Page 55 of Shadows in Bloom

I’d lost track of time when a wet, metallic scent wafted through the air and the hairs on my arm stood up in alert. The temperature in the cavern had dropped significantly in a matter of seconds, and an eerie silence replaced the hum of insects I’d grown used to. I turned to Kaz to check if he too had noticed theodd shift, but found my gaze drawn to the space on the ground just behind him instead.

It was wrong. Something was wrong.

There in the dirt, two circles, one just inside of the other, were forming from nothing, in a blue hue so bright it shined white in the middle. Runes and lines began to form between the circles, painting intricate designs in the margins. As the first circle neared the end of its form, another began to draw in the opposite corner of the room. And another. And another. Until twelve identical markings painted the floor.

Kaz drew his sword between both hands. “I’m no Mage, but I can guess those things are going to be a problem.” He was likely right, and yet he seemed thrilled by the potential danger, bouncing back and forth as he shifted his weight from one foot to the next. He rolled his shoulders and cracked his neck.

When the final circle fully formed in shape, all twelve of the drawings burst with blinding white light. I closed my eyes only long enough to recover, but when I blinked them back open, a figure stood in each of the twelve circles.

Cloaked in a clean, crisp white robe, their faces were hidden behind their hoods. The only discernible thing on them was the brooch pinning their cloaks closed. The brooch, made of a brilliant gold, depicted a six-pointed sun that swirled to a point in the center. From the bottom half of that point, four slender wings stretched out to the edges of the brooch. It was not a symbol I recognized, yet the sight of it had my skin crawling.

If Kaz was concerned with how clearly outnumbered we were, it did not show through his bravado. “Did you lot come for pleasantries or a challenge?”

There was no response to his taunt, but several of the figures turned to the one closest to Kaz—a tall male who nodded his head in the directions of the tunnels, a silent signal for his companions. Nine of the twelve rushed off down the tunnels toward Alandris, Kallistra, and Zorinna, leaving only three remaining in our presence, including the male who appeared to be their leader.

The male stepped forward and pulled down his hood, revealing a face with a jagged scar ripping through what was formerly a deep russet eye. “Give us the creature or forfeit your life,” he snarled. His nose scrunched at the sight of me.

Kaz snickered as he stepped forward to meet the male. “She is not mine to give, and she is not yours to take.”

“You know not the monster you defend.” Shouts erupted from one of the halls, the hall Alandris had gone down, and a twisted smile rose to the male’s face. “My men have found one of yours. We should probably get this over with. Make your choice.”

I looked at Kaz in a panic. “Alandris, he is… and-and Zorinna—if they find her—she is injured.” I could barely get the words out.

Kaz never took his eyes off of the male in front of us. “Leave me here. Go help our little Elf.”

“You cannot go alone against three men, Kaz.” The average fighter Kaz could slay with only a modicum of his strength, but these men did not appear to be average. Average couldn’t appear from thin air. These were experienced Mages, and Kaz had no magic of his own.

“Watch me.” His resulting laugh came from deep within his chest. “This will be a warmup. I’ll head toward Zorinna as soon as I cut them down.”

“But—”

“You are in the way. Go.” His sharp, final word cut off any chance of argument.

Still, my feet refused to budge. It was not until Kaz rushed the man in front of him, swinging his blade down at his neck with such speed and ferocity that the man stood no chance in dodging, that I took the opportunity to run. The squelch of flesh giving way to metal and a horrific groan of agony was the last thing I heard as I tore down the tunnel, not sparing a glance back as I mouthed a silent ‘thank you’.

The tunnel twisted and turned before reaching a fork. Only two options—left or right, but taking the wrong path was the difference between making it to Alandris in time to help him or… not. I paused briefly to listen for sounds of clashing metal, screams, grunts, groans, anything, but even when I heard some indication of a fight, it was impossible to tell from which path it came. My heart hammered, not from the sprint here, but from fear. I had to make it in time. I had to.

Left.

I took off in a sprint once more, kicking up dust and tiny rocks as my boots hit the ground. More twisting. More turning. It was seemingly endless, though it couldn’t have been long. The unmistakable scent of blood hit my nose, metallic and warm, and I pushed my muscles harder than I ever had before. Almost. I was almost there. I just needed him to hang on a little longer.

My magic was bubbling beneath my skin, responding anxiously to my heightened emotions like a sworn protector. For the first time, it didn’t hurt in the slightest. No, it wasn’t the usual stinging and draining sensation that I experienced when I tapped into my magic—it was power. It was giving itself to me freely, without asking for a piece back in return. I was certain it would cost me. Nothing about this magic was truly free, not when it didn’t belong to me. The monster inside of me was allowing me unfettered access, and I didn’t have time to worry about the consequences.

I wasn’t surprised to hear it whispering in the back of my head.Later, it cooed, sending shivers down my spine. Later, a debt would be paid, but now, I needed to run.

The tunnel cleared into an open cavern, and my eyes focused on Alandris instantly. Blood soaked his tunic, staining the pale fabric with a dark crimson. Three men surrounded him brandishing small blades, each with their own fair share of blood. Fire burst from Alandris’ palms as he thrust his magic toward the men who were closing in on him, their daggers swinging wildly as the flames licked their skin. Red. Red everywhere. All I saw. All I felt.

Shadows seeped from my fingertips, manifesting into clawed hands larger than the men themselves. The first curled its fingers around the man closest to Alandris, digging its nails into his delicate flesh. The touch alone sent those tendrils crawling up the man’s skin, turning every inch soot black until all that remained unmarked was his face, contorted into something awful. He screamed and screamed, his face turning a purplish red until the hand tightened into a fist around his body. What remained of him fell to the ground in a mangled pile of broken bones as the shadowy hand pulled back to where I stood.

The other two men had little time to process the carnage. Alandris was on them in an instant, blasting them with wave after wave of burning flame. The earlier confidence that shone in their grins as they’d surrounded him had been replaced with unbridled terror. Their moves were slower. Sloppy. Half of their focus was on dodging, while the other half was on finding an escape that didn’t involve going in my direction.

My unwanted passenger whispered in my head, his voice filled with glee.They are cowards. Weak, pathetic animals who think they can capture a God. Put them out of their misery.

I swallowed. “Shut up!”

I wasn’t taking pleasure in killing. I was doing what needed to be done to protect the one I loved. They’d hurt him. They’d made him bleed. I wasn’t taking pleasure in their deaths. I wasn’t.

Whatever it takes to justify the murder, my dear, sweet girl.

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