Lord Lacron paced back and forth whilst never taking his eyes off of Isabel. He was like a predator toying with his prey, waiting to pounce at any moment. Isabel dug her heels into the ground and clenched her fists. She knew that if she wanted to save the world, these would be the type of battles she would have to win. She didn't believe she would get a second chance, so she had to give it her all and hope for the best.
Lacron stopped for a moment and then sniffed the air. He turned to Isabel and twisted his head to the side, inspecting her carefully. For the first time, he gazed at her like she wasn't just a simple plaything he expected to break easily. ''There's something different about you. The way your heart beats…the way your blood rushes through your body…it sounds wrong. You're human, and something more.''
''That's why you shouldn't underestimate me!'' Isabel gritted her teeth and flung herself forward towards the Drake.
He reared back in shock. Isabel had closed the gap in an instant and before he could question what was happening, she struck him across the face with a powerful punch. He stumbled back before grinding to an abrupt halt. Isabel's fist stung. That was her strongest punch to date. Even she was surprised by her attack. If she had struck the Scorpula with the same force, she might have been able to damage it. Lacron was facing away from her and didn't move a muscle. For a small moment, Isabel thought that she had knocked him out cold.
However, Lacron turned back and rubbed his jaw. ''Not bad.'' He narrowed his eyes at her. ''My turn.''
Isabel blinked and suddenly Lacron was right in front of her. The back of his hand clattered against the side of her face and she was sent hurtling into the distance, crashing through one of the huts and landing in a heap. She tried to get back up, but she almost fell back. The room felt like it was spinning around her. She shook away the dizzying feeling and clutched her head with both hands. It felt like it was going to fall right off her shoulders. After fumbling around for a bit, she walked out of the hut and saw Lacron approaching her once again, cracking his knuckles and licking his lips.
Letting out an angry roar to psyche herself up, she charged at the Drake and tackled him in the stomach. She pushed with all her might, but he wouldn't budge. Behind his back, she locked her fingers together and tried to lift him into the air. Yet again, Isabel wasn't strong enough to get a reaction. His grabbed the top of her head, his talons scratched her scalp and drew blood. Isabel cried out before she was lifted up and then slammed into the ground. The air was knocked out of her lungs. Then a powerful kick sent her flying once more. Her back crashed against the wall of another hut. She coughed up blood and tried to get back up.
''This is fun.'' Lacron chuckled darkly. ''Killing humans was starting to become boring. But you've put the enjoyment back into the hunt.''
''Shut up!'' Isabel screamed and rushed at him.
She threw punches and kicks at him, but he easily evaded all of her attacks. He hooked his arm underneath her leg and swept her up into the air. Before she fell to the ground, he slammed his knee into her stomach. Isabel couldn't breathe as she slumped to the ground. Lacron stamped on her back and forced her face into the dirt. A fire inside of Isabel flickered. She remembered all the times that Thane had done this to her in the past. She lashed out in anger to free herself. Though she got Lacron to step back, he responded by swinging his arm and slapping her off her feet. She skidded along the ground before coming to a screeching halt against the wall.
''As much as I'm enjoying this, I do have more humans to be hunting. So, if you want to keep living, just stay down and…''
Isabel climbed back up to her feet and charged again.
Lacron sighed. ''Or attack me again. Because that worked so well the first 3 times you tried.''
He easily sidestepped past her next attack and chopped his hand against the back of her neck, knocking her to the ground again. She didn't know what hurt more, the damage he was inflicting on her, his dry sarcasm, or the fact she was powerless to stop this beast from going after her friends and family.
Isabel rolled over but was stopped when Lacron grabbed her by the throat and hoisted her up into the air.
''Let's see how quickly you burn,'' Lacron growled menacingly.
Isabel watched as his eyes turned a dark shade of red and sizzled as if his slit pupils had ignited. She could feel heat coming from his palm that was pressed against her neck. The air around her became thick and hot and she hissed in pain as it felt like her whole body was burning up. She thrashed around and hit Lacron's arms, but she wasn't strong enough to break free. Her clothing caught on fire. Isabel cried out for help. Who could possibly help her? She was going to burn alive and then the same fate would befall her mother. The thought of her loved one's suffering pained her more than any burn could.
She locked eyes with Lacron and then something strange happened. She could no longer feel any pain. Was she about to die? Was this the end? Even Lacron watched on with a confused expression. Isabel clothes had crumbled into ash, leaving her completely naked…with no signs of burn marks. The only blemishes on her skin were bruises inflicted by the Drake during their brawl. Lacron tightened his grip and Isabel could feel her skin grow warmer, and yet, it didn't feel like she was burning.
When it was clear she wasn't being affected, Lacron ceased with the burning. He brought Isabel closer and sniffed her head. ''What are you?''
Seeing an opportunity to escape, Isabel kicked him in the chest with both her legs. She didn't expect anything to happen, after all, none of her attacks had hurt him so far. This time, Lacron groaned in pain and even stumbled backwards. He let go of her neck, dropping Isabel to the ground. After catching her breath, Isabel rose back to her feet to confront a clearly shaken Lacron.
''I can't burn you…'' Lacron stated in disbelief. He seemed lost and Isabel felt hopeful for the first time. He eyed her body and spotted her bruises and cuts. His sinister grin returned. ''I can still break you.''
''Not if I break you first,'' Isabel growled.
