Page 82 of Monster's Mystery

I focused first on Aiden, trying to see past the flames to the magic within him, to see if any of it was tied to this spell.

His magic was all safely within his skin.

My attention shifted to the statue, because it was changing. It was subtle at first, but the fading of the gray stone soon was visible to everyone in the room.

Bruce’s cry of relief was the only sound beyond the cracking of fire. “Keep going!” he shouted.

I couldn’t stop the grin from forming on my face. It was working!

Suddenly, Hazel’s grip on my hand tightened convulsively. “Something’s wrong!” she cried, her free hand flying to her mouth. She gagged. “No!” She let go of me to wave her hands in the air, magic flowing from her to each of the beasts.

I couldn’t cast the shield spell until Hazel’s magic reached them, or the link between the beast and fruit wouldn’t be severed. “What’s going on?” I asked anxiously.

“The fruit... It’s evolving,” she gasped. “I didn’t anticipate this!”

“I can feel our bond!” Bruce shouted. “It’s weak, but she’s there! I can feel her! Please, don’t stop this now! I don’t know what will happen to her if we stop now.” His voice broke on the last word, and my throat swelled with tears.

I squinted harder at Aiden, double and triple checking for any drain on his soul. “Are you feeling any different?” I asked him.

“It’s tiring, holding this level of flame, but I’m fine,” Aiden replied slowly, sweat beading on his brow.

I scrutinized the other eleven, and they seemed to be in a similar state as Aiden, but no worse for it.

“Whatever the fruit is doing, it doesn’t look like it’s affecting them negatively,” I told Hazel. “Hold on.”

Hazel clenched her hands into fists, and I saw the magic halt, hovering over the heads of the twelve. “I’m not sure how long I can wait,” she said, breathing hard.

“You’re doing an amazing job,” I reassured her. I put my hand on her shoulder, lending her my strength. “Why do you think that the fruit evolving is a bad thing?”

“You know how I feel on a boat? It’s like that,” she said.

“But I’m fine on a boat,” I pointed out. “And you turn out just fine as well.”

“It’s unnatural,” she argued. “Dryads don’t belong on water.”

“And we’re turning rock into flesh,” I countered. “That’s as unnatural as it comes.”

Hazel relaxed a fraction, her tense muscles loosening under my fingers. “That’s true.”

“I’m not telling you that your instincts are wrong. Just urging you not to panic. Yet.” I winked at her. “Thank you for keeping them safe.”

“I’m glad you’re here,” she replied.

The statue was almost in full color by now, Clarissa still looking pale and unmoving.

“Come on, my love,” Bruce repeated over and over. “Breathe!”

“The fruit has almost completely changed,” Hazel announced.

I refocused my attention on Aiden, but everything was normal. Comparatively.

As if a switch had been flipped, everyone’s fire went out.

I blinked, the room seeming dim after the brightness of the fire. I could see everyone’s soul burning.

Everyone’s except Clarissa’s.

“No!” screamed Bruce, running into the center of the circle, pushing two beasts aside to get to his wife. He caressed her face gently. “I’m sorry, my love.” He pressed his lips gently to hers.

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