She blinked, then, like a sleeper coming out of a dream, slowly reached for the weapon strapped to her side. Too slow, and far too late.

Maran was suddenly between us, the black sword sweeping up and around, aimed at Vincentia’s neck.

I swore and cast more wind, knocking the sword off its course and pushing Vincentia back. She stumbled and fell onto her rump. A claw appeared out of the gloom and arced toward her. She must have sensed it because she fell away, twisted around, and shot the bastard. As black blood sprayed, Maran turned and swung the sword at me. I scrambled back, only to be stopped by the black ribbon fingers wrapped around my ankles. I twisted and threw the wind at her, but it had no effect.

Magic protected her. Magic, and the sword itself.

I swore and lunged for the shadows, trying to pry them free as the black sword arced down.

A gunshot rang out. A shudder went through Maran’s body, and the blow that should have cleaved me in two dug into the stone inches away from my left side instead.

Another shot. Another shudder.

Maran swung around, and magic rose, thick with darkness and intent. Vincentia’s face was pale, her eyes wide and fearful, but she aimed the gun a third time and pulled the trigger.

The gun exploded in her hands.

As blood and gore and fingers sprayed across the shadows, Maran calmly stepped forward, raised the sword, and brought it down.

I did the only thing I could do.

I wrapped the wind around Vincentia and cast her out of the cave, out into the sea.

She could swim. I knew she could swim.

Whether she’d survive the blood loss from having her hands blown apart was another matter entirely.

The air screamed at me. I twisted around, saw the claws and the thin figure approaching at speed. Felt the storm roll in beyond the cave and pulled its power down, casting it at the Annwfyn, smashing him back against the cavern wall so hard that his spine came through his chest and his head exploded.

Another scream from the air.

I spun, saw Maran raise the sword, and redirected the storm’s blast at her.

This time, it pushed her back several feet but otherwise didn’t affect her. It hit the shadows moving behind her instead, and more Annwfyn crashed back against the walls.

I needed my knives. Desperately. But they were held secure in my backpack and well beyond reach.

Then I remembered my own words... I don’t need the presence of the knives to use them.

I had no idea what I was doing, no idea if it would work, but I had to do something or I was going to get sliced in half or eaten by the damn Annwfyn.

I pushed a hand past the neck of my sweater, swept my fingers over my breast, and wrapped them around the Eye. Then I called to the knives.