Elisse was breathing, but barely.
Her skin was pale — no, drained — and her hair had lost its usual shimmer.
It was like the creature had drained her with empty.
Tobias scrambled over, pulling a vial from his pouch.
"We've got to get her stabilized — her soul energy's leaking out! Zayn!" he shouted.
No answer.
Zayn lay crumpled against the wall, one leg twitching.
He tasted copper. His ribs felt like someone had played the xylophone on them with a warhammer.
"Still... alive," he groaned, lifting one hand like a guy trying to hail a cab in hell. "Five stars. Very friendly boss. Would fight again."
Bran was keeping the monster busy — barely.
His swings were wide, heavy, and fast, but the monster moved with unnatural fluidity.
It dodged like it had seen everything a second before it happened, ducking under Bran's blade and countering with sharp, precise strikes.
Black slashes started showing up along Bran's arms and legs. One by one.
