Kull’s sword, a Madralorde weapon like the staff, also fended off the creatures. Kull tore through the mass of bodies, cutting and hacking through limbs as he made his way toward the goddess. Magic burst from my fingertips in colors of blue and amber, slowly pushing the Regaymor back.
Through the mass of black robes, I watched Kull reach Theht. He struck at her with the sword, but a dome of orange magic surrounded the goddess. She lashed out at him with magic, hitting him in the chest. The sword flew from his hands as he fell unconscious on the ground, his weapon landing several feet away from him.
The Regaymor swarmed as I tried to push my way to the warrior. In frustration, I released my magic, infusing black powers with the other two. The creatures screamed as flames flew from my fingertips, consuming them in white-hot fire that burned their cloaks first, then turned them to ash.
I blasted more and more. Any Regaymor in my path I destroyed with my magic. My mind had become absorbed by the violence of killing them all. I found Kull lying on the ground. Blood streamed down his face. Kneeling beside him, I took his hand in mine.
“Kull, can you hear me?”
Maveryck and Heidel fought behind me. I could barely hear my own voice over the battle and the roar coming from the open rift.
“Kull!” I repeated.
His eyes fluttered open, although he stared dazedly at the sky. The ground shook as Theht opened the rift wider. I fell back as the earth broke apart, spraying dirt into the air. Both Kull and I got to our feet as fire burst up through the open fissures in the ground.
“She’s going to tear our world apart if we don’t stop her!” I yelled to Kull.
He grabbed his sword. “We’ll stop her together. Can you use your magic to destroy that shield surrounding her?”
“Yes, I’ll try.”
We stumbled over the uneven ground toward the rift where Theht stood. The goddess still held her hands out, keeping the rift open with her magic. I knew now was my only chance to stop her. While she used her magic in the rift, she would only be able to use a limited amount of power against me.
I blasted out with my magic, using the same spell I’d used against the Regaymor. The shield shook. Cracks fractured its surface, but it didn’t break apart. I stepped closer, a whirlwind filling my ears as I increased the flow of my energy, hitting the shield until my own power blinded me and burned my skin.
Kull and I powered forward as Theht’s shield broke apart. The dome melted as if it were liquid, dripping like wax to the ground. Theht’s eyes widened as Kull struck out, so preternaturally fast she had no time to react as he stabbed her through the heart, then ripped the sword free.
She screamed and fell back. Blood pooled from the open wound as she clutched at her chest.
“You,” she hissed, “can destroy this body.” A wicked smile lit her face. “But can you destroy another?” She stared up at the sky. “I… release this body… to enter another.”
The goddess collapsed. A black mist formed over the prostrate figure, flowing and snaking like fog as it gathered into a more cohesive shape. Without warning, the black fog enveloped me, wrapping around my arms and legs, then entered through my chest.
I froze.
My heart stopped beating.
I tried to breathe, but couldn’t. My lungs constricted. I tried to move, to speak, but my body refused to cooperate.
We are one now, Olive, Theht said, her voice louder than I’d ever heard it before. My body moved backward, toward the rift, where I stood on the edge. Below me, I stared into an immense void where flames soared upward and on currents of overheated air, although the Regaymor no longer rose into our world.
I watched my arms move up and initiate a spell to call to the Regaymor. Magic streamed from my body, though I never called it. I still had my mind as I watched helplessly, but Theht had complete control over my body.
As I stood on the ledge, I felt myself turn around. Still holding the sword dripping with blood, Kull stood facing me. Theht’s body lay at his feet. Behind me, the screams of the Regaymor were carried on the wind as my magic allowed them into the world once again.
Chapter 24
I stood on the ledge overlooking the rift between worlds. Theht controlled my body, but I still had my own mind and my own consciousness. She hadn’t won yet. Still, I had to find a way to speak to Kull, to let him know I was here.
Lightning sparked through the clouds overhead. Thunder boomed in its wake. Beyond Kull, Maveryck and Heidel battled the Regaymor. I attempted to move my hands, but couldn’t as the goddess kept a steady stream of magic flowing.
The rift.
I had to close it. If I didn’t, if I let the Regaymor continue to infiltrate this world, there would be nothing left to save. I reached out with all my senses, trying to take control of my body in any way I could.
Kull took a step toward me. “Olive?”
I tried to make my mouth move, but felt as if I was pushing against a mountain. Looking into his eyes, I knew I had to say something. He tightened his grip on the sword.
“Theht,” he called as a flame burst behind me and more Regaymor burst free. “Close the rift!” he demanded.
“No.” She spoke to him in my voice.
“Close it now!”
“I will not. You will not stop me now. You cannot do it. You have slain one body, but you will not touch this one. I have seen all. I have been a
