Chapter 9

No Way Out but Kill

I catch myself before I fall, but I drop to a squat, fingers knotted in my hair and elbows on my knees. Every breath drags against my throat. My heart races in my chest, a fluttering pace like a butterfly.

I blink, and I'm back at the foot of the Amethyst Throne. Scorn's arm wrapping around my shoulders, the way his grip held me back from running to my brother who needed me then, needed me more than he ever had before. Screech nocking arrows, the way he seemed pleased to be firing them off. Snappy holding my brother down, the way he watched the blood soak through my brother's shirt and drip down his skin.

Grey crouches beside me, and I feel him drag a hand down my back. It pulls me back to reality. "I'm right here, Alex," he says. "I'm right here."

"It's that voice," I say. "The General. You almost died. I watched you... you nearly bled out, Grey."

My voice cracks, and my brother pulls me into a hug. I snake my arms around his torso and hold him tight.

"I know," he whispers, voice breaking over the words. "I know. I'm right here, though. I've healed. We're still together. Nothing they do will tear us apart."

"They'll destroy lives, but they can never break the ties that bind," Ky adds. "I know you weren't talking to me, but it's true. There's some stuff even the cream puff cannot shatter."

Phoenix starts to pace as he growls low in his chest, a soft and echoing sound, and Grey grows restless, fingers twitching against my back. Ky pricks his ears, angling them all around, and scans the clearing and its surrounding trees.

"Show your face, coward," Phoenix snarls. "I know you're out there."

"Hello."

My stomach sinks when I see the now-familiar form swirl into place, a pink and blue mottled body, disappearing in and out of focus like a cloud. With twin purple bandanas wrapping around their head —one over their eyes and the other vertically under their chin— they look down at us, nostrils quivering as they scent the air.

I shake. Rage stirs in my gut. Grey tenses beside me, bringing his hand up to my shoulder and gripping it tight. I can feel the anxiety coursing through him, and I lift my own hand to squeeze his.

"Spyro," Phoenix growls.

I'm snapped from my trance, and I whirl around. "You know them?"

Phoenix snorts. "'Course I do. They're with the cream puff. I know everyone who's with the cream puff, and I also know they're all going to die, one by one."

"He has requested you give yourselves up," Spyro says, floating just above shoulder height. They look straight at me despite the two bandanas wrapped around their head.

"That..." Grey breaks through his fear, and Spyro turns their attention to him. "That won't happen. You know it won't. You know what happened in the Throne Room."

Spyro tilts their head to the side.

Before they can speak, Phoenix launches himself into the air, stretching his forelegs out to grip onto Spyro's ribcage. But they vanish in a swirl of blue and pink, disappearing just as Phoenix brings his paws together. The black cat lands heavily on the ground, rumbling and hissing.

"Come back here, you little coward," he spits.

"I'm back." Spyro appears a few paces away.

"You bring any friends or is it just you today?"

"My closest friend did not join me," Spyro replies, slithering out of the way of Phoenix's next attack.

"We are not going to be returning to the King's castle," I say. "You should know that."

"The Judge and the Justice ruled you to be guilty and sentenced you both to death. The law states-."

Phoenix grumbles a rumbling sigh. "Oh, come on, now, please. Shut it with that shit. No one here is buying it. We certainly won't be helping you get the Wolf and the Dove to the cream puff."

Ky flattens his expression in agreement with his brother.

Spyro studies us, then turns their attention to Ky and Phoenix. They're quiet for several long moments.

I can hear my heart rate in my ears, and my breaths are short and shallow. The pewter pendant burns against my chest, a white hot brand. It's comforting, and yet it also reminds me of Scorn holding me tight as I flailed in his grip and tried to save my brother, how my blood and body boiled until the heat of the pewter pendant let me shift into a wolf and bring me and my brother to what I hope will be safety.

But it's not safety yet.

Spyro floats in front of us, one of the Generals in the King's army.

They open their mouth to speak, but someone else beats them to it.

"Aww, look who it is."

It's a new voice this time. One I don't recognize. The voice is as smooth as silk and as sweet as sugar, sliding off the speaker's tongue like butter melting in the hot sun.

