The air was heavy with tension as Elira, Viktor, and Lila crept through the jagged terrain surrounding the Dominion stronghold. Nightfall cloaked the world in shadows, and the cold bit at their skin, but none of them faltered. They were close—too close to stop now.
Lila moved ahead, her lithe frame disappearing into the darkness as she scouted the path. She returned moments later, her expression grim. “We’ve got a problem,” she said quietly.
Viktor stiffened. “What is it?”
“Dominion scouts,” Lila replied. “A full patrol, maybe ten of them. They’re sweeping the area. If they find us, we’re done.”
Elira clenched her fists, her pulse quickening. The curse stirred within her, responding to her fear, but she forced herself to focus. “Can we avoid them?”
Lila hesitated. “Not easily. They’re too close. We’ll need to distract them or risk an ambush.”
Viktor’s jaw tightened. “An ambush would be suicide. We can’t afford to draw attention to ourselves.”
“Then I’ll handle the distraction,” Lila said, her tone resolute.
Elira’s head snapped up, alarm flashing in her eyes. “No. Absolutely not. It’s too dangerous.”
Lila gave her a small, bittersweet smile. “Dangerous is kind of my thing, remember?”
“That’s not funny,” Elira snapped, her voice trembling. “We’re not splitting up.”
“We don’t have a choice,” Lila said firmly. “You and Viktor need to get to the stronghold. If the scouts find us, the mission is over. Kieran is counting on us.”
Elira shook her head, her voice rising. “We’ll find another way. We always do.”
Viktor placed a hand on her shoulder, his grip firm but gentle. “Elira, she’s right. We can’t risk all of us getting caught.”
Elira’s chest tightened, and she turned to Lila, desperation in her eyes. “Please, don’t do this. We need you.”
Lila’s expression softened, and she reached out to cup Elira’s cheek. “You’re stronger than you think, Elira. You’ll make it. And so will Kieran.”
Tears blurred Elira’s vision, but she nodded reluctantly. “Promise me you’ll come back.”
Lila hesitated, then smiled faintly. “I promise.”
Viktor stepped forward, his gaze hard. “You don’t have to do this, Lila.”
“Yes, I do,” Lila said, her tone unwavering. “This is my choice.”
Viktor nodded, respect flickering in his eyes. “Then make it count.”
Lila grinned, her usual mischievous spark returning for a brief moment. “Always do.”
Without another word, she slipped into the shadows, her movements silent and precise. Elira watched her go, a sense of dread settling in her chest.
---
The minutes crawled by as Elira and Viktor waited, every sound setting their nerves on edge. Then, in the distance, a sharp whistle cut through the night air.
“They’ve spotted her,” Viktor muttered.
Elira’s heart clenched. She wanted to run after Lila, to help her, but she knew it would only make things worse.
“We need to move,” Viktor said, his voice low but urgent.
Elira hesitated, her gaze lingering on the direction Lila had gone. “What if she—”
“She knew the risks,” Viktor interrupted. “We can’t let her sacrifice be for nothing.”
Biting back a sob, Elira nodded and followed Viktor as he led the way toward the stronghold.
---
Lila darted through the rocky terrain, her steps sure and swift despite the chaos unfolding around her. The Dominion scouts were in hot pursuit, their shouts echoing through the night.
She glanced over her shoulder, counting at least six of them. Good, she thought. That should be enough to keep them away from Elira and Viktor.
Drawing her daggers, she skidded to a halt on a narrow ledge, the ground dropping away into a steep ravine behind her. The scouts slowed as they approached, their weapons gleaming in the faint moonlight.
“You’ve got nowhere to run,” one of them said, his voice laced with triumph.
Lila smirked, twirling her daggers in her hands. “Who said I was running?”
The scouts exchanged uneasy glances before charging. Lila met them head-on, her movements a blur as she danced through their ranks. Steel clashed against steel, and the night was filled with the sounds of battle.
Despite her skill, the odds were against her. A sword grazed her arm, drawing blood, but she didn’t falter. Her focus remained sharp, her determination unyielding.
One by one, the scouts fell, but reinforcements were already on their way. Lila’s breaths came in ragged gasps, her strength waning.
She glanced at the ravine behind her, calculating her chances. It was a long drop, but it might be her only way out.
I promised Elira I’d come back, she thought, her chest tightening. But as she heard the shouts of more scouts approaching, she knew she couldn’t keep that promise—not yet.
Taking a deep breath, Lila sheathed her daggers and stepped backward, letting herself fall into the darkness.
---
Elira and Viktor reached the edge of the stronghold just as the first rays of dawn began to break over the horizon. They ducked behind a boulder, scanning the fortress walls.
“There’s a breach in the eastern wall,” Viktor said, pointing. “We can get in through there.”
Elira nodded, but her thoughts were elsewhere. She couldn’t shake the image of Lila disappearing into the shadows, couldn’t stop wondering if she was still alive.
“Focus,” Viktor said, his tone sharp. “Lila gave us this chance. Don’t waste it.”
Elira took a shaky breath, nodding. “You’re right. Let’s go.”
Together, they slipped into the stronghold, the weight of Lila’s sacrifice driving them forward.
---
Far below, at the bottom of the ravine, Lila lay motionless, her body battered and broken. For a long moment, there was only silence.
Then, with a groan, she opened her eyes. Pain lanced through her body, but she forced herself to sit up, her vision swimming.
She was alive. Barely.
Gritting her teeth, Lila assessed her injuries. Nothing seemed fatal, though her left leg was twisted at an unnatural angle.
“You’re tougher than you look,” she muttered to herself, her lips curving into a wry smile.
Her thoughts turned to Elira and Viktor, and she hoped they had made it to the stronghold. She had done her part. Now, it was up to them.
Clenching her fists, Lila began to crawl toward the faint light above, determination burning in her eyes. Her fight wasn’t over yet.