Page 62 of Of Withering Dreams
“Those idiots. They’re making too much noise,” Kaden snarled, sweat gathering on his brow.
Rhaegar stepped forward, his sword rising. “They are, indeed. Whatever is protecting the orchid will surely find?—”
All at once, several people collapsed, slicing a jagged line down the center of the throng. As they disappeared under the towering plants, screams of terror rent the air. Horrified cries and gasps tore from those nearest to the fallen, heads whipping this way and that, as if something was brushing past them, bending and cracking the shoots sharply as it went.
Sebille raised her sword, preparing to charge forward. Her three team members froze, one dropping his weapon and the other two shaking their heads and then fleeing back into the forest. She screeched, “You cowardly mouth-breathers!” at them before rushing into the fray. The third man stiffened, petrified where he stood next to his dropped blade.
“Let’s go. Skirt around the edges while it’s distracted,” Rhaegar commanded. “Slow and steady. Quietly as you can.”
We followed him, gently moving, nudging stalks out of our way, eyes glued to the group on the other side. People were still flailing.
Crumpling.
Shrieking.
Stabbing at whatever was attacking them.
A hazy, twinkling cloud of cinder billowed around the mass of our opponents as their astral bodies were destroyed. Banished to the Stygian Murk.
My pulse thrashed within my chest, and I felt it—everywhere.
My neck, my temples. My scar. Wrists. Under the skin of my ring. It was as if I were made of a single, giant muscle whose only purpose was to pound a hole into the earth.
The screaming ceased all at once as the cinder dimmed, its dust sprinkling over a still meadow.
“Bloody void,” Kaden swore.
As I gulped and then sucked in a deep lungful of air, the toe of my boot stepped into a deep crevice. My body flew forward, and I yelped. Across the meadow, I glimpsed the flowers as they trembled, the ash being tossed off the petals.
Rapidly, I fell, and my aura skittered over me as my hands flew out to break the impact, my dagger still clutched in my palm.
It was as if time unraveled—my descent in slow motion. My ember zipped over my arms, the branch-like patterns glowing over them. The tourmaline ring burned as if it was branding itself onto my finger.
My eyes squeezed tight. And then, as I nearly slammed into the ground, a bright snap of light burst and engulfed me.
I was an orb, condensing and twisting and churning, with a body made of fractured rainbows and mist—splitting through time and place. My mind tore apart. Through a coiling tunnel of flashing colors and radiant streaks, my being hurtled.
With another burst of brightness, my form plopped onto solid ground.
I gagged, not able to get enough air, but then wheezed, breath tearing through my throat. Coughing, I rolled onto my hip and then liberated the boiling sick within my gut. I wiped my mouth with my trembling hand, glaring at the sculpted ring as it cooled, my aura shivering and sinking within me.
The neon flowers loomed over me, mocking me with their swaying splendor. I threw my hand down and met an unyielding, smooth surface. I gasped, scooting away from whatever I had smacked.
My brows furrowed as I beheld a sizable golden egg. It gleamed in the shifting rays sneaking through the heads of the flowers.It must belong to the beast, I thought, frantically listening for any sounds approaching. Only the whishing of leaves met me.
Sheathing my dagger, I slowly stood, my guts still roiling from—what? Transporting through time and space?
Oh, my fucking Ancients.
My shoulders stooped as I peeked over, scanning my surroundings. Kaden, Breena, and Rhaegar were across the vast field. The ring had transported me to the opposite side, near the cliff’s brink, where the meshed Larkin brothers had fallen in my dream. Which meant I might be near the orchid.
My eyes were drawn to the clearing between us as the stalks separated in a swerving line, the flora trembling and swishing as the orchid’s protector scraped past them.
Without much thought, I whimpered, scooping up the gilded egg. It was warm as I wrapped both arms around it, hands clasping on opposite wrists.
I dashed toward the exposed, glossy stone ledge, hollering loudly as I ran, “Over here! Look what I have! Come on, you fiend!”
My team waved their arms frantically, and I suspected they were cussing and cursing me to the Nether Void for what I was doing. I didn’t let that stop me, though.
