Page 103 of Malcolm

Lanias could feel a large aura of power drawing closer. “I can feel him; he’s coming," she said, closing her eyes. We can’t fight him head-on.”

“Then what can we do?” Eliza demanded; she was scared. The wound on Lanias's side looked severe. “Okay, we need to get you help first.”

“Take me to the center,” Lanias ordered.

“What?” Elizabeth looked at her like she was crazy.

“I have your power in me and my own; it’s more than enough to open that.” She weakly pointed to the center. “If I open it, I can reverse the intent of the spell so that he gets sucked in and trapped.”

“But…” Elizabeth shook her head. “It’s too dangerous.”

“It's the only choice I have,” Lanias said; she pulled against Eliza's hold. “If you won’t doit, I’ll do it myself.”

“Okay, okay.” Elizabeth grimaced. “I’ll help you.”

“Thank you,” Lanias whispered.

Together, they made their way to the center of the monolith structure. Lanias couldn’t feel her legs. She moved her hand away from her stomach wound to see it coated in blood. She’d thought she would have more time.

As they reached the column, she heard someone yell.

“Lanias.”

Eliza stopped a few feet away from the large column in the center where the angel sat upon it in stoic silence and looked over.

“Oye.”

The woman ran towards her, along with Castian, Alek, and Malcolm. Eliza almost dropped Lanias in relief, only to be shocked when the woman yanked herself from her hold.

“Lanias, wait—They’re here.”

Lanias ignored her and staggered the rest of the way alone. She fell against the column and slowly turned to face them.

Oye stopped short at Eliza’s side just as Malcolm grabbed her arm and drew her over to stand by him.

“What is that?” Castian’s question drew their attention to a thick black smoke rushing towards them.

“Watch out,” Eliza shouted, using her last bit of Magic to block the wave as it covered everything in its path, turning everything it touched into ash.

Legos’s figure was revealed, where he hung in the air, staring down at them.

“Hello there,” he crooned as he slowly descended, his black wings lazily undulating.

Castian protectively stepped in front of Oye, who brought out two short blades. Her skin prickled in warning at the sight of the creature before them.

Alek wasn’t looking at the demon but at Lanias, who leaned against the column unphased. Sweat beaded her brow, and her eyes weren’t clear. He rushed to her side, only for a line of light to erupt between them, encircling her.

Legolas flew forward, but no one could stop him as he sped past them. Bringing his sword up, he brought it down, slicing through the barrier, and entered. The light rushed up again, separating Lanias and him from the others.

Alek tried to follow and put his hand out. The minute his wrist crossed the light barrier, it fell to the ground. He looked at it in stony silence, then to Lanias; he was too far away.

She was too far away.

“You think this paltry show of power will stop me,” Legos asked as he strolled toward her. “Come, dear. Bleed and be sacrificed for your god.”

Lanias could barely focus; her body was growing weak too fast. She scoffed, “Did you think I was trying to keep you out?”

He narrowed his eyes on her. “What?”

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