Chapter 26: The Fight
I squinted through the black smoke, which was beginning to billow around me, and my watery eyes picked out a distinct feminine silhouette. The putrid air found its way into my lungs and had me coughing and wheezing, making every attempt to find fresh air. When I glanced up again, the shadowy figure was gone.
I had only a few seconds to wonder what, or who, I had just seen, when the wall on the opposite side of the building came crashing down. My head lowered instinctively, trying to protect my face from the dust and debris. My eyes rose, confused how such a firm stone wall could've come plummeting down so easily, and immediately got my answer.
The figure was illuminated by the fire, and I gasped as my gaze fell on Aryana—my best friend. Her eyes, normally a creamy blue, were a vivid yellow and set directly on the cloaker. Ary's lips were slightly raised, revealing her perfect teeth, and her body began to lower into a crouch. I squirmed in my chair, as a line of fire began trailing towards me, and Ary's head whipped in my direction. Almost instantly, her hard exterior melted, and her eyes widened in shock.
"Bella?" Her figure blurred in my direction, attempting to assist me, but Ehdrid had other plans.
The vicious woman intercepted my best friend, using her shoulder as a battering ram, which sent Aryana flying into a stone pillar. I screamed after Ary, worried that she would be killed trying to save me, and begged Ehdrid not to kill her—though she ignored me.
"I've been waiting for this," Ehdrid growled, advancing toward Ary.
"I know you," Ary responded, having regained her composure. "I met you in Moscow."
"That you did," Ehdrid confirmed, still moving slowly towards her, back slightly bent.
"You were with that gangly, slack-jawed, male," Ary said, which made Ehdrid come to an immediate halt, "the one who didn't know when to shut up."
"His name was Sven, and he was mine!" Ehdrid answered angrily, roaring at Ary. "You killed him, and that's why I'm here. Your life to pay for his."
"You have a good reason for wanting to take my life," Ary sighed, lowering her eyes slightly, and when she looked back at Ehdrid, she was apologetic. "Unfortunately, my death has already been promised to another. But, it will be an honor to send you to meet your Sven."
Two things happened simultaneously as I watched in horror. Ehdrid snarled viciously, exposing her razor sharp teeth, and rushed forward, ready to rip Ary to pieces. At the same time, Ary opened her mouth and the most inhuman sound came pouring out; it was a roar, like you'd hear from a lion, only much louder and more powerful. I cringed, feeling my ear drums begin to shake, and cried out as Ary's outburst made my skin crawl. As the sound lightened, the two women rushed at each other, ready to destroy the other.
Ary and Ehdrid crashed together, the sound reminding me of the Cullens' baseball game. Emmett and Edward had slammed into one another, and the noise was louder than thunder. I refocused on my best friend, who had easily overpowered the vampire she was battling, and had her pinned on the ground.
Ehdrid wasn't as strong as Aryana, but she was still a skilled fighter. It took her only a few seconds to wriggle out of Ary's grasp, extend her foot in front of her, and push the hybrid across the room. Ehdrid flipped onto her back and cackled before rushing back towards Ary.
The two locked together once again, making every attempt to ensnare the other with their own teeth. Despite Ehdrid's fighting skills, Ary was simply too strong, and with a final push, the vampire was on the ground again. A groan from beside me caught my attention, and, when I turned, I saw Eric rolling on the ground. The wounds seemed to be healing, but they were still causing him pain. I wanted to go to him, but couldn't move.
"Eric?" I called out and he looked at me. "Are you all right?"
There was no response, and a horrible feeling twisted my gut as I watched him laying there. The tears streamed down my cheeks, and I felt my body go limp. A huge crash forced me to look back to the fight between Ary and Ehdrid, and found them separated by a fallen beam.
"You think you can escape?" Ehdrid mocked Ary, her face twisting to a sadistic grin. "Even if you kill me, they'll still hunt you. One day, they'll find you, and they'll kill you and your ridiculous followers."
"That's a wish that will never come true," Ary responded with a fierce growl.
"Let's finish this," Ehdrid hissed and took a step towards my best friend. "I'm aching to destroy you, freak."
Ary didn't respond verbally, but her body was a whole different story. She rolled her head sideways, almost like she was cracking her neck, but as she did so a guttural rumble echoed through the empty building. A second later, she slashed at the fallen beam separating the two of them, and it split in half. I instinctively lowered my head as shards of wood flew in all directions.
When I opened my eyes, I shuddered as I saw Ary's body quiver and convulse before my very eyes. Her arms and legs began to swell, extending an additional foot in length, and began to change in color and texture. I grimaced as a series of pops and cracks ricocheted against the walls—all coming from Ary's body. Her skin appeared to bleach—fade from her creamy pallid exterior to a sickly white shade—and sprouted fur. Her torso had begun to change, lengthening and bulking up like her appendages, as well as her face.
Ary's black hair faded to a light gray, while her feminine features distorted rapidly. Her ears pushed up, forming a sharp point, while her mouth lengthened into a snout, and her face widened significantly, all covered in the same white fur that covered the rest of her body.
There was a thick ripping noise as her clothes tore, destroyed by her rapidly expanding body, and hung loosely around her neck and waist. The small, yet athletic form of my best friend had been replaced by a massive creature unlike any I had seen. From the side, she looked like a cat—yet, not. She stood on two legs, slightly hunched over, the claws on her toes digging into the floor beneath her. As the beast panted, I caught the sight of massive teeth, about three inches in length and my eyes widened.
"Well," Ehdrid said snidely, breaking the silence, "I can see why you were the main attraction."
