The Ever War: Chapter 2.7,2

Without any warning, Echo lunged forward. Josh barely managed to block her attack before she hurled another one at him. He found himself hard pressed to defend against her furious strikes. He winced as her blade grazed his arm, blood dripping. She smirked with satisfaction and stepped up her attack. Josh was finding himself more and more hard pressed to maintain his ground, taking first one step back, then another. Finally seeing an opportunity, he ducked beneath her sword and dealt her a quick uppercut. The assassin flew up and back, landing with a thud. Within a second, she was on her feet again and charging. Josh dodged around, trying to catch her off guard again, but now she was being cautious. Her eyes shone with anger and hatred, and he realized that he was not going to get another such opportunity. He jumped up, trying to gain some ground, or even trying to get into the air, but she grabbed his ankle and threw him to the ground.

An axe slashed down between her, and Thoden slammed a fist into her, really sending her flying. She landed on her feet, catlike. She spat to the side, licking the blood from her lips and wiping it off her cheek. She glared and stood to her feet as Sarah tended to Josh. She inspected her new opponent. Her usual tactics wouldn't help her here. Not against such a massive man. Two great wings spread out behind him, and for just a moment, she thought about the fearsome sight that he was. But such thoughts were fleeting. Her target was in her sights, and she was not about to fail again. She leaned back as the mighty axe sailed directly over her face, mere centimeters from her skin. A couple of her hairs fell, cut clean off.

Thoden hefted the axe, waiting to see what she was going to do. She charged at him, feigning. The axe swung at her, and quick as lightning, she leaped onto the moving weapon and jumped at him. Her fist struck Thoden across his face, causing him to sink to his knees with a thud that shook the ground. She smirked, but her smirk turned to surprise as she was hurled backwards. Sarah stood, an arm in front of her. Josh stood next to her, Solaris glowing with gold fire, as Thoden stood to his feet. Echo pushed herself to her feet, her sword flying to her hand. Her eyes narrowed with determination. "Congratulations. You just pissed me off." Without another word, she leaped at all three of them. She parried each of Josh's attacks, even managed to dodge his fire spells. Trying to evade Sarah's magic actually took effort; it was no wonder that her Mistress, Lilith, and the other Generals wanted her capture. Even as young as she was, Sarah was a formidable Sage.

She slammed her blade into the ground and threw all her weight into both feet, kicking Josh directly in the stomach. He went down on his back, winded and out cold. Echo gave another satisfied smirk. She set her sights on Thoden; Sarah would require her full concentration. She dodged around, evading both Sarah's spells and Thoden's axe. She leaped up into the air and conjured a spell of her own. A ball of Dark energy formed between her hands, and she threw it as hard as she could at the giant. It exploded in a cloud and Thoden slammed ten feet away. Now it was just Sarah. She gulped and faced the assassin.

Echo smile wickedly. "Come with me now, and I will not harm you. Make this difficult and I will rough you up a bit."

Sarah gulped again and readied herself. "I-I won't. I won't go!" Fast as a diving falcon, she whirled about hurling spell after spell. Echo's eyes widened with pure shock as she was struck by the sudden barrage. She slammed back into a tree, causing it to snap in half. She groaned and stood to her feet. Focusing all her remaining strength, she used a spell Lilith had taught her. Darkness clouded about her, filling her and boosting her strength. Her fatigue fell away, and she stood steady on her feet again. She formed another Dark ball, this time throwing it at her opponents feet. Sarah was thrown back. Her vision faded; she knew no more after that.

Echo approached, making sure she was alive. Satisfied that she was, she was about to pick up the unconscious girl, when she felt eyes on her. She whirled around, unleashing several knives. They all stopped in midair and fell to the ground before Malachi. His grey hair blew about him; his teal eyes burning with a purpose of their own. For what seemed like the twentieth time, Echo felt shock.

"Malachi..." she whispered. The old man smirked.

"My, my, it has been quite some time. Has it not, Echo?" he asked.

The girl snarled at him. "Don't you ever die?"

He chuckled. "I will if my Lady ever wishes it." Echo frowned.

"I still fail to see why you follow her. She's weak and pathetic. If she had any strength, she would have defeated my Mistress and her brethren long ago!"

Malachi inspected a small pebble as he answered. "Oh, you and I both know what would happen if my Lady and your Lord were to actually fight one another. It would bring about a Cataclysm neither of them desire."

Echo smirked. "Are you so sure of that?"

Malachi nodded and took a swig from his flask. He offered it to Echo. "Indubitably." Echo just glared at him, so he pocketed his drink. "Suit yourself. Something tells me this is going to get rather interesting." He stood as the assassin once again drew her sword. This would be most interesting indeed.