Page 84 of Of Blooming Embers
She, Marek, and Kaden, flung what power they could muster atoncoming reapers. It didn’t stop the monsters, but it made them pause, giving us precious seconds.
Nerves buzzed along my spine, my eyes darting as we ran. My thumb brushed against the cool tourmaline of my ring. There were only so many minutes to spare. I could give everyone else more.
I glanced at Gavrel to my right. Dark strands flopped over his forehead, some sticking, others bouncing as we moved. It made him look charming and youthful. He was going to be so pissed off. But it couldn’t be helped.
Narrowing his eyes as they met mine, dread already coated his irises as if he knew what I was about to do. I wondered what my tell was.
“I’ll meet you there,” I rasped. “Promise.” He shook his head, reaching for me, but I didn’t wait as my thumb ran across my ring. My eyes locked on the cleared space to our left.
His frantic shout evaporated as my body splintered and stretched, the ring burning into my flesh. I concentrated on my destination as my physical and astral forms split and merged and twisted and churned through time and space. Shattered, iridescent streaks followed me through the coiling path. I was a prism.
Nothing.
Everything.
Color, light, and time—all at once and not at all.
Seconds later, I stumbled from the burst of light, arms circling as I righted myself before I smashed into an unsuspecting trio of reapers. My heels dug into the stone as I backed away, glancing around. There, on my side, was another opening.
Again, I transported, missing globes and ghouls by a finger’s breadth. An exhale whooshed from me, and sweat stuck to my back as I retreated.
Melina called out my name tauntingly once more. Stiffening my frame, I clenched my fists. “If you want to chat. Come find me!” My shout reverberated and blended with her responding titter, closer now.
I zipped to another location, provoking her, calling her name. Andanother and another in short bursts. Only traveling to spaces that appeared to offer at least a partially safe landing.
“Now, now, pet.” A flash of white rushed at me and blew loosened curls back from my cheeks. “Enough games,” Melina hissed as she materialized in front of me.
I jerked away, my mouth contorting, my ember burning over my limbs. Her face slackened, lips parting slightly. I couldn’t tell if it was curiosity or fear.
Both.
I didn’t care.
“This time I agree, Melina.Enough games,” I sneered, thrusting my glowing hands toward her, mustering a small orb of power between my palms, and slamming it into her chest. Stunned, she staggered back, nearly knocking over a reaper who turned slowly toward her, veil flowing upward.
In a blink, I whisked away from her, my ring’s ember carrying me. With each landing, I yelled for my friends. For Gavrel. At last, I heard my name—a fragile sound—and I followed it like a prayer answered, while Melina’s furious cry pursued me.
Light broke through the shadows just as my stamina was about to give out, and with a final push, I transported to them, hoping I didn’t meet any undead skeletons along the way. Gavrel’s arms locked around me, catching me before I toppled into the churning pool.
“Damn it, woman. It’s not right that I want to both kiss and slap you.” Breena grinned from the other side.
Gavrel released me, and I shook my head. “We don’t have time. Reprimand me later.”
His nostrils flared. In moments of frustration, Gavrel and his brother shared the same expression. Pinched and barely repressing the indignation bubbling under the surface. Ignoring them both, I breathed in, calming the frenetic energy still sizzling inside me as I stepped to the edge.
Without further comment, everyone formed a circle around the basin with me. The reapers stalked around us, an agitated halo of shadow and bone.
Marek and I glanced at each other. I knew he felt the tug within his stomach, as if the molten silver had hooked its claws into us, urging us to sink into the unknown.
Once more, the tourmaline prickled against my left forefinger. I held my hand up, studying it as all our auras and rune tattoos flared.
Surrelia, the deep baritone pushed into my mind.
My eyelids closed; a neon image of the Reverie Weald flashed behind them, and my ring seared my skin, but it barely registered.
I held my hands in front of me, allowing my power to flow over my limbs, bidding it to mingle with the ring’s energy and craft some sort of escape like they had in Hallowed End. Hoping I had enough. My eyes opened, and the mist from the pool swirled like a maelstrom, lifting above the silver.
“Come now,” Melina’s voice skittered over my back. It was less an echo. Closer. “My patience is wearing thin.”
