Free Mystical Mayhem by Kiki Howell

lightning. The words of their chants clashed as well as their magick.
    “Ardescat Lux.”
    “Deflexio.”
    It was then he saw Aiyanna again, her body crushed up against the cave wall, but protected by the Hawk-man, the damnable ringleader of all of this chaos in his cave. The sick bastard was keeping her safe only so he could later kill her himself. Whatever the reason, Xander’s emotions tore through him, causing pain where his body responded to it physically and then it was stifled completely by the impure magick restraining him. His body became a magnet for the residual magick in the room. He was being shocked repeatedly, his heart and lungs barely functioning. The ominous language floated around him, luring him into a trance despite the violent nature he could sense in the words. He became a barely conscious observer, the fight surreal, the madness over his Mate’s plight making everything feel a dream; like he was no longer in touch with any sort of reality.
    “Dispelsatio.”
    “Hexagramma et Pentagramma, Malos Spiritus Sigilent!”
    All who were left gathered ’round the witch and sorcerer. All fighting stopped as their magickal battle started to affect everyone. Enemies suddenly took cover beside each other, knowing they would not live to fight another minute if zapped by the mystical lightshow. As consciousness started to elude him, Xander pondered how the mayhem was no longer just in the town, but at his front door, inside his own cave. Messes such as these were his responsibility to stifle, and he was failing miserably. Yet, he couldn’t welcome death with Aiyanna still alive and suffering.
    "Numerus spiritus elementis."
    "Ex Somno Exsistat Exurens Salamandra Inimicum Involvat Igne! Captus Flammeus!"
    "Coèuntes, sagittent inimicum meam. Sagitta Magicka, Convergentia Series elementis. Vinculum facti inimicum capient. Sagitta Magicka, Aer capturae.”
    The wind picked up as ropes of flames blew in the breeze around the sorcerer. There were several more successive sizzles and a cry from the old sorcerer who fell at the tiny witch’s feet. Whatever she’d gotten herself into, the magick was strong, dark, almost oily feeling, coating the old man’s skin. He wanted to tell Alexx to stop trying to save him as she was looking bad, sweat covering her now pale face, her body contorted into an obscene position, down on the ground, curled over her stomach, arms and legs pulled in tight to her body, but rigid and bent. Yet, she continued to fight what held him. He remembered her telling Aiyanna just last night that each of them would lay down their life for the other.
    Aiden, got up, going to his witch, a sneer of triumph making his eyes squinty; more sinister. Aiyanna was on her side. He’d covered her in a blanket, from head to toe, but Xander could still see her form. Aiden went quickly to the witch, grabbing her arm and pulling her aside as he spoke to her. His voice was drowned out by the others, from both sides of this battle, emerging from where they’d hidden from the sinister light and fire show. The enemies circled each other, a primitive dance like a game of truth or dare, each showing the truth of their strength in their stance while daring the other to take them on.
    The lead asshole, Aiden, along with the witch, uncovered Aiyanna’s face and spoke quickly. But, he was interrupted by the tiny woman’s cry. Everything was. All he could do was hold his breath and watch, as the witch took hold of Aiyanna’s hair with one hand, flicking her wrist toward Aiden with the other. The Hawk-man cowered to the side like the witch had hit him with something. Xander knew only too well the force of her power, as he watched Aiden scream and squirm on the ground. He didn’t seem so tough now. Maybe that had been the witch’s intent, something strong and painful. He couldn’t say he felt bad for the guy.
    “Your father was a great man. He once did me a great kindness, one I never thought I’d get the chance to