(Amaia)

Alnilam’s shield surrounds us, guarding us from the attacks. But as I turn my head and watch over my shoulder, the seriousness of the situation dawns on me.

The Chitterings have tripled in number, and although Alnilam and Saiph are moving in sync, with Alnilam’s arrows hitting the Chitterings’ vital points and Saiph cutting through them like buttery croissants, they will get tired and can even get trapped in a nightmare.

Alnitak’s sharp voice brings my attention back and I see him frantically running towards us, his face a mask of horror.

"Amaia! Mintaka!" He shouts and Alnilam’s voice comes authoritative and deep.

"Get them out of here."

But a Chittering’s limb descends like a lightning bolt, impaling Alnitak’s arms. A shriek leaves him and me as the Chittering levels his gaze with Alnitak, making his eyes roll back, trapping him in a nightmare. He falls on the ground, writhing in pain.

The bond between us thrashes as his agony I feel through it.

"Alnitak!" I desperately call out, trying to crawl to him while holding on to Mintaka. This is not working, I can’t just sit here and watch my mates get hurt. I need to do something.

I stretch my body, the tips of my fingers crawl towards Alnitak and come in contact with his face.

"Wake up. You can fight it." The spasming of his body lessens and slowly his eyes begin to turn normal. The blood from his arm seeps into the ground.

"Well, it seems like you have your hands full, Alnilam. Need some help?" A malicious and cold voice comes from behind me, making me turn to see who has spoken.

For a second, my heart freezes, and I can’t believe what I am seeing. The fear is replaced by anger and then rage.

Clad in yellow and black elaborate leather uniforms, there stand two Reavers belonging to the Dread Army. Smug smiles, tattooed and pierced faces. Holding modern weapons like some kind of laser guns. Their belts have so many weapons and trinkets attached to them.

"What are you doing here?" Alnilam asks, barely holding his anger back. He lowers his bow, standing to his full height.

I observe how the remaining Chittering have halted their attacks and started to hover again.

"Looking for an unregistered magic user, the very kind you refused to inform us about," his words are cutting and insinuating, the dubious eyes fly towards me and stay. An evil smile he offers which makes my heart restless.

Slowly, I lay Mintaka down and stand up.

"What are you saying?" Saiph questions, tad confused.

"Alnilam knows what we are saying. Come clean and hand her over or you will be left with fatal injuries." He adjusts his gun. A red beam like a laser shoots out of it and settles on Alnilam’s forehead.

They know about me. They are here for me. I am the reason all this is happening. My mates have been injured and more blood is going to spill.

My silver-haired mate let a snort drop from his lips. "You think you can intimidate me. I will burn your bones before you know it."

"Let’s see." In a split second, he redirects the gun and shoots Saiph with a blank face.

Alnilam’s shield holds most of the laser at bay but the attack is so fast that a part of it grazes Saiph’s right arm.

A hiss leaves Saiph as he lets out an angry growl and swings his scythe at the attacker.

The sleek and long white metallic gun goes off again, and this time, Saiph dodges the attack with his scythe. Alnilam launches an arrow which transforms into a snake midair and wraps itself around the Reavers’ neck.

He uses his gun to shoot it and Alnilam hisses in pain. His arrows are his hair, and hurting them means hurting him, and hurting him means hurting me.

I turn to Alnitak. He has gotten himself out of the nightmare and is watching everything with dazed eyes while holding Mintaka in his arms. Taka’s eyes are fluttering slowly and I can sense him gaining consciousness.

I grab Alnitak’s face so all his attention is towards me.

"Ali! No matter what you see today. Remember, I love you, so forgive me."

The confusion clouds his features as he grabs my arm and asks in frustration.

"What do you mean? What are you going to do?"

Gently, I set my arm free from his hold.

"Just take care of your brother, he is in a very fragile state of mind today. His wolf has still not connected fully with him."

I turn around and face the battle which is raging with such fierce ferocity.

The other Reaver raises his hands, and from the very air above him tears, creating this giant vortex of swirling purple and black energy.

He summons a nightmare army of creatures. Hulking, chitinous horrors with too many clicking limbs scramble out, alongside shrieking things whose mouths are only spirals of needle-teeth.

This tide of ugly hellishness stumbles through the portal with mindless ferocity. Alnilam is immediately engulfed, his brilliant silver hair fighting them off as his arrows fly while his shield still keeps his brothers and me protected. But the clawing mass seeks to pull the shield apart through sheer weight of numbers and strength.

Saiph is met with sweeping arcs of power, and the hideous creatures latch onto his blade, their corrosive touch eating away at the celestial energy and his power. Some fall at his feet as he induces his nightmares but I know he won’t be able to keep standing for too long.

The Chitterings above are turning ravenous and the laser gun of the Reaver is burning holes through Alnilam’s shield.

With one final clarity, I march forward and stand in front of my mates. They have protected me enough, it’s my time to protect them.

"That’s enough. You are done hurting them." I stare directly at the Reavers and reach inside my dress to pull out my necklace.

"Amaia?" Alnilam’s desperate voice calls out. "Don’t, please."

But I have made up my mind, no one will hurt them on my watch. The Reavers maliciously smile at me, showing me their hideous teeth.

I take the necklace off and toss it aside. I am against taking lives but people who will come for my mates will not walk away alive.

And then I transform right in front of everyone.