Chapter Eighty:

  “Wasn’t Right”

  Hex stood in the cool night air, the glow from the inn stretching over her, soft and steady. The two figures at her sides shifted, ready, restless, their bodies humming with anticipation. She could smell the fire, burning wood, roasted meat, stale ale. A scent that clung to places like this, where people huddled together, mistaking warmth for safety.

  She tipped her head back, her black eyes reflecting the dim glow of lanterns. A slow smirk tugged at the corner of her lips, as she called out, her voice lilting and teasing.

  "Oh, Guardians... come out to pllllaaayyy!"

  For a moment, nothing.

  Then, just at the edge of her vision, movement. A shadow behind the inn’s window. A messy mop of hair. Wide eyes. Ankit. He popped his head up, his gaze locking onto hers. Hex's grin widened.

  "I have to admit," she purred, tilting her head, "I wasn't expecting you all to play so rough. Hmph!"

  She turned, her gaze sweeping toward the two figures flanking her. They hunched close, barely containing their excitement. Hex regarded them the way a sister might regard her younger brothers. Of course, she knew what they really were. Sterling called them her pets. To him, they were tools, things to be used, discarded if necessary. But to her, they were something else. Not quite family, but certainly hers. And in her own way, she loved them.

  She gave a slow, deliberate gesture toward them, her voice as light as ever. "But I brought a couple of friends of my own to play this time."

  Cackle let out a high-pitched laugh, the sound needling into the quiet. Bash cracked his knuckles, chuckling as he took a slow step forward. The movement inside the inn quickened, more figures appearing at the windows. Some of them familiar. Some of them not. Their faces pale, uncertain. Terrified.

  Hex’s grin stretched, her eyes gleaming. "Meet Cackle and Bash."

  Before anyone inside could respond, the heavy wooden door of the inn swung open. **Enya stood in the doorway, arms crossed, gaze sharp as a whetted blade. Her voice carried into the night, smooth, unshaken.

  "I'm sorry, dear," she said, almost sweetly. "We don’t serve young’uns here after dark. You’re going to have to play somewhere else."

  The moment Enya spoke, firm but unaware of what she had truly stepped into, Emily didn’t hesitate.

  “Move!” she barked, already lunging for the door. She turned quickly to Raya, Ani already standing guard. “Stay here. Stay safe.”

  The others followed, urgency driving them forward. Leo was right behind her, Lucinda to his left, Asha’s hand darted to her pouch of vials, fingers brushing over the glass before she tightened her grip around a volatile concoction, ready to throw at a moment’s notice. Ankit was the first to reach the handle, fingers closing around the wood. "Miss Enya, you have no idea what she will do."

  But Hex didn’t move.

  She didn’t lash out. Didn’t react. Instead, she turned her black eyes to Cackle and Bash.

  A slow, knowing smirk curled across her lips.

  "Show them that we can play with the big boys."

  Bash flexed his fingers, his grin stretching too wide, his hulking frame rolling forward with lazy menace. Cackle let out a shrill, bubbling laugh, shoulders twitching with uncontained excitement.

  Enya stood firm in the open doorway, her sharp gaze sweeping over them. "Get inside before… "

  Cackle was fast. A glint of steel, a blur of movement, and the dagger plunged into her heart. The air left her in a strangled gasp as her body crumpled, lifeless, onto the steps of The Sleeping Embers Inn.

  Emily and the others emerged, weapons drawn, but too late. Lucinda rushed to Enya, hands glowing, pressing desperately against the wound.

  But it was too late.

  She was gone.

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  Lucinda’s breath came quick, but her hands were steady. She gently laid Enya’s body down, her hands trembling just once before she closed the woman's eyes. Lucinda exhaled slowly, grief had long since dulled into something distant. It wasn’t the first loss, and it wouldn’t be the last. Her gaze lifted to her friends. The ones fighting for what was right. She spoke, a single word flowing softly from her lips.

  “Protection.”

  Silver light flared around her as she thrust her hands outward, channeling the spell to the others. Emily, Leo, Ankit, and Asha were enveloped in a shimmering shield, the magic settling onto their skin like a second layer of armor. It wouldn’t make them invincible, but it would buy them time. Time they desperately needed.

  The four of them stepped forward as Lucinda pulled back, her hands still tingling from the spell.

  Emily reached to her side, drawing from her quiver. Her tattoos ignited, glowing bright blue as she channeled her Elven magic into the arrow. The sleek black leather held her arsenal at the ready, each fletching waiting for its turn. She nocked the arrow against the bowstring, its tip glowing faintly with power. Her voice was cold, sharp, final.

  “Time to end this game.”

