AmethYst

Chapter Twenty-Eight

"Wait—who is Grey?" Lilith demanded, her voice cutting through the cold, tense air of the cave.

Crimson growled in frustration, raking his fingers through his Jet-brown hair. "Miles, by now you know we don't stand a chance!" He flung his arms wide.

"That's what you said when it was just you and me!" Miles shot back, his voice rising with defiance.

But Crimson wasn't having it. In a blur of motion, he surged forward, grabbing Miles by the front of his cloak and slamming him hard against the jagged wall. Dust and pebbles rained down as Miles gasped, pinned and immobilized by Crimson's sheer strength.

Crimson's face was inches from his, eyes blazing like coals. "It's your fault we're here in the first place!" he snarled, his voice low and venomous. "And now you want to risk Lilith's life again? Do you even care about Laurel as much as you claim? You talk big, but you're nothing! Look at you—cornered, helpless. You can't even get out of this mess I've trapped you in!"

Lilith stepped forward, hands raised. "Guys, stop this! This isn't helping!"

But the tension boiled over. Miles gritted his teeth, his muscles coiled like a spring. His gaze locked with Crimson's, and something inside him snapped.

"I do care about Laurel!" he roared. "And if she were in my place, she'd fight like hell to find me!"

With a surge of determination, Miles braced his legs against the rough cave wall. His boots found purchase on the craggy surface, and with a fierce shout, he pushed off with all his strength. The sudden motion broke Crimson's grip, sending him hurtling backwards.

Midair, Miles twisted, driving his fist squarely into Crimson's jaw. The blow landed with a sickening crunch, the impact echoing like a crack of thunder in the cave. Crimson stumbled back, his footing faltering. Miles landed with a hard thud on the cave floor.

"Oh no!" Lilith cried, rushing forward, but she froze as Crimson wiped the blood from his split lip with the back of his hand.

Crimson's anger flared like an uncontrollable wildfire. He lunged, faster than Miles could react, his fist connecting with Miles's face in brutal precision. The force of the punch sent Miles flying into the wall. His head snapped back against the rock, and his body crumpled to the ground in an unconscious heap.

Lilith screamed, running to Miles' side. "Stop it, both of you!" she begged, her voice cracking as she looked up at Crimson with tears in her eyes.

Crimson let out a sigh, his voice softer now. "Sorry about that, Lilith, but... a lot happened while you were out." His eyes briefly flicked to Miles' unconscious body, slumped awkwardly against the cave wall. "Look, I think it'd be best if the first face he sees when he wakes up is yours."

Lilith knelt beside Miles, brushing a stray lock of hair from his face as her expression twisted with worry. "Do you really think he'll be okay?"

Crimson gave a sharp nod. "He has to be. And I think..." He hesitated, his voice dropping. "I think I might know why this is happening.

Without waiting for her reply, Crimson scooped up Miles' limp body and slung him over his shoulder with practised ease. "Grab his sword. Let's get out of here."

Lilith hesitated, then picked up Miles' blade. The two exited the cave, the chill of the air brushing against their skin as they made their way to their ship anchored to the ground nearby.

They boarded quickly, the deck creaking under their weight. Lilith set the sword down and glanced toward the horizon, her brow furrowed.

"So, where are we going now?" she asked, her voice sharp with frustration.

Crimson paused mid-step, adjusting Miles on his shoulder. "We're still heading for Willow Haven," he said firmly. "I'm sure Gale can use his location spells to find Laurel."

Lilith let out a breath she didn't know she was holding. "Willow Haven..." Her voice trailed off as she clenched her fists, her frustration spilling over. She turned her gaze to the floor, her shoulders slumping.

Crimson caught the movement and stopped in his tracks. His sharp eyes narrowed as he studied her. Something was off. "Lilith... what's wrong?"

She didn't answer, her silence speaking louder than words.

Crimson sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Look, I need to get Miles below deck. He needs rest before anything else. Just..." He pointed toward the wheel. "Make sure we're on course for Willow Haven. I'll be back in a moment."

"Okay," Lilith mumbled, her voice barely above a whisper.

Crimson descended to the lower deck, where the air became heavier with the scent of wood. He found an empty bed and gently laid Miles down, his movements surprisingly tender. Just as Crimson was about to leave the lower deck, he shook his head and returned to Miles. He conjured chains and wrapped them around Miles, then performed a gesture as if dusting off his hands.