Page 130 of Lethal Souls

“Do you blame me for being tired of waiting?” Selah’s teeth glint from her throne of flames. “Three is enough. It begins today.”

Hassha and Korah glance at each other.

“This is your last chance to back out, Selah. Surrender, and we will spare you.” Hassha’s fists clench, and Korah’s shoulders tense as her hands spark to life.

“Absolutely not.” Selah’s smirk transitions to a grimace, and with a snap of her fingers, the creatures in the sky come barreling down, screeching and shrieking.

They stand behind her in unison, made of all sizes and ranging in color from black to muddy gray. Most have waxy skin, and a few have oversized wings.

Then there’s a rumble from a distance.

Hassha and Korah ignite in color, stepping back as they wait for what looms. Behind the columns of creatures snarling and gnashing their teeth are creatures even bigger than they are.

Towering like mountains with dagger like teeth, misshapen heads, and fists larger than castles, are giants. They roar at Hassha and Korah, revealing black tongues and hollow throats.

Then, with flaps of wings soaring past their heads and a burst of scarlet, a row of dragons appears, just like the one Selah created when she broke the barrier.

They surround Hassha and Korah, chuffing and growling. Hassha’s breath comes out thick as she glares at her wretched sister.

“And there are many more where they came from,” Selah says with a grin.

Hassha turns her attention to Korah who nods and bends down, stabbing her fingers into the ground. Roots appear, traveling along the red dirt and lava. She throws her head back as the roots take form, wrapping around each other and twisting like vines.

The body forms first, then the sharp-tipped wings. The slender belly drifts to a smooth wooden tail and claws for feet. Then another appears. And another.

One by one, the wooden dragons sprout from the ground, standing before Selah’s dragons and screeching in their faces.

Korah finally removes her claws, and Hassha steps forward, throwing her hands in the air and summoning what’s left of the sunlight.

Bursts of light plummet to the ground, burning through some of Selah’s creatures, and she hisses, grimacing, but Hassha doesn’t stop.

Each drop of sun morphs into a soldier on horseback, all wielding swords and shields. She makes as many as she can, enough to match the numbers of Selah’s, possibly more, and when the last is created, she lowers her hands.

“And don’t forget the moonlight,” Hassha says.

“Or the sea,” Korah adds.

Selah presses a precious hand to her chest and snickers. “My, how my sisters have grown. Tell me, how much energy did that cost you?”

“Trust me, Selah, that was nothing more than a whisper of it.”

Selah frowns at Hassha. Throwing a hand up, she shoots a beam of orange light at Hassha, but she floats above it. The fire causes an explosion on the ground.

Lava erupts, soaking the ground and puddling around The Regals’ feet. It bypasses them, running like fiery rivers outside their sandals.

“Get rid of the lava,” Hassha demands. “This war will be fair.”

Selah’s eyes flicker between her sisters, then she smiles and says, “Very well.”

With a snap, the lava disappears, leaving only red dirt and decay.

“When the stairs fall, sisters, it will be time. And if you don’t come up, I will come down.” Selah takes a step closer to them. “I do hope you and the Seed of Yuri are prepared.”

“He is,” Korah growls.

“Prepared for you to die,” Hassha seethes.

SEVENTY-NINE

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