I knew this was the wrong thing for her to say, but I didn't anticipate Ary's reaction. She lashed out with her right paw, ensnaring Ehdrid's leg, and dragged her, screaming and clawing at the ground. Once Ary had her closer, she raised her other paw, ready to strike the vampire. Ehdrid, seeing this too, thrust her free leg upward into Ary's gut, and pulled herself away from the giant animal.
Ary was on her feet at once, moving after the vampire, crashing through everything in her path to get to Ehdrid. I was amazed at how fast she moved, despite her hulking size. She maneuvered just as graceful as she did in her human form—liquid, flowing, like a dancer.
I was so entranced by what was going on, it didn't register that the two were getting dangerously close to me. Ehdrid swept nearer to where I was, and, as I realized her plan, it was too late. She hopped directly in front of the chair that held me, allowing Aryana to get close enough to swipe at her, but moved away at the last moment. This left me directly in Ary's path of destruction.
We made eye contact just as her paw came down, both understanding what was about to happen, and I could see recognition in her bright yellow eyes, as well as horror. She struck the side of my chair, which broke the chains and sent me flying across the space, an instant pain reverberating throughout my body. I cried out as I fell towards the flames, which had spread significantly, and closed my eyes—ready to accept death.
However, as I expected to be burned alive, I was greeted by a welcoming cold sensation. Opening my eyes, I sighed in relief to find Eric looking down at me, pure panic in his eyes. He thrust his back against a wall, and I could see Ary and the white-haired demon still fighting, each one taking turns at attacking the other.
"I have to get you out of here," Eric growled, looking up in Ary's direction.
"W-What about Ary?" I found it difficult to speak with the sharp pain tearing at my torso. "W-We c-can't leave h-her."
He glanced up and down constantly, deeply conflicted, and grimaced as he put me down. "Will you be all right?"
"G-Go," I growled and cringed at the agonizing torture slowly creeping up my body.
Eric didn't hesitate; he bounded away from me, jumping over the flames, and was at Ary's side immediately. As his sister took a step back, Eric headed forward and ensnared Ehdrid by the arms, but she tossed him off easily, twisting and turning until he couldn't hold on any longer. The sadistic vampire landed a kick to Eric's chest, which sent him flying through a wall and into the forest. She didn't try to go after him though; instead, she refocused on Ary.
I cringed as a fiery pain riveted through me, twisting my vision, making me see double. I toppled over on the ground, consumed by the agony, and was about to pass out when I heard a horrible scream. Struggling to push myself up right, I glanced back towards Ary and found her lying on her side, the vampire standing above her with a smug grin.
To my utter horror, Ehdrid placed her foot on Ary's head, a determined look on her face, and raised her leg. It appeared that she was going to smash Ary's skull with her foot—I couldn't let that happen. Despite my injury, I pushed myself off the ground and wobbled towards the vampire, whose eyes were focused on my wounded best friend.
"This is the end," I heard Ehdrid growl, and I quickened my feeble pace.
"Leave her alone," I cried, holding onto a wooden beam for support, glaring at her.
"Are you still here?" Ehdrid's face was of amusement and bewilderment.
"I'm sorry to disappoint you, Bella, but this is the end of this creature."
"Please," I moaned between clenched teeth.
"Are you begging?" Ehdrid's attention was fully on me, and I noticed the tension on Ary was lessening. "All right, I might listen, if you get on your knees."
I cringed under Ehdrid's sadistic smile, but got down on my knees, wincing at the feeling that rushed up my body. "Please, spare Aryana."
"My goodness," Ehdrid cackled, clasping her hands together. "I've never seen such devotion in a human before. You certainly are something Miss Bella, in fact, I'm positive the Lords would be interested in you as well. As soon as I diminish this pest, you and I are going on a little trip."
I swallowed heavily, the nervousness and fear consuming me, and closed my eyes, not wanting to see Ary die. Through the darkness, I heard the same inhuman roar that belonged to my best friend, and moments later a blood-curdling scream. My eyelids popped open in time to see Ary standing up, with the white-haired vampire caught in her massive jaws.
Ehdrid pulled her hands across Aryana's shoulders, which tore at her furry covering and became matted with bright red blood. She arched her back, roaring in pain, and sank her teeth deeper into the vampire in her mouth.
The cries coming from Ehdrid were nothing short of horrifying, and I brought my hands to my ears, trying to muffle to sound but it was no use. Ary pinned her down on the ground with both paws, and bit down on the top of her skull. Being only five feet away, I felt her venom splash across my skin, and I balked at the smell of sulphur and rotten eggs. Seconds later, I heard a ripping noise, which could only be described as Styrofoam being torn to bits, and then the shouting stopped.
Ary had successfully ripped her head away from her body, before tossing it into the flames that were surrounding us. I sighed heavily and instantly regretted it, letting a strangled sob exit my body. Ary was immediately by my side, inspecting me, without touching me.
I wasn't sure why but, I reached out and let my hand rest on Ary's soft arm, feeling the white fur beneath my fingers. The texture was rough, yet still soft and plush. A rumble flowed through her chest as I continued to feel her outer covering.
"I missed you," I whispered as she lowered her head closer to me.
"Aryana!" Eric called as he appeared beside us. "We need to get out of here, now!"
My vision began to fail me, and I felt myself slipping in and out of consciousness, in my moments of lucidity I felt weightless. Eric picked me up gently, and, as soon as we exited the burning building, it collapsed in a waterfall of flames and smoke. I sucked in deep breaths, but, as Eric tried to speak to me, I fell into darkness.