Lincoln hacks away at the Tinea’s body, but the wounds heal as soon as they’re made. The only way to kill a Tinea is to cut all four wormy limbs at once. Which is why no one’s ever done it.
The demon plunges its arms into the ground, its body quickly burrowing under the soil of the Arena. It leaves behind a narrow hole in the stadium floor. I stare at the darkened pit, wishing I could jump in and hide for a little while. Maybe just until Adair’s dead.
Lincoln sprints in our direction. “Don’t move!”
“See, I was right. My Prince will save me.” Adair’s face twists into a haughty smile. “I’m thrax, and thrax know demons. That worm-thing was nothing to worry about.”
Ugh, I can’t believe she’s this thick. Leaning my weight on my right hip, I watch her hop about and call for her Prince. Oh yeah, I believe.
“The demon will resurface any second.” I grip her arm tighter. “Don’t move or it will show up right by your–”
“Lincoln! I knew you’d come for me.” She jumps up and down. Again.
I sigh. “Adair, you need to work on your listening skills.”
Lincoln stands beside the false Scala Heir. I release her arm; she cuddles into his chest. “Oh, my Prince! I was so frightened.”
Rage boils through me. Hands off, he’s mine.
Lincoln pats her back. “Everything will be fine, Adair.” His gaze shifts to me. “Myla, you said you’d keep her still.”
Sweet Satan! No way are my Adair management skills getting critiqued here. I set my fists on my hips. “I tried. She’s kind-of a bitch.”
Laughter dances in Lincoln’s eyes.
Adair rounds on me. At least she’s detached her cheek from his collarbone. “No one speaks to the Scala Heir in that manner!”
That did it. I raise my hand to shoulder height, ready to bring down a whole lotta igni pain on her blonde head.
Before I can get too far, the Tinea starts to resurface. Near our feet, the soil of the Arena floor trembles and rises. Rotor-like hands break through the ground. A lumpy head and wormy body follow. The leathery skin shimmers with mucus.
Adair screams her head off.
The quills on the Tinea vibrate, then fall still. The creature sniffs through its thin nose-holes. My mind snaps into battle mode. Anger at Adair, worry for Walker, and fear about the future…It all disappears as my mind starts calculating possible attack vectors and defense moves. The dance of battle begins.
The Tinea’s hole of a mouth stretches wide. Its lumpy head turns in my direction. “Scala Heir.”
My body goes into battle stance, tail arched over my shoulder. Lincoln and I are on the same side of the Tinea. Not the best way to attack this thing.
“No, no, no!” Adair leaps between me and the demon. “I’m the Scala Heir.”
Lincoln grabs her arm, trying to pull her out of the way. She won’t budge.
The Tinea’s wormy arms extend toward Adair, ready to stab through her belly, all in an attempt to get at me. My mind clicks through different moves and counter-moves.
Yeah, that’ll do it.
Crouching to the ground, I swing out my leg, slamming my shin behind Adair’s feet. The force of my kick takes her out at the ankles. Adair stumbles backwards, falling onto the dirt floor with a thump. The Tinea’s arms whiz harmlessly above our heads.
Yes, that saved her life.
And yes, I totally enjoyed kicking her.
Adair’s mismatched eyes look wide and glossy with fear. “That demon could have killed me.” For once, she sits quietly and keeps her yap shut.
Lincoln and I stand side by side, the Tinea paused before us. The creature angles its head-lump toward me. “Scala Heir.” It starts to burrow underground. Based on the angle, it’ll resurface right behind Lincoln. Not good.
I stare at the burrowing demon and scratch my chin. The thing’s pretty harmless in digging mode and there’s no way to cut its limbs underground. We’ve got a little breather. “Lincoln, remember when I said I owed you one?”
“Clearly.” Lincoln reignites his baculum. “I have big plans for how you’ll pay me back.” Before us, the Tinea has almost disappeared into the soil.
Shifting my hips, I spear it through the head with my tail. Spinning about, I slingshot the demon across the Arena floor. It slams into the opposite wall with a gooey thwack. “The Tinea was digging to resurface behind you. Now we’re even.”
Lincoln half-smiles. “Thanks, I think.”
Across the Arena floor, the Tinea regains its footing and burrows into the soil.
Lincoln’s eyes open extra-wide. “I’ve got an idea.” He splits the baculum so his broadsword becomes two fiery short-swords. Standing at alert, he waits for the demon to resurface. “Get behind me.”
Okay, I can see where he’s going. It’s easiest to finish the Tinea if we attack from opposite sides, but if we walk into position, the demon will know exactly where we are. We need the element of surprise.