Page 28 of Alastair

The noise drew Lucifer’s attention, and though it was subtle, something changed in his expression. “So Alastair spoke true. Kallias lives.”

I followed his gaze. Kallias wielded a dory spear, the leaf-shaped spearhead forged with celestial steel. His swift movements as he cut through the demons were a remarkable sight. A xiphos remained at his side. The short sword was his secondary weapon, much like the hoplite warriors from his homeland.

“He does,” I responded. “And once he finishes with those demons, he and the others are coming for you.”

My anger toward Alastair dissipated a little once seeing the unease in Lucifer’s gaze. The eight cursed sons being united once again worried him. Had that been the real reason Alastair came to Echo Bay? So he could tell Lucifer about Kallias in the hopes of planting seeds of doubt in his mind?

“The odds of you winning this war are no longer in your favor,” I told him.

Lucifer regarded me. “You think me afraid? It will take much more than a Spartan returned from the dead to rattle me.”

“And yet, you haven’t made a move against them.” Hope filled my chest. “When you visited that seer so many years ago, you saw only one future where you lost. One where the eight of them were the last faces you saw before you drew your final breath. I wonder if that future happens tonight.”

Lucifer was sharp-witted and highly observant. He planned before acting, hardly ever making impulsive decisions. His hesitance in that moment was exactly what I’d hoped for. He wasn’t attacking the cursed sons because he couldn’t predict the outcome. He didn’t yet know how strong they were when together like this.

We had to act now before it was too late. He wouldn’t hesitate for long.

“Daman!” I called to him. “Do it now!”

The avatar of Envy acted instantly. He grabbed Warrin’s arm and yelled for the others to gather around him. Alastair looked back at me, confused. Then, his confusion morphed into understanding.

“Stop them!” Lucifer roared as he finally drew Light Bringer. The steel of the blade flickered much like the blue flames of his eyes.

I hurled my whip toward him and caught him around the wrist. The attack didn’t dislodge the weapon from his hand, but it caused his grip to loosen. I was too far away to reach the boys. They’d have to leave without me.

One day, they would defeat Lucifer. But not now. They weren’t ready. If I had to sacrifice myself in order for them to live to see that day, I’d lay down my life in a heartbeat.

“There’s a fine line between bravery and stupidity,” Lucifer snarled at me before his eyes flashed a vibrant blue. “Unfortunately for you, you fall within the latter. Now, burn.”

Pain. My head felt like it was splitting in two, like my blood vessels had been set ablaze, scorching a path through every crevice in my brain. I tried not to voice my pain, but soon, I couldn’t hold it back. My voice cracked with a guttural cry.

“Laz!” Raiden yelled from behind me. “We gotta help him!”

As Lucifer set his eyes on them, I gritted my teeth against the pain and called forth every reserve of strength I had to stop his advance. My whip caught him around the neck, and I yanked him back a step and held him in place. I wouldn’t be able to hold him for long, but fortunately, a soul weapon couldn’t be destroyed unless the one it was forged from died. So he couldn’t break the lash to get free unless he killed me first.

He swung Light Bringer at my head. Still holding the whip in one hand, I lifted my sword with the other to meet him steel for steel.

Purah and Vepar leapt in the air and advanced toward the boys. Warrin, in his hybrid form, sent a wall of ice toward them, knocking them backward in the snow.

Raiden and Kallias were trying to approach me, but Titan held Raiden back while Galen grabbed Kallias. Raiden’s heart was too pure, and Kallias held the “no soldier left behind” mentality.

Alastair watched me with indecision on his face. He was moments away from doing something reckless.

“Don’t,”I told him. Sometimes I could read him so well.“Return to the island and prepare your army. This is only the beginning.”

“I’m sorry,”Alastair said.“I never meant for this to happen.”

There was so much left unsaid between us. So much I’d kept locked inside.

It was for the best that he never knew any of it.

“I know you didn’t,”I responded.“Take this as another lesson learned.”

Their link broke as they were attacked again, preventing Daman from activating the stone. Warrin pelted Purah with a blast of ice, knocking him back several feet. As Vepar lunged from the opposite side, Titan used his titanium arm to punch him in the face, the force of the hit piercing the air with a loud crack.

More shades were summoned from the darkness and screeched as they advanced. Kyo sliced through them with his katana. Mason fired his gun, taking more down with precise head shots. Vepar and Purah continued their attacks as well.

Alastair stepped toward me.