Chapter 301

“No!” Verity shrieked as I pumped ore power into the mark hidden on Toya’s dark skin. She thought I wouldn’t notice the slight discoloration on her shoulder, but I have spent years sparring with her, years being her friend, shifting with her almost daily. I know her body, and I saw the slight difference as soon as Toya moved her hair.

Toya stumbled back and her eyes flashed with confusion. “What the hell?” She turned to look down. “It fucking burns.” She snarled as I sent a fresh wave of magic into her shoulder.

“I know, and I’m sorry, but it has to go.” I grabbed her and pulled her closer to me. “Do you trust me?”

She stared at me for less than a second. “Of course, I do.”

I nodded as Verity screamed again. “You can’t fucking do this.” She stumbled towards us as I shifted my hand into claws behind my back. I pulled back my power from Toya’s shoulder, like I was giving up, like her power was too strong to break through. I panted and flashed a look at Toya. She gave a tiny nod as I turned away. Verity smiled. “Wait… that’s it? The oh so powerful Amy.” She straightened her back as she came closer. “Yet your power did nothing to my glyph.” She went from scared to boasting quickly. I nearly growled but let her have her moment. Let her boast her power, let her revel in this win. “Honestly, that was pathetic.”

Toya snorted. “If it was so pathetic, why were you so worried?” She looked down at her shoulder and lifted her hand to trace the glyph. “I can barely make it out.” She snapped her eyes to mine. “How did you notice it?”

I chuckled, a little breathlessly, focusing on my words as I gathered my power into my claws behind my back. “We have sparred more times than I can count these last few years. My face has been pressed up against that shoulder more than a few times.” Just a little more power, and then I can strike. I funneled more power into my hand.

Toya threw her head back. “True enough.” Her finger traced the skin again, then she turned back to Verity. “You burned this into my skin?”

She smirked. “Brilliant, isn’t it? The glyph sticks to your skin after contact, and then it worms past your defenses, giving me a way in. Once I was in here with you, and you touched another of your friends, you transferred the glyph to them, giving me a way into each of your friends.”

“Wow, you are like a supervillain.” I shook my head.

“What?” She turned to me.

“No, no, finish your evil monologue.” I nodded towards Toya. “You obviously had this prepared.”

“Shut up!” Verity stomped towards us. “You have to have a comeback for everything. Look at me, I’m Amy. I’m so witty and powerful. I’m gorgeous.” She mimicked, and I threw my head back and laughed.

“I wouldn’t say gorgeous, but I’m easy on the eyes. I’ll give you that.”

“My goddess, do you not tire of your own voice?” She snarled.

“Funny that you say that. I wasn’t the one giving a monologue of my evil doings just now.” I looked at Toya and rolled my eyes.

She snorted. “Honestly, I wouldn’t really say Amy is witty either.” She looked at me with a wink. “She is a little too slow to be considered witty.”

“Hey!” I called. I felt my fingers burning with my power and I knew it was ready, but I needed to be sure of one thing.

“What the hell is wrong with the two of you?” She screamed, fisting her hands like a toddler. “I have invaded all of your friends. The only way to get me out was breaking that glyph.” She pointed to Toya’s shoulder. “But you won’t ever get rid of me. You were too weak to do that.” She laughed triumphantly. “Don’t you get it yet? I won! You will continue to infect everyone around you, and there is absolutely nothing you can do about it.”

“Wait a minute.” Toya held up her hands. “I’ll continue to infect more people?”

She nodded. “Yup.” She did a tiny dance. “Genius, isn’t it? I created this as the primary glyph. All the others are tied to it. If this one failed, all the others would disappear because they draw power from the host. That’s why I put the first one on you, because you were the only one strong enough to feed it.”

“So you’re saying if Toya’s glyph is gone, everyone else would be free?” Triple checking before I did something rash.

“Yeah, but you were too weak to do it.” She did another dance.

“Perfect.” I slammed my claws into Toya’s shoulder, shredding the skin. Toya screamed as she dropped.