She didn't know what it was, but after getting a taste of the fire…she was excited to continue the fight.
Before they could carry on where they left off, they heard something being fired close by. Isabel looked up to see a small ball of light rocketing up above, almost touching the top of the cavern. Lacron stared at the ball with great interest, unsure what he was staring at. Isabel quickly understood what it was and covered her eyes. The flare suddenly exploded, illuminating everything around it. Lacron grunted in frustration as all he could see was white. He rubbed his eyes, but his vision wouldn't return. The cackling coming from the ignited flare also impacted his hearing.
Isabel didn't know what was going on. She flinched when she felt an arm grab hers and pull her away. She almost pulled back, but she instantly recognized who was holding her. ''Mom?''
Just then, she felt another hand, smaller but just as soft, take her other arm. Under the intense light, Isabel could just about see her mother and Jess guiding her to safety. The two women kept their heads bowed as they weaved through the colony, using their memory of the layout to take Isabel to the tunnel where everyone else had escaped, leaving Lacron behind. Isabel looked over her shoulder, expecting the Drake to be chasing them. But he stood with his eyes closed and didn't move. It was as if he was waiting for the flare to burn out. With time short, Isabel regained her of thought and knew she had to take the lead so she could get her mom and Jess to safety.
Helen and Jess were swept off their feet as Isabel grabbed them both, lifted them into her strong arms and raced down the tunnel as fast as she could. They held onto Isabel for dear life. At this point, it didn't matter if Isabel was naked, all that mattered was gaining enough distance between themselves and Lacron.
Isabel ran until her legs grew weak. After her beatdown from Lacron, she wasn't at full strength and was forced to stop. She kept her ears open, expecting to hear Lacron hunting them. However, it was silent. She couldn't even hear the flare anymore. What was he waiting for?
''Isabel, you're hurt.'' Helen's concerned voice filled Isabel's ears.
Suddenly, it dawned on the young woman that she was still pressing her mother and Jess against her naked body. While they were worried about her health, she could also see a hint of a blush on their cheeks. She released them from her hold.
''Why did you come back?'' Isabel said. ''He could have killed you.''
''He would have killed you if we didn't come back,'' Helen replied.
''The point of me staying behind was to give you all a chance to escape…''
''The colony is ahead of us,'' Jess said. ''But we couldn't leave you. So, we grabbed a flare and…''
''He's going to come after us at any moment. You two need to run ahead while I…''
The sound of Helen slapping Isabel across the face reverberated throughout the tunnel. Jess clapped her hand over her mouth to stop a gasp from escaping her. Isabel looked at her mother in a daze. She hardly felt it, especially when compared to what Lacron's strikes felt like, but it was still a shock to her system.
''You know that won't work,'' Helen stated firmly. ''He will kill you. Then he will come after the rest of us and we'll all be dead. We need to think of a new strategy.''
After a moment of silence, Isabel heard another voice. ''I agree.''
She turned sharply, expecting to see Lacron right behind her. When she saw that he wasn't there and that Helen and Jess were oblivious to his voice, she knew that her ears were hearing what they couldn't. ''Lacron…''
''Ah, so you can hear me from where you are,'' he chuckled forebodingly. ''You are full of surprises, human.''
''My name is Isabel!'' She growled in response.
''He can hear us?'' Jess looked back worryingly. Helen hushed her and then turned to her daughter. Whatever happens next was in her hands.
Even at such a great distance, Isabel could almost hear Lacron wanting to let out another amused chuckle at her expense. But he resisted the urge and continued with his speech. ''I agree with your companions. You may be different from other humans, I dare even say you have the qualities of a Dragon, it's pointless to keep attacking me head-on. I'm superior to you in every way. I will grow bored very quickly.''
''But you're not going to let us go,'' Isabel said, though she already knew the answer.
''No, but I want to make things more exciting. I will stay here for one hour. That will give you time to think of a new plan to confront me. Or, you can use that time to run away with the rest of your people. However, you should know that I will track you no matter how far you run. Once your time is up, I will strike like lightning. You will not see me coming. You now have 59 minutes. Good luck, Isabel the superhuman.''
Isabel felt her heart in her throat. She only had an hour to find a way to kill a Drake? Where could she possibly find the strength to best an enemy that was clearly stronger and faster than her?
''What did he say?'' Helen asked.
Slowly facing Helen and Jess, Isabel put on a brave face and nodded down the tunnel to where the others from the colony had evacuated. ''Let's keep moving. We don't have a moment to waste.''
XXX
HELLO MY SWEET SUPERSTARS! I HOPE THAT YOU LIKED THIS FIGHT BETWEEN ISABEL AND LORD LACRON. I'VE BEEN LOOKING FORWARD TO WRITING THIS FIGHT FOR A WHILE. WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS? DO YOU THINK ISABEL, HELEN AND JESS WILL BE ABLE TO ESCAPE IN TIME? AND DO YOU THINK THEY WILL FIND A WAY TO DEFEAT LACRON BEFORE THEIR TIME IS UP. TRUST ME WHEN I SAY THAT THE UPCOMING CHAPTERS ARE GOING TO BE INTENSE. I CAN'T WAIT TO HEAR WHAT YOU ALL THINK. THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING THE BEST READERS EVER. I KNOW I KEEP SAYING IT, BUT IT IS TRUE, YOU ARE ALL AMAZING. STAY SAFE AND TA-TA FOR NOW.
