Page 77 of In the Dark

“You’re making a mistake,” Aisanna said firmly. She shot a look at Astix, who nodded and retrieved the book from her pouch.

“I don’t think so.” Karsia took a moment to laugh and stared at them with pity. “Look at you three. All alone and thinking you can take on whatever comes at you with your weak magic. You couldn’t hurt a fly with your abilities. Never mind what’s in your book.” She jerked her shoulder. “That’s why you are staying here, and I am out.”

“No. You are going to stay and let us help you.” Morgan felt drawn forward.

“You don’t seem to understand, so I’ll repeat it again. Slowly. You stay, me go. Got it?”

“You’re making a mistake,” Astix repeated.

“The only mistake I made was not using my gifts sooner. Why I didn’t for so long I don’t know.” Karsia lifted her palm and watched the shadows dance above her skin. “I held back for nothing.” She clenched her fist and the shadows vanished.

“That’s not true. You’ve lost sight of who you are,” Astix stated.

It was too similar to Aisanna, the words her sister spoke sounding more and more similar to Darkness. The original, who’d had them cornered in this exact place with the stone, sharing the same moonlight.

It was as if she’d never left the cave where they first faced off, with a name to go with the presence. In a way they never had. The fear was absolute, all-encompassing. She stood there with her body and mind and soul stilling under the absolute certainty: They were going to die if they lost Karsia.

“I know exactly who I am.” Karsia tossed her head as another voice imposed itself over her own. One achingly familiar. The voice from their nightmares. Awful and utterly inhuman. “I’m walking out of here and I’m taking the car. Good luck finding your way to town without me. If you don’t freeze to death before then.” She pouted for show.

Morgan felt a prickling on the back of his neck. Karsia was glowing, her body and face illuminated in a faint aura of light that glowed black at the edges.

“You’re not serious.”

“I don’t know how many times I must explain it to you.”

“No need to explain. You’re staying.”

“Not with you, buddy.” She waved her hand, moving fast, and the three of them flew backward toward the cavern wall. Her laugh was terrible. Mocking. Grotesque.

Morgan tried the invisible hold, wiggling wildly, and found it unbreakable. At first. A few seconds of meddling and he found a chink in her spell.

With a heave, he threw off the heft of her demand. “I’m done with the blather. I know this isn’t you talking, Karsia. Let me fix this.” He strode forward with fingertips outstretched.

Karsia skidded away and crouched defensively. A low growl began in the back of her throat and she curled her lip. “No, you don’t. You aren’t sending me into dreams again. Kiss my ass.”

Morgan sucked in a sharp breath. “I’d be glad to if you were in your right mind.” Faster than she could react, he reached out and wrapped his hand around her wrist, ready to immobilize. “Now, if you don’t mind—”

Karsia retaliated swiftly, raising her shoulder and blocking his advance with her forearm. She bent at the waist and kicked Morgan in his abdomen. He grunted and braced his legs. Mouth open wide in a smile, she ducked and rolled out of the way, jumping to her feet with little effort.

Fists clenched, she made a show of strength to let them know she would follow through on what she promised to do. “You want to dance, Professor, be my guest. I’ll give you the fight you want.” She snarled and lunged at him. The cavern walls rumbled as the strength of her power reached outward. Long cracks appeared and limestone dust littered the air.

Without thinking, Morgan lunged forward with his arm outstretched. Karsia easily parried his blow. He whipped around, twisting at the last moment and attempting to catch her on the side. The solid smack of flesh meeting flesh resounded through the cavern.

“Try harder!” she goaded him, eyes gleaming.

Her arms moved in a blur and there was a burst of pain on the side of Morgan’s head. He collapsed against the nearest column and stared at her, dazed.

She clucked her tongue. “Is that the best you’ve got?”

She still looked human. Nearly. In this range, in this light, she was closer to an animal. Growling and reeking of rogue magic.

This couldn’t be the finale. He refused to let it end tonight.

Gathering his thoughts, Morgan charged her headfirst, a deafening yowl tearing from him. She paused in surprise. Then swung around contemptuously.

He ducked past her. Tensed his knees and leaped, sailing over her head, landing on the balls of his feet behind her. When Karsia swiveled to meet him, Morgan disappeared and re-materialized right in front of her face.

“Boo.”

He caught the final look of surprise, of furious shock, before he smacked her with the palm of his hand directly in the center of her forehead with enough force to send her flying.

She landed in a heap against the nearest wall. Furious and shaking, she scrambled to her feet and held her arms at the ready. A flash of light, and her retribution cut across the space separating them with a crack of thunder.

Morgan spiraled, his form blurring, senses sharpening.

“You won’t take me!” she screamed at the empty air, her attention completely focused on locating her invisible attacker. “I won’t let you!”

“I’m sorry.”

The voice whispered like a lover in her ear a split second before his magic took her under. And the world faded around them.

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