It took Iris – all of them, actually, including Mazikeen – a while to register that the water sprout that had burst from the ground was Raena. Iris's heart drummed in her chest as Braedon suddenly lurched towards the unconscious girl in the white bundle of clothes, curled into a foetal position. He sprinted to her, not caring as he practically fell to her side, skidding onto his knees as he gripped her shoulders tenderly, hands trembling.

What had happened to her?

He called out her name, once, twice, but she didn't respond, and Braedon cupped her cheeks in his hand, putting his forehead against hers before feeling for a pulse on her wrist. She seemed to be alive, but only just. Sage had also stumbled to Raena's side as he placed a firm hand on Braedon's shoulder.

"She needs help!" Braedon whirled his head around, but nobody else moved, their attention split between what they had just witnessed Raena do, to the threat that stood with whip in hand, her expression unreadable as the assassin glanced at Braedon and Sage, then Raena. Iris wanted to run to her sister's side too, but all logic screamed at her to keep her eyes on the assassin before them, to keep cool, keep collected, because nobody else seemed capable of doing as much in this moment.

Mazikeen began to walk towards Raena and Braedon threw his arms around Raena like a shield. Grandpa Sage stood his ground firmly, facing Mazikeen with a grim expression on his face. She continued to make a beeline towards them, her movements steady, purposeful.

"Mazikeen, stop!" Iris shouted, her voice wavering.

Trevet took out a gun from his utility belt, poising it towards Mazikeen, his hand clearly shaking. "I'll shoot."

She turned towards him and scoffed. "You think you can kill me with that cheap weapon? Give it your best shot."

Trevet pulled the safety off. "I mean it!"

Mazikeen looked unamused. "No, you don't."

Trevet's hand continued to tremble, but he didn't lower the gun. "Don't tempt me."

Mazikeen heaved a long, impatient sigh, and then, she did the thing Iris had least imagined she might ever do. The mighty assassin tucked away her whip and held up her hands, palms up. "I'm here to help." She seemed to almost choke on the last word as if she had swallowed venom.

"Bull," Iris snorted, remembering with vivid accuracy the ferocity in which Mazikeen had attacked her that first day. This was one sister that couldn't be trusted, despite Iris's hopes and dreams of a reunited family.

Mazikeen let out an infuriating snarl. "If I said I'm here to help, I'm here to help, you little brat." She balled her hands into fists, then relaxed them, before talking in a slightly less irritated tone. "I need your help, alright? So, you help me, I help you." Her words were very robotic and strained, like it pained her to be here talking somewhat civilly when the only language she seemed to speak was violence.

Trevet shook his head. "Since when does the assassin queen need help from anyone?"

Mazikeen didn't respond. In the distance, gunshots could be heard, and they seemed to be getting closer. Iris knew that the Lymphans were gaining ground, and there was no guarantee it was the revolutionary group led by Caspian...

Iris felt like her gut had been punched at the thought of him stuck there, helping them escape, risking his life... Iris cast a solemn glance at Trevet, who had his eyes trained in terror at the assassin who smiled tauntingly at him. Trevet would never forgive her if something happened to Caspian. She wasn't even sure she could forgive herself...

And what were they supposed to do now? If they ran back, they'd be met with armed Lymphans. If they tried to run forwards... well, escaping an assassin was probably harder than running from an angry mob. Either way, both options seemed out of the question what with Raena unconscious, and half the group not being exactly in the best state to endure running or battling. And anyway, where exactly could they run or hide for that matter? They were stuck right where they were, between two death threats.

"I know a place we can go," Mazikeen said roughly, to no one in particular.

Iris shook her head adamantly. She didn't know what Mazikeen was up to, but she didn't want to find out. "We're not going anywhere with you."

Mazikeen let out a strangled scream within her throat. "Are you always this insufferable?" She stalked towards Iris, who flinched and tried to back away, but Mazikeen grabbed her wrist firmly. There was no electrifying thrill this time, just a faint buzz of acknowledgement. Trevet followed the assassin with his gun but didn't pull the trigger.

"You're going to die without me, do you understand?" Mazikeen hissed harshly.

"Let go of her," Trevet ordered.

"Are you all mentally deranged?" Mazikeen laughed coldly. "What in hell was your plan anyway? Run away with an old, crippled man and an unconscious girl and just hope that the Gods would give you shelter? Lords almighty, you're all so stupid. I can't believe you even managed to slip out of my grasp the last time." She bared her teeth at Iris, grinning cynically.

Iris grimaced. "You're not helping your case here."

"What do you want me to do?" Mazikeen growled. "You want me to kill those people after you to prove you can trust me? Fine."

"Wait..." Trevet fumbled for words. "You can't just kill people."

Mazikeen shot him an incredulous look. Before anyone could utter another word, a Lymphan had run into the forest to meet them. Trevet hesitated for a moment, nobody seeming to know whether the Lymphan was on their side or not. Then the guy fired at them, and Braedon shrouded Raena while Sage did the same for Braedon. The rest ducked, covering their heads and ears.

The only one who didn't flinch, was Mazikeen. She simply bolted towards the man, who had his gun angled towards Trevet. By the time he realised what was happening, Mazikeen had knocked the weapon from the man's hands and bent his shooting arm backwards. He cried out in pain, and without so much as a blink, Mazikeen reached up, grabbed his head between both her hands, and snapped his neck. He collapsed to the ground like a pile of lifeless limbs. Braedon's heart pounded, and everyone stared at Mazikeen in dumbfounded shock. She snorted at his dead body before picking up the gun with obvious distaste, switching on the safety before throwing the gun at Trevet's feet. He jumped back, startled, then attempted to recompose himself, gagging at the Lymphan's snapped head. Iris wasn't sure if she was shaking in fear or disgust or both. Mazikeen hadn't even thought twice, she just... ended him.

