SWNOVELS Chapter Eddie XV
He was terrified.
And he’d be the first one to admit it. It wasn’t just the prospect of the battle.
It was the idea that he would have to kill someone. The idea that there were people who would die by his hand.
Octavia was scared too. But she was brave. She knew that they had to do this. They had to try to save Ashiver. They had to try to stop Seraphina, otherwise, what was their purpose? If they sat back and did nothing, what good could come?
None.
It was simple. They stop Seraphina and everything for the residents of Ashiver gets better. And it gives them a good opportunity for a good life as well. A life where they don’t always fear the future.
But the idea of the death this battle would bring scared him. It scared him to death. Even though Omdrus cured him of Seraphina’s curse, he’d never really felt free of her.
The thought of her made his skin crawl. It was like she was always standing behind him, whispering into his ear, telling him to betray his friends. Maybe he hated her. He had every reason to. She toyed with him. She took advantage of him. She used him.
“Are you alright, lad?” Plume asked from beside him. The redhaired boy nodded, clearing his throat.
“Yes, thank you.”
He did hate Seraphina. Not just because of what she’d done to him. But for what she did Ashiver and those who lived in it. He hated her for what she did to Omdrus. And for what she was about to do to everyone who would die in this battle.
And though he’d been raised to believe that hate is wrong, he couldn’t help but feel it. After everything, he deserved to feel it. Especially if his hatred was directed at Seraphina. The witch who sought total destruction.
And maybe she would have it. But Eddie would be damned if he let her have it for free. He was going to be sure that she paid a hefty price for it. He wasn’t just going to let her away with it. With genocide.
He watched as Seraphina and her army of abominations made their way to the field of battle. He watched the two armies stare each other down in intimidation. And then as some of her men charged forward, while she sat on her behind on a horse.
Perhaps that was what she liked. The watching. Maybe it made her feel powerful. From where they stood, they watched Alex unsheathe his sword. Eddie unsheathed his sword and raised it to the sky.
The griffins flew over their heads carrying large buckets of tar. They flew to where Seraphina’s men charged and dropped them over those on the front. And then the phoenixes flew over.
And those men were lit aflame.
It felt like an eternity to wait for what would come next. The anticipation could eat them alive. They waited for her reaction. And it was what they expected.
Seraphina charged forward with an army at her back. Her army. Her beasts. Abominations. Disgraces. The enemy. And then Alex led the Ashiverians forward in a charge as well.
Perhaps it was this that made them most nervous. Watching all their friends charge at a dangerous enemy.
The two armies clashed. It was loud. They could hear it from where they stood. It was like thunder and lightning. Like lightning striking water. And a tree falling. Or a building as it collapsed.
That was when the cavalry left the treeline. And Seraphina’s army was boxed in.
This proved nothing. This proved only that they had the advantage of surprise.
They still had a long way to go if they wanted a victory.
If it was achievable.