"And who the fuck are you?" Phoenix pins his ears and spins around.

I clench my hands into fists and ready myself for a new opponent. Spyro doesn't really want to fight, but that doesn't mean the next one won't. Grey stands behind me, presence comforting.

"It's such a shame you don't remember me, little black cat."

Phoenix scowls.

"If you want something, you should come out and get it," Ky murmurs. "Games aren't much fun."

"Who said anything about games?" the voice purrs. "But... very well, if you please."

I raise my eyebrows when I see an odd creature, to say the least. Mottled browns and pinks decorate a worm-like body with two twirling forelegs adorned in broken chains, and a mane of chestnut hair sways in an invisible wind. Bright emerald eyes framed with long eyelashes study us from a cat-like head.

Grey presses his arm into mine as he steps closer.

"Who the hell are you?" Phoenix echoes.

"I'm Daeva, the She-Wyrm. I'm saddened that you don't remember me, little black cat. I thought you knew all the Generals in My Soverei-."

Phoenix cuts her off. "Shut it with that stupid title. You're gonna make my ears bleed."

"You're a General too?" I say before I can bite my tongue.

I resist flinching back when Daeva turns her attention to me. I hold her calculating gaze.

"Of course I am, Wolf. Didn't you know all Generals are creatures like me? The King of Ragdon wouldn't have it any other way."

"Daeva," Spyro says. "I didn't expect you to be here."

"I thought you might need some assistance," she replies.

"I was going to be bringing them to justice very soon."

"Leave, Spyro," Daeva murmurs, voice dripping like honey, sticky and sweet. "Talking in circles won't get you anywhere. I can handle them."

"Ok." Spyro nods, then disappears in a puff of pink and blue.

Daeva turns her head to us, body coiling like a snake readying to strike. Her emerald eyes glitter, and the chains swinging from her forelimbs glint in the sunlight.

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"You will be returning to the foot of the Amethyst Throne. I hope you know that."

Grey stares at her for several moments, and then he shakes his head. "No, I cannot do that. We will not do that. Please, just leave. No one has to get hurt. This doesn't have to end in bloodshed."

"Will your fiery friend agree with that sentiment, though?" A smile tugs at the corner of Daeva's mouth as she gazes at Phoenix.

"Just because he and I have our differences doesn't mean I will be siding with you." Phoenix doesn't break eye contact with the She-Wyrm. Murder burns in his gaze.

Ky's expression doesn't look much different. Grey grows pale beside me, and I swallow thickly.

I didn't sign up for this, I think. I just wanted to see what was at the Erebus Tree, and then I'd go back to running drills and teaching kids the ins and outs of basic weaponry so the talented ones could be found to join the Guard and Soldiers. I didn't think I'd end up here dealing with two Generals and feline brothers who've got a bone to pick with the King.

"Leave, Daeva," Ky says. "Once Phoenix goes after you, there's no stopping him."

"There's always death," she replies. "It would certainly make quite the impression on the ranks of Guard and Soldiers if I were to bring back the head of the Phoenix."

"Yeah, that's not happening," Phoenix mutters.

The fight doesn't last long.

Daeva lunges for Grey, who dives out of the way, even though she looks like she's still far away. My brother rolls across the dirt, grimacing when he lands on sticks and broken branches. The malachite medallion glows beneath his shirt.

I back step and look between the two of them, and anger burns in my gut. I feel the pewter pendant's magic sear through me, and I let it take over. Claws sprout from my hands and fur bursts from my body. The shift only takes a few moments. I bare my teeth.

Daeva grunts as Phoenix barrels into her, and the She-Wyrm's attention goes solely to the black cat. She snaps at his ear. The two wrestle with each other.

I can't help but wonder what the fight would look like if I could see the magic Phoenix uses, the magic I'm assuming Daeva has. But it doesn't matter, because she hurt Grey.

Ky sidles up beside me when I take a step forward, claws snapping a branch.

"Don't," he says, subtly blocking my path with his shoulder. "Phoenix has it under control. Leave this to him. He will hurt you if you try to take the kill from him."

I take a breath and focus on shifting back. I can't speak in my wolf form. Ice spreads through my veins, and fur gives way to skin.

