The Lonely cried; he thrashed before them, crashing upon the console, cresting against the curve of the aircraft, seizures erupting from within. The ink seemed to run all over Hyon like a wriggling mass of sticky worms, chattering with the song of hundreds of cicadas.
Quinn gaped as the last of his skin seemed to split and froth, a volley of sticky darkness pouring from his chest and lips. The shadows appeared to latch upon his flesh, hooking itself deep within tissues and sinews, burrowing into the hollow of his eyes. She had never seen the transformation up close, and now she understood that whatever the ink was, it seemed to bubble from the crevice of his chest like blood, coating raw flesh in an exoskeleton of inky mucous.
Hyon wailed; the sound was guttural and raw, specks of his humanity still existing from within. The plane lurched, soaring out of control. Blood the colour of rust splattered over the seats, and the Lonely spun, aiming for the one in its path. She knew she was fucked when it locked its eyes upon her, lips pulled back into a snarl. He leapt, claws raised, a battle cry squealed from his throat. His arms reached out to strike.
And his claws tore into her chest.
A moment in time, a pause of exhaled breath, and a crescendo of screams that erupted into the air. Its fingers plunged into her, searing through her flesh, and pain, unlike anything she'd ever felt, seized within her. A shuddering pulse and Helios's arms were around her waist, ripping her back to press her against the furthest wall. Air spat from her lungs as fire burned through her.
"QUINN!"
Something blew.
Her ears were ringing, eardrums pulsing as if threatening to rupture. A blink and the aircraft had shattered, windows fractured from the fray of Zen's powers. He'd detonated Hyon's arm, blood and bone splattering all over the ground. But it was the wrong fucking move, for his powers had veered with the swaying ship, puncturing the metal frame. The world spun, accelerating with the collapse of their vehicle, destroyed by the sudden dip in pressure. A blur and Rowan had transformed, sinking his teeth in Hyon's neck, shaking like a mad, desperate dog.
They'd fucked up.
Where the fuck was Float when she needed it?
"Quinn!" Helios's hands were on her wounds, the spurt of blood coating his fingertips, frothing under his glowing palms. The fear was sharp in his eyes, horror dribbling from him, wings spread as if to protect her. "Quinn! Oh God, Oh fuck." The panic twisted from him and seemed to worsen in the obsidian that swallowed his eyes into voids. She could feel them sinking, the ship hissing and rumbling under her, it seemed to tip over. Helios had a cut on his forehead and blood poured, slippery on his cheeks, mixing with the translucent pearls spilling from his eyes.
Helios cried.
They were going to crash.
At the corner of her hazy vision, she could see them all. Zen was at the console, hands sliding over the dying controls, rattling at the broken stick that once controlled the aircraft. There was fire licking at the helm, sparks flying in the air. The collar at her neck buzzed and pulsated, broken from the attack, hissing against her flesh, stinging her nape. The Lonely was wrestled to the ground, Rowan tore at what remained of Hyon's throat, mouth dripping with ink. But Hyon proved to be far too strong.
The plane sank, and something popped.
"Nothing's fucking working!" Zen screamed. "FUCK!"
He was shaking the gear, desperate as the plane quaked towards a wild storm, a muddy vortex of clouds that shuddered with lightning. Outside, dust sliced upon the frame, dials glowing as sand fed into the space and whistled through the crevices. Their vision blurred, marred by a maelstrom that swept their craft into its spinning geyser. Someone yelled.
A push of sudden awareness flooded her veins, and for a moment Quinn was caught in the scene. Zen with panic laced in his brow, despair hammered into his shoulders as his fingers slammed uselessly upon the controls. Rowan roared against the Lonely, teeth sinking once again into Hyon's body, eyes turned towards her as Hyon clawed at his flesh. Helios pressed himself against her body, a hand on her wound, desperate to protect her, to heal her, wings wrapped around her body. Her breathing slowed. A whirlpool of blurred motion.
The world pitched and gravity swam.
Float exploded from within her just as their ship disappeared into the tempest.
*
Quinn awoke with dust on her tongue.
