wordlessly around to face the curtains afterwards she went into the battle field to see the demands of the soldiers' against every element of chaos.   The House of the Dawn Scheme Sensing the smells of burning wood and blood, she sprinted toward the eastern gate where one could see Marcus, his men were leading through the break in the wall. The smirk that had been laid upon Marcus's face, like honey on these bitter surroundings, sat ill in the mouth. "Marcus!" She roared, her voice echoed. He wheeled back toward me, his eyes bright with malice. "Ah, Queen Reika. So nice to see you again. Like my present?" He nodded toward the destruction surrounding them. "You will pay for this," Reika snarled, claws bursting from her hands as wolf power surged through her. Marcus burst out laughing. "You really think you can stop me? This castle will burn, and with it your pitiful reign. She didn't let him finish. In a flash, she sprang, her claws arcing to dig deep into his throat. Quick, Marcus brought up the coated blade gleaming with something that glistened with sparks. Reika landed on all fours, her wolf senses shrieking in warning; there was something off about this blade-it lived, dancing with dark energy. "Ring any bells?" he sneered. "A little gift from your past. Not one-of-a-kind, it would appear, Reika. The Elusive Ally Reika never got her answer because a body charged between them and knocked Marcus's next attack away. Kael was suddenly upon them, his sword bashing against Marcus's with a loud clang. "Thought you could use some help," Kael said, his voice even, but beneath that, a note of strained tightness echoed. Reika said only to him, turning back to Marcus. "We take him down. Together." Kael gave her an ironic smile. "There's a plan. It drove him back as the two went as one, striking true in perfect sync and grace that fell with the turn of their movements; though agile and highly skilled, Marcus found the match against them both at the same time extremely arduous. "You think it really changes anything?" the desperate lacing his voice, Marcus sneered,. Reika's eyes flashed. "Then let's make sure you don't get to see it." --- Revelation of Death In burst Daisy, discomfited-looking. "Your Majesty! They're in the inner courtyard! Another detachment, passed through the northern gate!"   Reika's face went bloodless. "They are trying to split us apart… cut us apart and render us powerless."   Kael swore sotto voce. "Cannot resist on two fronts. What to do? He stumbled backward in the full tide of her thoughts, smiling. Fall back, defense of courtyard, give up the eastern gate. fall back upon loss of it or else give all upon surrender of a single gateway. "We hold the courtyard," Reika said. "Kael, take the warriors and secure it. I'll deal with Marcus." He fussed a moment. The look was for her again. "You are certain?" She had. She'd given him the nod that was like signing her agreement in blood. "Go. I'll finish this." Kael, with evident distaste for the order, trailed after him north toward the gate where warriors waited. Marcus laughed as they disappeared from view. "Bold move, Reika. You really think you're the one to take me down?" Reika's eyes flashed, sparking wolf power. "Watch me." ---Heat of Battle Reika fought furiously with Marcus, her speed and power whirling like a maelstrom as neither fighter gave quarter, though there was this dark, crackling energy each time he managed a strike down her blade against her defenses, trying to weaken her at each point. But Reika would not yield. Her claws cut into her target with precision, as if guided by some feral intuition inside her, as the wolf rose inside her with each second passing. "You never took me seriously," Reika said in a voice so low it was lethal. "That is your mistake-one grave, and fatal." Marcus' smile faltered; for the barest instant, a flicker of doubt crossed his face before poise was regained and he dove forward again. Reika managed to dodge the attack, moving on into a strong strike into his chest, and Marcus reeled backward as blood soaked into his armor. "You will regret this," he snarled, clutching his wound. Reika stepped closer, her claws glinting in the moonlight. 'No, Marcus. You'll regret ever crossing me." --- The Cliffhanger Just as Reika was about to make her opponent face defeat, a great, earsplitting roar boomed over the field of combat. Whipping around, she felt her heart go down, for out of the smoke came an enormous beast of a monster. It was unlike any animal she had ever seen or studied. Large, half wolf, half dragon, its eyes shone with an evil malevolent red light. The look on her face sent Marcus over and he doubled up, bursting into a triumphing laughing jag. "Really-you must've thought I came here along with myself, right? This is the secret weapon of the Dawn family." No It growled and spread its wings.   Her wolf instincts yammered at her to sprint off, but she stood there with bared claws outstretched. "This isn't over," she snarled inside, every vein inside her was running wild with fear. At which she charged, and the fight of Reika's life was only just begining.