Iridescent

25| Shadows Have No Masters

"Shoot."

"So," Jaxton took another step back, angling his blade at a smaller Zenx, who was contemplating on taking a sneak bite on his leg, "they're picky with their food."

"They only eat prey with a beating heart," I gasped. "Our heartbeats attracted them here."

Instead of making a run for it, I dived toward the body and held one up.

"Cass!" I heard Jaxton hiss. "Are you crazy!?"

"Totally..." My focus was completely on the Zenxs, who turned their attention to me. "Just watch!"

Come on... open up...

A Zenx opened their jaws wide, its breath steaming with the smell of rotten flesh. I cringed, launching the body in its general direction as Jaxton wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me back.

I saw the barely traceable shadows swish past our bodies to push us away from the Zenx who munched on the dead flesh of one of our victims. Jaxton landed on the ground first, stifling a strained cough as my weight came next.

"I'm not going to watch you get killed!" He exclaimed with wide-eyes, but I simply ignored his shock and grabbed him by both shoulders.

"I can't believe that worked! Let's do it again!"

"Wha- heavens, Cassandra, no-"

"Jaxton, help me with the other one!" I ran toward the body of the healer and Jaxton followed me without hesitation.

"This one, this one!" I nodded at the Zenx nearby that opened its jaws. Jaxton and I swung the body twice before it flew into its mouth. I had to ignore the nauseous feeling that rose from hearing the crunch and cracks.

"Good aim, soldier!"

"Thank you, Captain!" Jaxton swung his sheath, diverting one sharp claw away from him before taking a big slice at another Zenx's arm. I pulled out my sword, directed the aim of my sword at Jaxton's general direction and shot a fire blaze in the centre of a Zenx's forehead, forcing it to tip back and away from Jaxton. Another one attempted to clamp down on his leg, but he leapt away, striking his sheath at his head and pierced his sword through the side of its neck.

"The last one!" I called. I leapt for the last body and we repeated our plan, watching the body fly toward a Zenx's mouth. Except, this Zenx simply took a step back, clamping its jaw shut. The body bounced on the Zenx's lips and sagged back to the floor.

"I don't think they like the food we're giving them," Jaxton mentioned quietly, his arm brushing mine as he shuffled closer to me, his head moving and his gaze alert. His grip tightened on his weapon and so did mine. "We gotta make a run for it."

"Not until we make these beasts trample over that body."

Brutal, I know. I even felt my heart give a jolt when I said it. I thought Jaxton would think the same, except I saw his flicker of a glance before he said "good idea."

It had only occurred to me, then, that he probably killed many... humans. Given the deadly business, he does during the night, and dangerous situations he had to escape from, killing one or two people would be a piece of cake for him; thinking of different ways to do it would also be. As for me, I was trained to kill beasts and monsters, those also with a beating heart and fewer emotions. It didn't draw a lot of sentiments from me, I was used to it, but with killing humans... I wasn't as desensitised as Jaxton. I was holding onto a string of resistance, resisting against my realisation to what I have done.

Jaxton was already ready to act. He was too used to working on his own. I stopped him.

"Hold up! Wait for my signal."