Excerpt: Spirits

“Silence!” The queen said. I felt the power in that one word, “Lysian, in light of this new evidence, I pardon your guilt of treason. There was no act of treason in attacking Luther, and these half humans are welcome here for their heroism in trying to do away with this traitor. I am reinstating you as captain of the guard. As your first act, take Luther into custody.”
“Yes your majesty,” Lysian said, moving toward his brother. I doubt anyone thought Luther would go quietly. With a scream he charged at Lysian, his human appearance falling from him midstride. The other members of the guard started forward, but the queen held her arm up, “Leave them. This fight is long overdue. I am curious what will happen.”
I wanted to help, but Kitty stopped me as well, “Lysian won’t want help.”
Luther swung at his brother, a trail of light following in his fists wake. Lysian dodged the blow, throwing up a shield against the light. Luther swung again and again, each time barely missing. As much as though massive fists would have hurt, they probably would have meant nothing compared to whatever magic he was using.
Lysian stepped back, trying to find an opening. He ducked under one blow, and struck at Luther’s chest. The physical blow did nothing to his thickened skin and the magic was blocked by Luther’s shield. Before Lysian could move Luther’s knee came up, nailing him in the face. He stumbled backward, and Luther reached for him. His massive hands grasped Lysian around the neck. Lysian struggled for a moment to break the grip. When he couldn’t he drew his sword and turned it on Luthers arms. The thickened skin resisted the blade, but on the third swing the blade bit into Luther’s arm and he dropped Lysian.
Lysian stumbled, trying to catch his breath. Luther launched a bolt of pure energy at him, which he deflected. He charged, swinging his sword at Luther’s side. I waited to see the blade repelled by a shield, but it passed through and grazed Luther as he stepped away.
“Why didn’t Luther repel it with magic?”
Kitty was the one to answer, “The blade channel’s Lysian’s magic and allows him to break through shields. That’s why we use them instead of human guns. A bullet is too small to carry the power needed, and we don’t know how HEROS creates their anti-magic charges.”
Luther lost more ground as Lysian pressed his attack. I thought it was over. Luther dodged a swing, and charged. Lysian turned the blade back, but couldn’t swing it hard enough to pierce Luther’s skin. Luther slammed into Lysian with as much force as a car. The sword fell to the floor as the two of them were propelled by the force of the charged. Lysian fell to the floor, flipping Luther over his head and away. He picked himself up, and jumped into the air. His wings snapped open, and he flapped them.
Before Lysian could get high enough to be at the advantage Luther jumped up, catching Lysian by the tail. I winced as Lysian hit the floor, face first. Luther walked over and kicked his brother in the ribs. He pulled his foot back to kick again. Lysian laughed as he was kicked again, rolling away from Luther. I saw several spheres on the ground.
Luther saw them too. They caught his attention by blinking.
I recognized them, and wondered when he had taken them. There had been plenty from the HEROS members we had captured. Then I realized we were to close.
Jennifer was already moving, pulling Kitty away. “Dominic!”
I turned and dived just as the grenades blew up.
The force had caught me mid-jump, and thrown me farther than I should have gone. I had thrown up a shield, so I wasn’t hurt too bad.
I looked back. Luther was kneeling twenty feet from where he had been, breathing heavily. His clothes were singed, but he looked okay. He must have shielded. Lysian was back on his feet, sword in hand.
Luther let loose a savage cry as he charged. He brought up his hands, power arching away from them like lightning. Lysian ran forward to meet him. Luther thrust out his arms, the force of the spell was incredible.
Lysian threw up one arm, ducking low. Rather than trying to block it, he let it glance of, passing over him. He reached Luther, staying low, and thrust upward with his sword.
The spell faded. Luther stood there, a stupid look on his face, the sword piercing his left shoulder. Blood pooled at his feet. Lysian pulled the sword out and Luther stumbled backwards.
“Give up or I kill you now.”
“This can’t happen,” Luther said, voice laced with pain, “I’m so much stronger than all of you. I will not rot in some cell.”
The queen stepped forward, “Luther, you cannot hope to escape. Give up. Save yourself the trouble.”
“No!” Luther shouted, turning on the queen. Before anyone could stop him he launched a bolt of energy at her.
It never reached its mark. Three feet from her it evaporated. With a twitch of her fingers, the queen lifted Luther off the ground, “Luther, you are guilty of treason. The penalty will be death.” Luther screamed in rage. The queen snapped her fingers. Light enveloped Luther as his screams died off. A moment later, not even ashes remained.