"Kill?" I echo once I'm back in my human form.

Ky nods. "Daeva is a General," is all he offers as an explanation.

Grey brushes dirt from his legs and rolls his shoulders. He eyes the fight for a few moments.

Phoenix grapples with Daeva. He strong-arms her to the ground, pinning her down with his forelegs. When she twists and writhes in his grasp, nearly breaking free, Phoenix digs his claws in deep, and purple blood drips to the ground. Phoenix wrinkles his nose at the sight.

"He's going to kill her?" Grey asks, joining me and Ky as we watch.

My stomach twists, unsure of what to make of the scene in front of me.

Ky ducks his head. "Yes. Do not get involved. She's Phoenix's kill."

"She could escape."

"She won't."

The finality in Ky's voice surprises me. The fight isn't over, and yet he speaks as though it's certain. Phoenix seems to have the upper hand, but Daeva's still fighting back. Who knows if Phoenix could slip up.

Daeva twists her forelimbs around Phoenix, one around his neck and the other around his chest, constricting and binding. She bares her teeth and hisses.

I can tell the second the fight is over.

Daeva snaps her teeth at Phoenix's cheek, and the movement lets Phoenix bring a forepaw to the underside of her jaw, knocking her head back and revealing her throat.

"You know what this is for," he snarls before sinking his upper canines deep into her neck.

It's not long before Daeva's hold on Phoenix loosens and slips, forelimbs falling to the ground as she sags in his hold.

It's only another few moments before Daeva is hanging by her throat from Phoenix's jaws.

He locks eyes with Ky, and I can see his lips twitch in a smile. He pants for breath around Daeva's skin. His eyes glow with satisfaction and lose their usual hard edge.

"He's going to kill her," Grey breathes, horror blooming in his silver eyes.

Ky nods. "Yeah, that's what's going to happen."

"We don't have to do that."

"She will not leave the cream puff. Daeva will never disobey him."

"She isn't fighting back. We've won." Grey turns his attention to Ky.

He's less friendly than he's previously been, somewhere shy of Phoenix but not amicable.

"She might not be fighting back now, but she was. She was going to bring us to the cream puff."

"We don't have to kill to win."

Ky tilts his head. "And why not?"

Something looms in his brown gaze that I cannot identify. Curiosity, yet also something more prickly, a dark creature lurking just out of sight in the shadows.

"Just because the King kills doesn't mean we have to. We can win without stooping to his level."

"The cream puff will never listen to pretty words. His followers will never turn their backs to him. They try to kill us, so we kill them first."

Grey runs a hand over the back of his neck, sharp and frustrated. He exhales through his nose and casts a stressed glance at Daeva and Phoenix.

"We can talk more, but can Phoenix at least just let Daeva go? It can't be that much longer until she has irreversible damage."

Ky studies the She-Wyrm for a moment.

"Just because Phoenix doesn't do anything now doesn't mean he can't later," I offer slowly.

"Phoenix," Ky says and his brother snarls, the sound muffled.

"Phoenix," Ky repeats.

The black cat casts a withering glare but lets Daeva go. Purple blood streams from her throat and drips from his canines. He scowls at Daeva's unmoving form when her sides suddenly move as she draws in a breath.

"What happened to destroying the cream puff?" Phoenix asks Ky before shooting a glare at Grey, who holds his gaze but raises his shoulders and tenses. "Don't think I won't talk to you as well. You're next. You'd better have a damn good fucking reason for making my brother stop me. She's my fucking kill and ain't no way I'm not taking her life and sending her straight to Lucius on a goddamn silver fucking platter."

I wince at Phoenix's broiling rage, and I can see the lines of stress within my brother's expression. He doesn't want to kill, to have blood on his hands, and he doesn't want to be a part of something that will result in deaths. It was why he never joined the Guard or Soldiers even though he could have. He believes there's another way, and I don't blame him. I feel the same way, even if in my heart I don't know that it's possible. The King has no qualms jumping straight to lethal force.

"Grey believes we don't have to kill," Ky states, sitting down a pace or two away from his brother.

Phoenix looks at him like he's grown another head.

"You're hilarious," he replies, "but you also know that's not gonna happen. The cream puff needs it spoken to him in a language he can actually understand. We hurt him in the only way it will ever get through his skull."

