Page 57 of Shadow Scorching

He darted to my side, so fast that the shadow man wasn’t prepared. Penn immediately sent a cloud of powder toward the shadow man, tossing an entire jar his way. The shadow man froze, unmoving, while Penn began to draw a complex pattern on the floor. But she must have miscalculated because the shadow man shook off the powder too early. He lunged for her and I raced forward, the tip of the blade out.

The energy weighed on my chest like a weight, and as I struck the shadow man with the blade, piercing deep, he turned to me. It was then that I saw what was behind those dark, veiled eyes. Twin skulls, searing white, rose out of his eye sockets.

Their threat hung in the air like smoke from a chain-smoker. They sailed toward me, mouths open as though they were screaming. But I heard nothing, except a deep vibration through my body that rattled me to the core.

I was suddenly falling in the center of a dark void. I started to panic and frantically searched for a place to rest my hands, but there was nothing to catch myself on. I could see neither top, nor bottom. Struggling, I flailed my arms and legs as I fell in slow motion.

Once again it felt like I was swimming through water. Somewhere, a faint light glimmered from within the tunnel I was in, but I couldn’t find the source of the illumination.

Am I going to fall forever? Will there be something to stop me? How fast am I falling?

All these thoughts and more raced through my head, but there was still no sound as I spiraled down. I tried to stretch out, to feel for the sides of the chasm, but there was nothing there. The harder I tried to edge my way to the side, the more I began to believe that I wasn’t falling, but instead, was suspended in air, frozen.

I tried to scream, but nothing came out of my throat. I gasped for air, but couldn’t tell if I was breathing. I couldn’t feel anything. It was like being in a sensory deprivation tank.

Did anybody know where I was? Did Lazenti and Penn even know I was gone? Or was this an illusion, trapping me within the depths of my mind? I forced myself to cling to the memory of who I was. But, deep within, my inner demon clawed at the corners, desperate to break through the fear that was holding me hostage.

Back, back, back,I thought.Please, don’t do this. I can’t even scream. Don’t come out now, please don’t.

Let me free, I can help you, she whispered back, the words forming in my mind.Free me, and I will free you from this place.

The offer was too strong. Even as I struggled to keep her chained, she began to break free. My anger began to swell, and my fury, as she struggled for control.

But before she could emerge, I heard a sound—it was like a popping, or maybe a puncture, and I jerked my attention away, looking for what caused the sound.

The next moment, I realized I was levitating, I was near the ceiling of the bedroom. The moment I realized that, I started to fall. Immediately, I called on the skill that Devon had taught me, and right before I crashed to the floor, I slowed, landing gently seconds later.

Lazenti was on his ass, across the room looking like he’d battled a force from hell. His clothes were ripped, his eyes were full on crimson, and he had a vicious stab wound in his arm. I knew this by the hilt of a dagger sticking out of his bicep. Penn was washing the marks off the floor with holy water, frantic to get the hardwoods clean.

“What happened?” I asked, my throat sore, as if I’d truly been screaming for hours.

“I sent the shadow man back to his own plane. Where did you go?” she asked.

“I don’t know, but I’m back now,” I said. “Lazenti, whose dagger is that?”

He stared at the hilt, disgust on his face. “I don’t know, but it wasn’t yours. Don’t worry about that.” He reached over, took the hilt, and yanked it out of his arm. “The shadow man stabbed me. And whatever those skull things were, they’re the ones that made you vanish.”

I slid back to a seated position. “Is the shadow man dead?”

“No, but he’s gone.” Penn smiled. “He’s been banished back to his realm. He won’t be able to return to this plane for a long time.”

Lazenti offered me a hand and I accepted, grateful for his help as he pulled me to my feet.

“All right,” Penn said. “Let’s get upstairs and clear that sucker out. I’m tired and I want this finished and over.”

As we headed for the stairs, I flashed back to wherever it was that the shadow man sent me. My inner demon had almost broken out. Now, I realized why Devon and Seton were correct. I had to gain control over her powers and integrate her into me. If I didn’t, the day would come when she’d break free, and this time there might not be anybody there to stop me from doing whatever she wanted.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

The others were still singingas we ascended the stairs, but their energy was flagging. I could feel them growing tired.

“They aren’t going to last much longer.” I turned to Penn. “Are you ready?”

She nodded. “Are you?”

“Yeah. Lazenti?”

“I’ve got your backs,” he said.

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