Page 78 of The Sins of Silas

“Roland!” I cried, shoving him back just as the woman shot an orb of darkness at us—the magic of the Undead. I lifted my hands in an X, grunting as I blocked the move successfully.

There were three of them and one of me.

I can do this.

“Go! Get out of here!” I yelled at Roland over my shoulder, flame creeping up both of my arms.

“I’m not leaving you!” he protested.

Another orb shot forward, and I crossed my arms again, sending the orb back before unleashing my flame toward her. The two others stood with their arms behind their backs.

“Get back up! NOW!”

Roland hesitated, swore, and then bolted out of the room, my flames distracting the creatures enough to allow him out.

My fire began inching up the tent fabric. I cursed, shooting ice over to extinguish the flames.

I need to get us out of this room.

As I went to charge toward them, one of the men raised his arm, and a loud shrieking filled my ears. My brain pounded hard, and I cried out, reaching for my head at the shrill noise and the agonizing pain.

Despite the hurt, I ran forward, flame engulfing my skin. The creatures retreated, scrambling out of the room once they detected my persistence.

That's when I heard the screaming. People were witnessing me enveloped in fire, chasing three bodies that seemed to others like normal people.

People evaded me, and I nearly tripped over my steps in these damn heeled boots, pursuing the figures out of the Adult-Only tent and out into the main area.

I bellowed once we made it out, shooting a bolt of fire out at the female's head. I heard her mask crack once she crashed into the ground. Children around me screamed, their parents holding on to them, gaping at me in terror. The show on stage came to an abrupt halt, the music ceasing.

But their fear shifted the moment the creature stood, her mask now falling free from her face. When she turned to me, my eyes blew wide, a shaky gasp leaving my lungs.

Heildee. Elowen's mother.

She didn't look like a normal Undead…no. Her eyes were solid black. Dark, inky veins covered her face. But she wasn't decaying like those I'd seen before. A symbol was etched into her forehead, presumably by a blade of some sort.

Or by magic.

The symbol was a pentagram with what appeared to be a spider atop it. However, because of the overlap in design, it appeared more like a skull.

A sinister smile took over her face. “Hello, Supreme of Ames,” she greeted, her voice hers…and someone else’s. A man.

An Undead wastalking.

“Lena!” I heard Silas yell, but I couldn't turn. I couldn't risk any of them moving a muscle.

Her solid black stare shifted behind me, and the two men behind her followed suit. “The Prince of Otacia…the disgrace of his kingdom.” Her smile grew unnaturally wide. “I shall enjoy eradicating you.”

“What's going on?!” I heard Leroy yell.

“Mother?” Elowen cried.

Heildee glanced at her daughter, no emotion registering on her face.

She looked back at me. “Or, should I say,hewill enjoy eradicating you,” Heildee said, pointing.

That's when I turned, witnessing a fourth one of them, watching helplessly as the creature raised his hand at Silas.

No.

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