"We don't have to kill," Grey says.

Phoenix sneers, wrinkling his lips. "The cream puff does, and so do we. He's a monster, and I don't see any angels around knocking him clean off the Amethyst Throne."

"Maybe the angels haven't shown up yet," I say.

"You can beat others without killing them." Grey crosses his arms over his chest. "Lethal measures aren't always needed."

Phoenix stares down Grey, eyes dark and fiery. "At least you know your enemy cannot come back to you. If your enemy is dead, they can no longer hurt you. Despite everything the cream puff has done, Lucius's claim is —and has always been— permanent. No one escapes their touch. If you kill someone, they're done. End of story."

Ky studies my brother for a few moments, head tilted to the side and tail wrapped around his paws.

"How do you expect to survive in a world where there are so many who wish you dead, but you will not kill them first?" he asks. "They will never stop hunting you down because the cream puff will never stop sending them after you. You can only run for so long, Grey. They will catch up, and they will try to shoot a thousand arrows through your body.

"You might have been able to survive without killing in your past life where you were just Grey, but you're the Dove now. Your previous life is over. You cannot duck your face and hide. The cream puff knows who you are. I admire your moral compass and desire to stick by what you believe in, but sooner or later the cream puff will corner you and you will be faced with a situation in which there is no way out but kill."

"I-I know," Grey starts. "I know you both do not agree, but I cannot just jump straight to killing. You're ending a life. It's so permanent, as you said, Phoenix. I'm aware some things perhaps might not be able to be solved with words and actions alone, but I cannot in my right mind skip straight over them. I know my life is no longer just the life of Grey. I know I'm the Dove now, whatever that may entail. But that doesn't mean I can just stop trying to try to do things the only right way I know how."

Phoenix stares at Grey for over a minute without speaking, and I eye him warily. The black cat takes a step back, then huffs a short laugh, humorless and full of disbelief.

"Fuck this," he says. "I'm leaving. I'm not dealing with this. You guys do what you want, I couldn't care less, but I'm not dealing with those who don't get that the cream puff isn't falling with pretty words and shimmering ideals that don't match reality."

The black cat stalks off into the forest, strides long and even. His tail flicks in irritation, and it's not hard for me to imagine the crackling fire coating his inky pelt. Light glints off of the yellow horns curling from his forehead.

Ky watches the spot in the forest where his brother left, then shakes out his fluffy fur to readjust the red bandana around his shoulders. He pauses for several moments before turning around. Twigs snap beneath his paws.

"Don't take this the wrong way," Ky says, "but we do want to work with you. We both want to take down the cream puff. Phoenix isn't very good at listening to others' perspectives. Anything short of complete destruction of the cream puff and his reign is too merciful in his mind. I might not fully agree with where you are coming from, but I'm also not going to ask you to change your mind."

"This is sounding like a goodbye," I reply.

Allies are nice. So is four against Guard and Soldiers, rather than two. I don't know the extent of Ky and Phoenix's abilities, but they both seem proficient in fighting.

But if it came down to arguments over how to achieve the goal of taking down the King, I don't know that Grey and I could do it. Especially Grey. He's fond of his routines, of choosing when and where to draw attention, of knowing what comes next. Grey won't budge on some things, and I don't fault him for it or blame him.

I don't know what drives Ky and Phoenix and makes them feel that way, but I can't tell them they're wrong either. Something shaped their beliefs.

Ky nods. "It might be. I'm sure we'll see you around. After all, you're the Wolf and the Dove. Ragdon is big, but it isn't that big. And Phoenix hates to miss the action. I'm sure one of us will catch up with the other sooner or later. Phoenix just tends to have a habit of storming off for a while whenever he gets worked up."

"We probably will," Grey murmurs noncommittally, grasping the malachite medallion in his hand as he stares blankly at Daeva's still unmoving form.

"Goodbye for now, I guess." Ky looks between us.

He seems genuinely sad, and I can't say I'm completely nonemotional either. They have the same goal as us, and they seemed like potential allies.

Maybe they still are.

But I'm not so sure. I hope we will run into them again and maybe we can work things out.