  Ankit drew his twin daggers in a single, fluid motion. He spun one absentmindedly, the blade flashing under the dim light before stilling, held firm in his grasp. His stance shifted lower, ready to move.

  Leo stood beside him, his thumb flicking over the smooth edge of his ring, spinning it once, a habit as ingrained as breathing. Then, in a single thought, both of his fists ignited, blue flames reflected in his eyes, his lips curving into the barest smirk, his focus locked on the fight ahead. "For you, Sarah... Keira... whoever you were."

  Asha reached to her pouch, fingers closing around a small glass vial filled with a bubbling yellow liquid. She held it up between two fingers, letting it catch the light. A wide grin spread across her lips as she turned to Hex.

  “Remember this?”

  Hex’s eyes flashed with anger at Asha’s taunt, but before she could retort, the vial was already airborne.

  She recoiled instinctively, arms raised, one knee drawn up, as if she could already feel the gas burning her lungs again.

  But before the glass could shatter against the ground, Bash was there. With a growl, he swung his battle axe. The impact shattered the vial in midair, its contents dispersing harmlessly.

  Cackle was already in motion, lunging toward Ankit, his dagger flashing. Ankit, just as quick, met him head-on, parrying the strike with one of his own blades. The clash of steel rang between them before Ankit countered, driving his second dagger toward Cackle’s ribs.

  Too fast.

  Cackle hopped back, his eerie laugh bubbling up, wild and breathless. His grin widened, eyes alight with manic delight.

  Emily didn’t hesitate. The instant the opening appeared, she loosed her enchanted arrow. The shot struck true, embedding itself deep into Bash’s back shoulder.

  He roared in pain, his fingers spasmed open. The axe clattered to the ground.

  “Bash!” Hex’s voice cut through the fight, sharp and commanding.

  She lifted her hand, fury twisting her features. “No more playing!”

  A deep violet mist began to rise around the four of them, curling at their feet, reaching higher.

  Lucinda stepped forward, gripping her staff tightly. Her voice rang out over the chaos.

  “Cleanse.”

  A surge of energy burst outward as she raised her staff, light washing over the battlefield. The violet mist withered, dissolving into nothing.

  Bash staggered toward his axe, his fingers reaching for the handle.

  Leo saw his chance. He lunged, twisting his body into a powerful punch that connected squarely with Bash’s gut. The impact sent the brute hurtling backward, blue flames surging around him.

  He didn’t just slam into a tree; he smashed straight through it. Splintered wood erupted in every direction as Bash tumbled to the ground, flames still licking at his body. His agonized howl ripped through the night as the fire spread, grass and foliage catching quickly, creeping toward the nearby trees.

  Hex’s frustration boiled over, her fists clenching at her sides. But before she could react, her gaze snapped toward Cackle just in time to see Ankit’s dagger flash.

  Steel met flesh then bone, and a sharp line of red carved across Cackle’s face.

  Cackle’s dagger slipped from his fingers, clattering to the ground. His hands were too busy pressing against his cheek, trying to hold together whatever he could, trying to stop the blood from spilling between his fingers.

  Emily drew another arrow, her movements smooth, second nature. The bowstring tensed, then snapped forward, sending the shot streaking toward Cackle’s throat.

  Hex’s hand lifted instinctively, she should have been able to stop it, but she was too slow. Not because of them. Because of him.

  Her father. He had sent them here. Sent her. Sent her family to do his dirty work. And now they were losing. No, now they were dying.

  And Giggles.

  It wasn’t right!

  Where was he? Where was her father now?

  The arrow struck home. Cackle’s eyes went wide. He knew. They both did.

  Hex’s breath caught. “Brothers!”

  But it was too late.

  Cackle erupted in a burst of deep purple light. Bash followed, his body consumed in a brilliant flash of green.

  And then, they were nothing.

  Hex sat frozen, the fading light of her brothers still imprinted behind her eyes. The world around her blurred, swallowed by the storm rising inside her. The anger twisted, deepening. Not just at him.

  At them.

  At everyone.

  They had taken her family. And so had her father.

  They would pay.

  But not yet.

  She inhaled sharply, forcing the fury down, forcing herself to think. She had to be smart. She had to let him believe she was still his obedient little girl. Still twisted, still loyal. If she played her part well enough, he would forgive her. He would do what he always did, recalculate, restrategize.

  And when the time was right…

  She turned her gaze to the Players, the ones who had stolen her brothers. No. Not stolen. Killed.

  She was sure of it now. They had been more than pets. More than playthings. They had been her brothers.

  Her voice didn’t shake, didn’t rise with rage or crack with grief. It came low, certain.

  “You will all regret this one day.”

  No threats. No screams. Just the truth.

  Then, without another word, she raised a hand, a portal unfurling into the void.

  And she was gone.