A chuckle comes from him that I feel against my back. “Hold on, and I’ll drop you right there. You’ll have to get closer to her.”
I growl in response as I ready myself for the drop. The battle sounds fall away as I concentrate on the only thing that matters—saving Shelley. I still don’t see her, but Namir wouldn’t lie to me. She’s here somewhere.
The wind rushes at me as he lets me go. It’s not a big fall, but the motion of it makes my stomach lurch. I land in a crouch right before a witch. I don’t know this one, but she as good as dead.
We strike, blades crashing together, but I run my sword through her and keep sprinting. My speed carries me to the edge of the portal. The wind whips my hair, and the sight before me almost makes me crumble.
Shelley is on the ground, blood crusted on her nose. Her long hair spills across her face, her glasses broken next to her. A witch stands guard behind her, but there is some magic floating around them.
“Take another step, and she dies.”
Anger pumps through my blood, and I spin around to face the witch who brought me into this life but took everything away from me.
“Let. Her. Go. Now,” I scream. My scalp tingles, and I see red. My smoke comes out, and my eyes glow so bright I can see the reflection on her face. It’s not fear—it’s want.
“Come with me, and she lives. There’s no other way. That spell sucks the life out of her little by little. If I die, she does, too. We’re linked.”
She’s gone mad. Her magic absorbs her entire body with power, but it feels tainted. It’s not the holy magic I held with the orb;—it’s something else.
“You know I can’t go with you. Let’s end this here before you do actual damage to the realms. This isn’t you. We’ve always been on the right side.”
She laughs, and it’s like the darkness consumes her. A chill of fear runs through me. She’s not the woman I thought she was. Maybe she never has been.
“Make your decision. Tick-tock… The human will not last long.”
I turn my attention to Shelley, willing her to get up, but her chest is barely rising. Her skin is the color of ash, and the blonde ponytail she sports is matted with dirt. This isn’t good.
“Let the human go, Rahna. Your fight is with us, not her.”
“Torque,” she growls. “I see it was a mistake to send Anima. I should have done it myself. Make you beg me for your life. A useless demon who can’t even control his own kingdom.”
A flare of anger blasts through me. I don’t think—I just whip out my shadow smoke and grab her by the neck. She’s taken by surprise, but she counters the attack and the smoke disperses.
“Have it your way,” she cackles.
Shelley’s body lifts, and her head lulls back as if it’s already snapped from her neck. She screams out the worst sound I’ve ever heard. When it digs into me, I know Rahna has me.
“Stop!” I cry out, taking a step in their direction. A hand is clamped on my arm, and I turn to see the hurt in Torque’s eyes. He can feel what I’m about to do.
“I won’t let you do this. You can’t go. Anima, please. Think about all we’ve done. How far we’ve come. Don’t throw it away.”
“I’m not throwing it away. This is for Shelley. She’s my best friend. The only friend I’ve ever had.”
“We can figure out another way.”
The words pass his lips, and Shelley lets out another scream. My insides die a little more, and I take a step away from Torque toward the portal. Caedis lands next to him, and the guys study one another. That’s tomorrow’s problem. Right now, I have to save Shelley.
“Are you ready, protege?” Rahna sneers.
“Always, Mother,” I retort.
Her face crumbles, and the magic holding Shelley buckles before she catches it again. Her eyes widen, then she sees Nox and Uriel running toward us. A genuine look of fear passes over her.
“Get through the portal, now!” Her urgency has kicked up. She squeezes the magic around Shelley one more time, and I hear her bones break. I rush to get to her, but the trap waiting for me has already been sprung. I’m encased in a magic bubble.
Pain courses through my body, and I howl. Namir roars with me, but he’s too far away. No one can save me now. I must ride this out, stay safe until I can figure out a way to get us out of here.
The witches pull back and begin their retreat, piling into the portal. One after another, they jump, fly, or run through. The battlefield clears as Rahna holds me in this pained state.
Fire unleashes and I’m burning on the inside, the magic keeping it going on a cycle. I don’t know how to stop it or even how to make my powers protect me from it. Despair takes over, and I gaze into the crowd.
Torque and Caedis stand beside one another, frozen in time. Afraid to move in case she hurts me more. They’re so different, Blood and Death. It’s like looking at two halves to a whole, something I hadn’t considered before this moment.
The magic flares again, and the fire reaches my head. I collapse onto my knees, keeping my eyes locked with theirs. I have to make sure they know I’ll keep fighting.
“I love you,” I whisper. “Come for me.”
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Releasing February 2021
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Changer Series - Book One
1
Manny’s
Azra
The clang of dishes, and the smell of the grease fryer permeate the air. Manny’s is a small diner situated in an even smaller town in rural Virginia. It has that old retro feel with red pleather booths and a jukebox in the corner. The specials are comfort food, and the people come mainly