Before her eyes was an eruption of smoke, clouds oily in the air. The grey swept into the darkening sky, hypnotic as it bobbed in slow tranquil bubbles. Fire licked at the horizon, the remains of the aircraft melting in the mirage deep within the dunes. Her head pulsed, throbbing lightly. She craned her neck, eyes catching on the closed ones of Helios's.
Helios. Her breath caught in her throat. The fairy was sprawled beside her with ink on his body, blood matted in his hair, and lashes fanned over his cheek. He was unconscious, skin paler from the crimson that stained them. For a dreadful moment, she wondered if he was dead. He was so still he was almost like a corpse. Then relief swept through her at the sweep of his breath, gentle and warm against her skin. The pain in her soul seemed to ease.
Alive.
Helios was alive.
She sat up then. Her head snapped upwards, squinting into the dying light. She searched, spotting the bundle of fur, Rowan, naked from the rapid transformation into a werewolf. Then Zen who was sprawled in the dirt, his suit torn at the shoulder. Panic swelled tight in her throat. Float twitched free immediately scanning vitals, reading movement. It blinked green for the two.
Alive.
They were all alive. She pressed a hand to her chest, and felt for her wounds, her digits coming away to reveal sticky blood. Blood did not spew forth, and already it was scabbing over, healing quickly— a trait Quinn was always thankful for in this new world. Her exhale was audible, an angry escape. Helios had been trying to heal her. Her mind worked to understand everything through the disorientation.
In the chaos, they'd sent the aircraft right into a storm. Shield of Life must have saved her; it might not have appeared when Hyon had sunk his claws into her, but it must have at the end of it all, keeping them protected. She felt for the collar, feeling the bare skin at her neck. The goddamn thing had been destroyed with Hyon's attack, allowing her access to her powers at the very last damn minute.
It was only luck that they had survived the fall.
She squinted into the distance. From the light of the sky, it had been hours since the chaos, and with the billowing smoke signalling their position, the army should be here searching for their kings. But they must have swung too far out, falling further into the wastelands due to the winds of the storm for there was no one here to tend to their wounds. And based on Float's radar, there was no aircraft swerving their way as far as she could tell.
Nightfall had arrived, and yet they remained in the dunes, surrounded by Lonely.
Fuck.
They were stranded.
The movement detected on Float's monitor had her whipping her head up, heart pounding from the horror. A single pained cry echoed from before her, a phlegmy growl erupting from a broken monster. It rose in the distance, swathed in the glow of the fire.
Hyon.
The Lonely stood, trembling with both arms gone, what remained of his neck spewed a fountain of ink signalling his demise. She spotted the ravage of bloodied grotesque flesh, peeking out from under all the ink. But it was the face that surprised her, the half appearance of Hyon's features, lightly charred from the explosion. He had on a horrible smile, showing dripping fangs. And yet tears were flowing freely from too human eyes, proving the touch of humanity that remained encapsulated within the Lonely's virus.
There he was a Lonely that had feasted on a heart, turned into a monster and then transformed back into a human. Hyon was the Lonely she needed, and yet there was no one here to collect him. Quinn cursed under her breath, mind swiftly reminding her of Xin. She swallowed down those thoughts, bitter sadness on her tongue.
Hyon's wounds wept as he staggered forward, head hung low, bone showing from broken limbs. He had been horribly deformed and yet he moved as if lured forward by an unknown entity. His gait was slow as he ambled, quickening with each step, despair rippling through him. His lips snapped, snarl echoing in the air, still hostile, still a threat. Her eyes snapped towards Zen, then Rowan lying in his path. Her heart quickened.
Lonely were known to feast on all hearts.
Fuck.
She didn't know how she had the power to do it, didn't know what compelled her to protect them when she should just run. But Quinn moved, blue glowing in her hands, energy singing weakly in her palm. Weakness blurred her vision as she stood, trembling from the vertigo. Determination beaded on her forehead as she dragged herself forward to stand before the trio, fingers raised towards Hyon.
She might die from this.
