Page 90 of In the Dark

“What will you do?” She clutched the spear tighter, smiling wide until her cheeks threatened to crack. The tip of the light hung a hairsbreadth from the vague image of Karsia’s face in the ball, but she had no energy to fight, only to shrink from it. “What will you do?”

“Please, Ceci.” He tried once more. “Don’t force my hand. You know what will happen.” To make his point, he held his arms in front of him, palms inches apart, and waited.

She spared a single look at Karsia’s soul ball and then lifted her arm for the plunge. “Do it, then.” Her arm began its deadly descent.

“No!” Morgan shot forward, wings outstretched, to halt the downward momentum. Desperately hoping he would be in time. Vane brought his palms together with a booming clap and the world exploded in an instant.

Blinding white light emanated out from them, so bright Morgan swooped to the ground to shield his eyes before he realized what he’d done, his knees sinking into the mud as he ducked. Heat prickled along his skin as if the very air was burning.

Before he had a chance to process the sheer magnitude of the power Vane had unleashed, an agonized scream sounded, followed by a harsh command.

“Now, Morpheus!”

Morgan flicked his wings and shot into the sky. Abruptly changing his angle, he dove back toward the ground, with his horns pointed at the spot where Cecilia stood. Air whipped around him, faster and faster, until the tips of his horns burned from friction, coming to a halt only when they had buried into her flesh.

The screeching stopped abruptly. Temporarily. He used the interruption to grasp the flickering soul from her and cradle it to his chest.

Vane rushed forward, energy crackling around him. The ground rolled and fought against their nearness. Cecilia struggled to rise as her arm reached forward. Her face twisted in a snarl.

Morgan didn’t wait for a second chance and doubted he’d get one. Using every ounce of strength he had left, he hurtled toward consciousness, the tiny piece of what was left of Karsia sputtering and threatening to go out.

“Hold on, hold on.” Morgan pushed himself to his limits in an attempt to put distance between them. “Please, hold on. We’re almost there.”

He spared a look over his shoulder, good and evil locked together in an ageless dance. Forked lightning spiked and the great tree burst into flame. Fire raced along each tangled leaf, igniting everything it touched. Around them, the bayou shifted. Black water raced in and the two immortals prepared for the end.

Though it would be a fight for the ages—something he would most likely regret not witnessing and documenting—he flew on until his wings ached, and knew that no matter the victor, they would both go down.

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