Eaughshy is quicker than Alex now—it has to be if it wants to win.
Claws rake against Alex's chest and the fabric tears easy as paper. Eliav shouts, but if he moves, the barrier will come undone. Hector's jaw goes tense. Fuck it.
He doesn't mean to say the words out loud, but he must have. Eliav twists around to glare at Hector. 'Don't get up,' he warns. Though he looks flustered, his tone is devoid of nonsense. 'You're going to bleed to death.'
'I won't bleed to death,' Hector retorts. His lungs rattle when he inhales. 'Keep it up, kid.'
‘Alex will be fine—’
Hector nods, but whatever dregs of magic are still simmering beneath his skin need all his attention to summon.
Ahead of him, Alex goes on the defence. With all its strength, Eaughshy slams its many fists into his brother, one blow after the other. One limb aims for Alex's face, another for his side. Somehow, Alex dodges them both. He pulls away—only to reveal two new wounds on his thigh and forearm.
A starry rush sings through Hector's veins as the magic at his centre spikes. It continues to build inside of him until it finally manifests at his fingertips. Dark blue electricity, dark as a forgotten dawn, buzzes against his skin.
With a powerful swing, Alex manages a right hook into Eaughshy's jaw, snapping its teeth together. A kick lands in its torso, sending it skidding further into the alleyway. The sounds of their fighting bounce off Eliav's barrier.
It's not enough to knock the demon down, but it buys Alex some time. With a sharp inhale, his magic seems to bloom further out, igniting him like the blue centre of a flame. There isn’t much room left for them to fight. The alleyway has a dead-end, thanks to Eliav. Hector lifts his arm and closes his eyes.
His fingers are unsteady when he touches them to his face. But he finds the blood easily enough—there's so much of it—and he dips the tips of his fingers into the warmth. As fast as he can manage, without compromising the quality of the runes, Hector begins to draw a series of patterns along his outstretched arm. Long lines, tight circles. Ancient things.
Eaughshy sees and lets out another scream. Alex turns as Hector opens his eyes, and he sees his brother’s startled look. It lasts only a second, but Hector knows Alex will give him hell for it later. Hector smiles at the thought.
They all know it’s his magic that tears space best.
Alex ducks to the ground as Hector releases a ball of energy. It streaks through the air like a comet and leaves a jagged portal in its wake. Inside, there are wheeling galaxies, an endless sea of stars that stretches from dimension to dimension, to dimension. There are things there, asleep and waiting.
Eaughshy gives a low moan like a fearful animal. It lurches to the side, but Alex is on the demon in an instant. They all know they can’t keep the portal open too long — who knows what else might come through?
The two wrestle with each other, flailing, scratching and kicking. But Eaughshy is losing, and it knows it. Alex’s magic is growing brighter and brighter with each blow exchanged. Eliav averts his gaze, and Hector takes his cue.
The coming brilliance, he knows, will blind them both.
Magic explodes in a tidal wave of light. Hector hears Eaughshy babbling in its demon tongue. An apology maybe, or a plea.
Alex hoists the demon up by the collar of its tattered shirt. Hector blinks away the lingering white spots in front of his eyes, but he can see that though his brother is both bloody and bruised, he is the clear victor of the two.
‘Sorry,’ Alex gives Eaughshy a crooked smile. ‘But it’s time for you to go.’
Eaughshy continues to struggle against Alex’s unrelenting grip. The eldest Argyris brother only presses the demon right against the lip of Hector’s portal. The smell of burning flesh fills the air as soon as Eaughshy touches it. Both Hector and Eliav gag but Alex doesn't even seem to notice. Still, Eaughshy scrabbles to gain purchase in Alex’s arm. Magic repels its claws like a moth bouncing off a light bulb.
‘Please,’ the demon begs with its voice like a stone on stone. ‘You don’t know what’s out there.’
‘It’s nothing personal,’ Alex says.
Then, he thrusts Eaughshy the rest of the way through, careful to keep his arm away from the portal’s edge. Eaughshy’s cry is cut short as the demon is forced from their dimension. Without a moment’s hesitation, Alex tears off what’s left of his shirt and swipes two fingers into the oozing wounds on his chest. Eliav makes a disgusted sound, but he earns little more than an amused grin.
Hector watches as his eldest brother works with admirable efficiency, drawing his runes like signing his name at the bottom of a contract.
Magic crawls towards the blood, devouring it beneath the writhing strands of light. Alex holds his hand out to the portal and the magic, fine as thread, leaps away from his fingers to stitch the hole together in tight criss-crossing seams.
Eliav and Hector smile at each other.
‘Never gets old,’ Hector says.
‘Never gets old,’ Eliav repeats.
Compared to Alex, they know they’re sloppy.
When it’s done, Alex’s magic fizzles out with a flourish. The portal is sealed, and Eaughshy is gone. Like a window shattering on impact, Eliav’s glowing barrier comes undone. He gives a loud sigh of relief as the shards dissipate, but he’s shaking so badly Hector can’t help but reach out to him.
Not that he can stand. Alex jogs the space between them and scrunches his face. He reaches Hector first, and Hector is glad to use him as a crutch. Alex gathers Eliav to him next and pretends not to hear his protests.
‘I told you,’ Alex berates Hector as soon as they’re clear of the alley. ‘You should’ve waited for us.’
‘I’m sorry,’ Hector smirks, but his salute is pathetic. ‘Won’t happen again, sir.’
If Alex replies, he doesn’t hear it. His hand drops to his side, and everything goes black.
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