Page 42 of Crown of Envy

I forced myself to focus on Maci and her demonic army, fighting the primal urge to run. My palm stretched out behind me, fingers splayed. “Brody,” I stated, my voice steadier than I felt. “Give me the amulet.”

“Now,” Maci hissed, her composure briefly cracking. I caught it immediately. The slight tremor in her voice, the flash of fear in her eyes. She had made a mistake, revealing her uncertainty.

The cool metal of the amulet pressed into my palm as Brody handed it over. The contact sent a jolt of energy up my arm, mingling with the power of the blade.

Maci’s face contorted with rage. “Attack!” she screamed.

The demons surged forward, their screeches filling the air with a cacophony that made my ears ring. The stench of sulfur and decay hit us in a wave.

Damon sprang into action beside me, his sword singing through the air. It connected with the nearest demon, the blade slicing through its grotesque form with a sickening squelch. The creature collapsed into a pile of viscous goo, which hissed and bubbled as it sank into the stone floor.

The area erupted into chaos, the clash of weapons and inhuman shrieks creating a nightmarish symphony. I gripped the blade and amulet tighter, their combined power thrumming through me.

Suddenly, it was as if something alien took control of my body. My muscles tensed involuntarily, my back arching so sharply I feared my spine might snap. A surge of hot, electric energy raced through my veins, setting every nerve ending alight. My vision blurred, the world around me fading into a haze of white.

Without warning, a blinding light erupted from within me, exploding outward in a dazzling nova. It was brighter than the sun, searing my retinas. An otherworldly radiance bathed the area.

The demons’ reaction was instantaneous and horrifying. Their screeches rose to a deafening crescendo. The piercing sound felt like needles driving into my eardrums. White flames engulfed their grotesque forms. The stench of burning sulfur and rotting flesh filled the air, making my stomach heave.

Through the chaos, I caught sight of Maci. Her face contorted with rage and disbelief as she raced toward me, her hands outstretched like claws. Before she reached me, an invisible force slammed into her like a giant, unseen hand swatting her away. She flew back, her body twisting like a rag doll before crashing into the far wall with a sickening thud.

For a moment, she lay there, dazed. Then, with a grace that belied her recent impact, she rose to her feet. Her eyes burned with hatred and something that looked unsettlingly like fear. Then, she stepped back, melting into the shadows beyond the light’s edge.

The light faded, leaving us in a sudden, oppressive darkness. My ears rang in the abrupt silence, my body trembling from the aftermath of whatever power had surged through me. I blinked rapidly, trying to adjust my vision, every shadow a potential hiding place for our adversary.

“Where is she?” I whispered.

No one answered immediately. Maci could have fled, or she could be watching us from the shadows.

Damon whistled, scanning the shadows warily. “Well, that was one hell of a magic light show. Remind me to bring sunglasses next time we decide to go all Close Encounters on demon-ville.”

He took a few cautious steps forward, his weapon still at the ready, and poked at the shadows. “As for our friendly neighborhood psycho-dragon? My money’s on her pulling a Houdini. She’s probably licking her wounds and plotting revenge as we speak.”

His voice dropped, taking on a more serious tone. “But let’s not kid ourselves, folks. Evil Queen Barbie doesn’t strike me as the ‘quit while you’re ahead’ type. She could be anywhere, watching us, waiting for round two.”

He turned to the group, a grim smile on his face. “So, what do you say we blow this creepy popsicle stand before she decides to bring more of her friends to the party? I don’t know about you, but I’ve had my fill of demonic ugly for one day.”

“I think that’s the best idea I’ve heard all day,” I murmured. My chest heaved as I struggled to catch my breath. The surge of power had left me as quickly as it had come, leaving me drained and weak-kneed. Still, a flicker of relief rushed through me. This exhaustion, while intense, wasn’t as debilitating as what I’d experienced at the Grove of Whispers. It was more how I felt after a five-mile run.

My hands trembled as I grasped the vibrating blade. Without hesitation, driven by an instinct I couldn’t quite name, I placed it in Justice’s hand.

Justice’s head snapped back, his spine arching at an unnatural angle. His body shook violently, and muscles spasmed beneath his skin. A strangled sound escaped his throat, somewhere between a growl and a moan.

“Oh, shit!” Panic surged through me. My heart leaped into my throat as I jerked the blade away from him, my movements frantic and uncoordinated. The metal scorched my palm, but I barely registered the pain.

As soon as the blade left his grasp, Justice’s convulsions ceased. He slumped forward, his chest heaving. For a moment that stretched like an eternity, he remained still, and my stomach twisted with fear.

Then, slowly, he raised his head. My breath caught in my throat as our eyes met. The change was striking. His skin, which had been pale and sickly, now had a healthy flush. His eyes, previously dulled by exhaustion and illness, now shone with an intensity that made my heart skip a beat.

“I’m getting stronger.” Wonder and relief filled his voice. He flexed his hands, staring at them as if seeing them for the first time. “It’s working.”

A bundle of conflicting emotions bubbled over me like a pot threatening to boil over. My legs wobbled treacherously, and I had to lean against the cold stone wall to keep from collapsing. The rough surface bit into me, a stark contrast to the blade that pulsed warmly in my other hand, almost as if it had a heartbeat of its own.

I stared at the weapon, mesmerized by its gleaming surface and the power thrumming through it. “I can see why Maci wants this,” I muttered.

The thought of her ruthlessness, combined with the raw power of these artifacts, painted a terrifying picture of what she could be plotting.

She wasn’t the only one who was desperate. I would do anything to protect the people I loved, even if it was a fight to the death.

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