Page 130 of The Tribes of Magic
The ghostly form screamed too, and the door slammed shut.
One of the Apprentices tried to open it, but it was locked.
“What’s happening?”
“What’s doing this?”
“Sheis doing this!”
The Apprentices gawked at me.
“I’m not doing anything,” I told them. “It’s a ghost.”
“I don’t see a ghost!”
“You’re lying!”
“Sorcerers can’t see ghosts!”
“But Dreamweavers can!”
“And evil Polymages too!”
“Grab something and knock her out! That’ll stop whatever she’s doing!”
The ghost laughed, and a bunch of easels started swirling around like they were caught in a tornado.
“Nala, help! You have to stop her!”
“She’s trying to kill us!”
The ghost laughed again. A few of the easels shot out of the tornado, narrowly missing the Apprentices. They smashed into the wall, breaking into many wooden shards.
“This isn’t a ghost,” Nala said. “It’s a malevolent phantom.”
Oh, crap.
Nala grabbed a small paper square and started writing a rune on it with her magic pen. She didn’t get far. Before she could complete the rune, the phantom screamed, and the paper square burst into flames.
I rushed over to the chalkboard behind the desk and grabbed a piece of chalk off the tray. I didn’t get the chance to do anything with it. The phantom let out a terrifying shriek, then disappeared in a puff of smoke.
I slumped against the wall. “It’s gone.”
“No, it’s not.” Nala rushed to the window.
Everyone followed her. The window looked out upon the Hex. Orion was currently training a group of Apprentices on the grassy expanse. The floating phantom appeared directly beside the Dreamweaver mentor and unleashed an inhuman shriek directly into his ear. Orion’s eyes rolled back, and he fell to the ground.
Nala was already at the door. She got it unlocked, then she was sprinting into the hall. I ran after her, and the otherApprentices followed behind me. When we burst outside, onto the Hex, Orion’s Apprentices were all gathered around him, trying to wake him. He stirred, groaning and clutching his head.
Nala helped him to his feet. “Are you all right?”
“I’m fine.”
Nala’s stony gaze tracked the phantom, which was floating to and fro, in hectic, agitated movements. She drew her long spear.
“The phantom isn’t the problem.Theyare.” Orion pointed at the wide stone archway at the other end of the field.
Another savage shriek cut through the Hex, but it hadn’t come from the phantom. It had come from the Cursed One coming through the arch. Others followed, dozens of Cursed Ones, staggering toward us like drunken zombies. Their eyes burned. Saliva dripped from their lips.
