More Nymphs barred the way forward and raging fights broke out everywhere in the passages as we flew, casting our Phoenix fire at any Nymphs we came close to and banishing them into death.
Their rattles echoed through the atmosphere, locking down our people’s magic and weakening our forces just like that. More and more of our allies were shifting and we cried out to anyone who had yet to do so, urging them to take on their Order forms or keep fighting on with their Phoenix flame swords.
As we made it to the passage that led outside, we found carnage awaiting us.
Geraldine was already there with her armour in place and her flail in hand as she fought to keep the Nymphs back. They were fighting their way through the archway where the grandfather clock had been, the whole wall of earth now ripped apart to leave a gaping hole into the farmhouse. We flew forward as Geraldine worked to seal up the hole alongside another group of earth Elementals and Tory and I dropped down before her.
“We’ll make a wall of Phoenix fire, stand back,” Tory commanded and they hurried to obey as we raised our hands together as another tide of Nymphs dove forward to try and make it through the hole.
A billowing plume of fire tore away from us and the Nymphs shrieked, some dying in the blast as the fire curled around the entrance in an impenetrable wall and the tide of Nymphs was finally halted. The rattles fell away as they retreated from our flames and my magic returned to me, power crackling at my fingertips.
“Kill any of them who remain in the tunnels – the breach is sealed!” I cried, amplifying my voice once more so all the rebels could hear.
“Geraldine, get everyone enforcing the roof here, don’t let anyone tunnel in,” Tory commanded.
“Yes, my lady,” she said, her eyes fierce as she started directing people to tighten up the defences.
“Blue!” Orion shouted, shooting up behind us with weapons and our armour in his grip.
“Thank god.” I stripped out of my dress immediately.
Tory snatched a blade, cutting the red lace of her wedding dress open instead of wasting time with the ties and we pulled our armour on, sheathing the new blades we’d made for ourselves while Orion held his sword at the ready, a darkness in his eyes that I felt in my own soul.
Xavier and Sofia appeared riding on the back of Tyler in his silver Pegasus form, galloping towards us. Xavier had his metal Phoenix fire helmet strapped to his head, ready for when he shifted, and he looked to us as Tyler slowed to a halt.
“We have to get to the surface,” Xavier said urgently. “We have to get to my father.”
I nodded as Orion tossed Xavier and Sofia a couple of blades.
“Geraldine!” I called, an idea coming to me and she ran to us in an instant.
“How can I be of service?” she asked.
“We need to make a tunnel up to the surface so the rebels can get out and fight,” I said.
“Absolutely, let me assist you. And once it is done, I shall follow at your backs like a nighthawk and cry to the moon the toll of death!”
I nodded to her as a line of rebels built behind us, all armed and looking ready to bleed for victory.
“Follow us!” Tory cried. “We’re going to the surface! Fight for freedom!”
“For freedom!” they yelled in reply and Tory and I blasted a hole in the wall to our right, cleaving it apart with earth magic, creating a path big enough for the rebels to follow as Geraldine widened it all around us.
Orion stood at my back with his sword raised and we shared a look that said we’d fight with all the fury of our love out there today. I’d fight for them all, for my him, my sister, for my brother, for the family I’d found in Solaria and who were so precious to me, it was easy to stand here, ready to die for them.
“Stay close,” I breathed and a promise flared in his eyes.
“I’m always in your shadow, you only have to look to find me there,” he said, raising his chin with a flare of determination in his gaze.
“Love you, Tor,” I whispered to my sister and she looked to me with that same love blazing in her eyes.
“Love you, Darcy.”
We sprinted up the dirt path as everyone ran at our back, the ground opening up above us as we blasted through it. And suddenly we were outside, the cool autumn air whipping around us, the long grass stained red with blood and complete havoc descending in an instant.
I let my wings spread behind me as the Nymphs shrieked and Orion charged forward with a burst of Vampire speed, swinging his flaming Phoenix sword and slamming it into the chest of the closest monster.