Chương 51: 051

Maya trembled against the guard's chest, her small body rigid with fear. Tears clung to her lashes, and the knife pressed to her throat caught the candlelight with every shaky breath she took. Something hot and violent surged through me, fury barely contained.

"Easy," I said, forcing my voice steady as I raised my hands.

"There's no need to do anything rash." The guard's glare was pure venom. Sweat slicked his brow as he snarled, "I know exactly what I'm doing, beast. Stay where you are and she won't get hurt. Tell the other animal to stand down." The word scraped like rusted metal. From the corner of my eye, I saw Dominicus tense, fingers trembling on his sword hilt. Ignoring the slur, I reached out and planted a firm hand on his shoulder.

"Easy," I murmured.

"Don't give him an excuse." Dominicus drew a slow, controlled breath and let his hand fall away. The guard sneered, satisfaction curling his lips.

"Good. Now here's how this goes," he continued.

"You, cloaked freak, release my friends. Then all of you get into the cell. Once you're locked in nice and tight, I let the girl go." A strange sensation prickled at the back of my mind—an insistent itch, like fingers brushing against my thoughts. What the hell…? He is lying, Time said grimly. What you are feeling is a skill granted by Karma. You can sense falsehood. I kept my face blank, though every instinct screamed. Then why didn't this work with Silas? That would've saved me a world of trouble.

His power relied on illusion and control, Time explained. It clouded your perception and suppressed passive abilities like this one. Such skills only function when your mind is clear. Back to that bastard's control. Of course. I fixed the guard with a steady look.

"What's stopping you from killing her after we're locked up?" Henry shot me a sharp glance while Dominicus's brow furrowed, suspicion deepening as he studied the man. If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.

"My companion raises a fair point," Dominicus said calmly.

"I will do whatever is required to ensure the girl's safety. But only if I know she will not be harmed." The guard's mouth tightened. His gaze flicked to his comrades, still bound in thorned restraints, calculation evident as he weighed his options. Get him closer, Time urged. I will handle the rest. The certainty in his voice left no room for doubt. He hadn't failed me yet. I lifted my chin.

"How about this, you come out of the cell. We'll go in. I release your friends after you let the girl go. Everyone walks away happy." Well, almost everyone. Judging by the murderous glare Dominicus shot me, he wasn't thrilled. Whatever. He'd live. The guard scowled, then nodded sharply.

"Fine. Back against the wall. Weapons on the floor." The knife pressed closer. Maya flinched, a sob tearing free as tears streamed down her cheeks. Henry moved instantly, complying without hesitation. Dominicus hesitated, his grip tightening on his sword.

"Are you deaf as well as blind, beast?" the guard snapped. Dominicus went rigid. I squeezed his shoulder harder and muttered under my breath, "I have a plan. He just needs to step out of the cell." That's all he needs to do, right? I asked inwardly. Yes, Time replied. That will suffice. Dominicus growled softly.

"You had better know what you're doing." Not even a little, I thought, but wisely kept it to myself. Slowly, we set our weapons down and kicked them away. The guard smirked, confidence swelling as he stepped out of the cell, dragging Maya with him.

"See? That wasn't so hard. Now get-." A blur of motion cut behind him. Before I could fully register it, a metallic clang echoed through the room. The guard's eyes went wide, the knife slipping from his fingers as he crumpled bonelessly to the floor. Maya stumbled free. Henry was already there, dropping to his knees and pulling her into his arms, whispering frantic reassurances as she sobbed into his chest. Dominicus moved instantly, snatching up his sword and taking position. I didn't.

My gaze locked onto Time as he stepped into the torchlight. He looked… different. The endless void where his eyes had been was gone, replaced by deep brown, human irises. Lines of exhaustion carved his face, and the oppressive aura of power that once surrounded him had vanished entirely. He was mortal. Cold unease slid down my spine. This wasn't how it was supposed to happen. We were still deep in enemy territory, and now he was vulnerable.

"This complicates things," I said tightly. Time tossed the pipe aside and dusted off his hands, as if he hadn't just upended everything.

"Yes. We will need to be far more careful from here on."

"No kidding," I muttered. Dominicus stood guard by the door, blade ready, while Henry clutched Maya like she might vanish if he let go. I forced a slow breath, trying to steady my racing thoughts. One crisis was over. And the next was already waiting.