"There." Mazikeen crossed her arms, staring at Trevet's gun as if daring him to try and shoot her. "Does that prove I'm on your side?"

Trevet stared at her with wild, wide eyes. "No!" he sputtered, flailing his arms in the air and waving his original gun in exasperation. "You just killed someone without even second-guessing! That's called cold-blooded murder!"

Mazikeen trudged up to him, pointing a finger at his chest. "I just saved your life you worthless piece of Terran scrap. Be grateful."

Trevet opened his mouth to retort but Braedon suddenly shouted, "She's stopped breathing!"

He didn't wait to see if any of them were listening, but Iris snapped her gaze towards him, running to Raena side and placing a finger on her wrist. Her sister was dead cold.

Braedon began to push against Raena's chest. Over and over again, praying under his breath to the gods that CPR would work by some miracle.

Iris gritted her teeth, clenching her hands into fists by her sides. Shit, Raena. Breathe, please just breath.

Grandpa Sage knelt on Raena's other side and held one of her hands. His eyes glimmered with worry as he glanced back up at Mazikeen, then at their surroundings, probably listening out for any approaching Lymphans. But Braedon didn't care for what was going on around him. He only cared about reviving Raena. At some point, Mazikeen had walked up to him, standing by his side.

"She's not going to make it. She's been drained of blood," Mazikeen stated matter-of-factly.

Braedon ignored her, and Grandpa Sage answered softly but firmly, "She still can make it."

Mazikeen shrugged dubitably. "Maybe. But not unless you all come with me."

Come on, Iris silently pleaded. Just wake up. But her sister's eyes did not open, and her chest remained still.

"Even if we go with you," Iris said, reluctantly and cautiously meeting Mazikeen's curious, golden-rimmed brown eyes. A ruffle sounded further in the woods and angry voices shouted war cries. More Lymphans were coming. "How would we get out of here with Raena unconscious? Is it even safe moving her in her current state?"

Mazikeen let out another one of her irritable sighs. "Leave her here then."

Braedon continued to press against Raena's chest. Come on, Raena.

"No," Iris shook her head firmly.

Mazikeen rolled her eyes. "Fine." Then added under breath, "Insufferable."

She took out her whip, and before anyone had a chance to protest, she cracked it into the sky, and the air split open, a golden beam of light spilling through.

"Step through," she demanded brusquely. "It'll bring you to safety."

Iris looked sceptically at the tear in the sky, then glanced nervously behind her at the approaching Lymphans. "What exactly is waiting for us on the other side?"

"Step through and find out."

No one moved for a minute. Then Trevet said quietly, "I can't leave Caspian behind."

Mazikeen gritted her teeth. "Look, lover boy, you can come back and rescue your boyfriend or whatever this guy is to you, later. But you stay here now and you die. Got it?"

No one moved. No one was sure what to do, and half the group's attention was focused on reviving Raena. Iris steadied her breathing and placed a hand on Trevet's shoulder, forcing her emotions aside and approaching the situation logically, calmly – like a leader ought to do. "We will get him back, Trevet." The words sounded more assuring than she felt. "But if you stay now and get caught... that'll do Caspian more harm than good."

Trevet looked unconvinced. They all did. But the alternative didn't give them much hope, either. Iris glanced at the glowing crack in the sky, then back down at Raena. Sage and Braedon exchanged a surrendering glance, and Trevet looked back at the approaching footsteps in pure anguish and despair. Ironically enough, it really seemed that Mazikeen was their only chance of survival right now.

Braedon picked Raena up gently in his arms, holding her limp body close to his chest. Iris bit the inside of her cheek and faced Mazikeen. Consequences be damned if there was even just a sliver of hope. It was all they needed in this instance.

A shot was fired into the open air in front of them, and that triggered them all to start hurrying towards the golden light.

Braedon stepped up to tear in the sky, squinting while clutching Raena tightly and glancing at Mazikeen, who gave him a sickly-sweet smile before gesturing to the portal. His eyes were bloodshot, and Iris was shocked at the anger that swelled in his eyes. He stepped through without even a glance back at Iris, clutching Raena firmly in his arms as they disappeared through the portal. There was a moment of silence, interrupted only by the thundering sound of ever-closer footsteps.Sage gave Mazikeen only a cautious glance before stepping on through after his grandson, vanishing in thin air. Trevet gripped Iris's arm.

"Promise me," Trevet gritted his teeth, eyes glistening.

Iris found herself nodding once again and agreeing to yet another promise she wasn't even sure she could uphold. "We'll get him back."

A bullet whizzed between them, and it was encouragement enough for Trevet to step through, careful to avoid Mazikeen's glance.

Only the two sisters remained now, silently staring at each other. Iris couldn't read those magnificent eyes, couldn't tell what Mazikeen was thinking, what she planned, nor when she might really strike. For all Iris knew, she had just sent her friends, her sister, from a frying pan and into the fire. Mazikeen's fire.

As if reading her thoughts, Mazikeen's lips stretched upwards into a grin that had Iris's skin crawling.

"After you," the assassin hissed forebodingly.

Iris shook her head slightly, swallowing as she prepared herself. For whatever was on the other side, for whatever came next.

The last thing Iris saw was Mazikeen's golden-rimmed eyes glowing in eager malice, before she stepped through the portal, her assassin sister at her back, breath tickling her ear.

The golden seal closed immediately behind them, leaving them in darkness.

And then they vanished.