Page 56 of Thunder Road

We need to protect civilians and stop the tribute, but I don’t want to die. Being a hero isn’t worth leaving Vic. This wasn’t supposed to be death magic.

The troll rebounded from the invisible force field, but it didn’t seem to hurt him. He backed up, screamed once more, and threw himself against the scrim, coming back immediately for another hit as soon as he bounced away.

Why doesn’t the troll run away? Maybe he can’t.

Maybe he’s bound to the land, just like the power is bound to the Wellspring.

Simon saw the effort keeping the barrier up cost the witches. He knew that the incantation and major spell still wasn’t quite complete.

We may run out of time. That would be really bad for everyone.

The warding thinned, strained to its limits. A crafty look came into the troll’s eyes, and he muttered something in a guttural voice.

“I will destroy you all,” the troll growled.

Simon screamed in pain and wrapped his arms around his midsection, biting out the words to the spell even as he felt like his insides were on fire.

Trolls can do pain spells. Maybe it never bothered to try before, or the barrier is too thin to stop him.

One by one, the other witches staggered, doing their best to read out the rest of the spells despite barely keeping their feet.

Vic and Dan started shooting again, but the troll seemed to have figured out they couldn’t kill him. The only thing at this point keeping him from wading into their group and ripping heads from bodies was the thin, fragile circle of salt, iron, and silver on the ground.

“Keep going. We’ve got to finish!” Simon shouted between gritted teeth. The dome glitched, waning briefly and then waxing, and he knew they were running out of time.

Simon saw Vic shoot him a glance and knew he was worried that Simon would burn himself out. He tried to give him a reassuring look but wasn’t entirely sure he could keep his promise given the cost of failure.

Sister Cecilia edged forward. Simon caught at her arm, fearing she didn’t realize how close to the barrier she had gotten. She fixed him with a resolute look.

“I can buy you time—andmytime is nearly done.” She shook off his hand and stepped over the salt line—and through the barrier.

Simon’s eyes widened, and he gasped, expecting the troll to tear the petite nun apart. Her lips were already moving with a curse as she crossed the perimeter, and whatever magic she wielded forced the troll back several feet. She alternated between English and Italian, hurling dark spells that ringed the creature with flames and covered its skin with boils.

We’re nearly to the end. Please don’t get killed.

Vic and Dan kept up their barrage, probably hoping that if Sister Cecilia’s magic weakened the troll their weapons might have more impact.

The troll’s supernatural healing couldn’t keep up with the attack, leaving him bleeding from ragged wounds that would have felled anything natural. Fury and hatred blazed in his eyes, and Simon knew the creature would fight until too incapacitated to strike back.

We’re in the home stretch. We’ve just got to hang in to the end.

The ghosts had returned, swarming around the troll and clawing at his arms and back. There were more spirits now, and Simon glimpsed what he guessed were ghosts of the escaped slaves. Their assault slowed the troll from returning to the warded line, but Simon knew they wouldn’t be able to hold him off for long.

Sister Cecilia cast a look over her shoulder, and Simon knew it meant goodbye.

No!He cried out wordlessly since he couldn’t stop the chant.

The nun threw her arms wide, ran into the troll’s space, and embraced the creature as she spoke a word of power and flames engulfed them both.

“Audios nos!” Simon and the others chanted loudly, their voices rising as one.

The troll vanished.

The creature left behind a burned place on the sand, the melted remnants of the net, and the charred body of Sister Cecilia among dozens of bullets and shell casings.

Simon managed to stay on his feet, although he swayed and stumbled. Vic was beside him in seconds, helping him stay upright. Father Anne had paled but remained strong enough to wave away assistance. The younger witches seemed less affected but still looked exhausted. Gabriella and Miss Eppie nodded to Simon to indicate that they were okay, although he thought they looked peaked.

They all looked stunned anguished at Sister Cecilia’s sacrifice. Gabriella and Miss Eppie spoke a blessing.

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