Page 5 of Fallen Star

No time to think.

I snap back into my body, the world spinning as my consciousness slams home.

I open my eyes and force myself to sit up.

The shadow creature is a few feet away. It’s like black smoke given physical shape, with red eyes and dozens of sharp teeth.

Not good.

I jump to my feet, grabbing my dagger and positioning myself between the shadow creature and Zoey.

The edges of its body ripple and pulse like a heartbeat.

Then, it lunges.

I dive to the side, slashing with my blade.

But the shadow monster is faster. It moves around my strike, those red eyes fixed on me with terrifying intelligence. And since I’m no longer in my projected form, Icanget injured now.

The shadow monster comes at me again, faster this time.

I dodge out of the way, but it gets close enough that its cold aura brushes over my skin as it passes me and heads to Zoey.

No.

I reach for my magic, gather the humidity in the air, and blast the monster with water as hard as I can.

The shadow monster is unphased.

More,I think, and I throw my air magic behind the water, turning the droplets into pellets that make the shadow monster flinch and twitch with each shot fired. More, and more, and more, until it’s seizing up like a person being attacked by an assault rifle.

One final blast, and it’s down.

With no time to waste, I launch myself at it with so much power that it’s like I’m flying, and drive my dagger through its heart.

The monster’s otherworldly screech makes my ears ring.

I’m staring straight into its eyes as its form wavers, the shadows disappearing like mist in the wind, leaving nothing behind but a dark blackish stain in the snow.

Something thuds behind me, and I spin around, unable to take even a second to relish in my victory.

The branch monster is climbing down the tree’s trunk, ungracefully thunking into branches, thanks to the multiple wounds I inflicted on it.

It’s slower than before, but its eyes are fixed on me with murderous intent.

I could keep fighting it. Finish it off while it’s wounded.

But Zoey’s just as vulnerable as ever.

What if there’s another shadow monster close by? Or another branch monster?

I can’t risk it. Not again.

So, I scoop up Zoey and run, calling on the wind to make us lighter, faster.

Snow sprays up behind us as I sprint through the trees, searching desperately for the landmarks Riven described.

What’s next?

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