And yet, she readied herself for an attack, submitting herself to the need to protect the three men at her feet. She didn't know why she had to, but at that moment she could think of nothing else but to protect them. A gun swiftly formed within her palm, purchased from Float's market with a quick swipe. The gunshots would alert the Lonely nearby, but Float told her that she had time. Plus, with her throbbing limbs, hand-to-hand combat against Hyon would be a certain death.
"Alpha…" Hyon roared, voice thick with despair, reeking of disease and sickness.
He wailed as he moved, a strangled tortured groan that frightened her as he charged forward, stumbling in the sand. Quinn braced herself for a battle, feet digging into the dirt. The bullets erupted from her weapon, messily fired at the beast, gunshots echoing, the force pulsating in her palm. Her wounds ached.
Hyon's body jerked as it found its mark, and yet he kept going, kept running, and kept snapping teeth in the air as if snarling for the nearest flesh. Fear blossomed in her. Blistering pain swept from her reopened wound, burning the fog in her mind. She fumbled, attempts made to aim for his head, she aimed at everything that should be vital. She missed. He sped up despite the holes in his flesh like an enraged zombie.
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
A cry escaped her as he lurched closer with an open snarl, raw malice dripping from his tongue. He was now sprinting. Her gun was dropped, a blade formed within her palm, and her sword raised. She was sure he'd kill her. As concussed as she was, there was no way she could win with brute strength and a clumsy blade. Quinn twisted out of his way just as he snapped forward. Hyon stumbled forth, turning almost immediately in her direction, far smarter and stronger than the average beast.
For a moment they were frozen together, and she bit down a sob as warm blood soaked through her clothes, pain ached through her bones, her panting growing ragged. There was no adrenaline to fuel her movements and take away the edge. Her body was so battered from the crash that she was already struggling to keep her eyes open.
The Lonely swayed, and when he moved, she moved out of his way. She parried Hyon's attack, desperately trying to lead him away from the trio. But she was exhausted from blood loss. And Quinn didn't know how long she could last with her vision spinning as if she were swimming in the goddamn sea. Quinn blinked away the burn of tears.
Fuck.
There was sweat on her brow, an anxious pounding in her chest. If she wanted to live, she had to kill him. If she wanted to save them, she had to kill him. She had to fucking kill him. Quinn raised her blade, clumsy in her pose. The Lonely charged and she did too, a desperate scream erupting from her lips. Blue crackled across her skin. Her blade crashed against Hyon, and there was a beat, a moment when she knew she was going to die for sure. Her neck far too exposed as he surged forward again.
But Hyon sank into her weapon, collapsing into it, impaling himself with a scream. The shock flooded through her as she met his eyes, searching the trembling teary orbs. His lips twitched into a smile. He spat wetly; this time it was crimson that flowed from his mouth, staining her body in a waterfall of read. The ink struggled against his flesh as if it fought to stay.
It took time to transform, she realised then, and Hyon had not completed his transformation. Or perhaps, he'd managed to overcome it somehow.
"D-don't let them." The sticky liquid was falling off him, peeling off burnt skin, and his words were muffled through the blood and a swollen tongue. But he tried to speak, trembling against her through the effort of it all. Quinn was startled then, her eyes searching his face. "N-not hearts," he groaned, twitching against her body, heart slowing from the song of her blade. He was dying and yet he struggled to stay, struggled to speak.
"What?"
"Xin," he croaked, eyes fluttering shut, body slumped against hers. "It was always X-Xin who saved me."
Then he was torn off her, bones crushed with a sickening crack, spine broken ensuring death. Zen stood with his fingers around Hyon's neck, staring at her with horrified eyes. Rowan's mouth was on Hyon's thigh, the wolf sinking his fangs deep into the Lonely, wrestling the Lonely away from her. And when Quinn craned her neck back to look, Helios was holding onto her ankle, having crawled on the ground to save her, his wings flapping broken and bloodied.
Her lips trembled.
"Hyon killed himself," she whispered, sagging to the ground. "He stepped into my blade on his own accord."
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