Page 68 of Rebel Spell
“Are you okay?” I asked.
She glanced down at her restrained body. “Yes, I think so.”
Once she was free, she hugged me. We then turned to Andre.
He burst through the haze with an explosion of vapor that rained over us. Diego stepped before us, spreading his arms as if trying to shield us. We ducked and covered our heads. When the cascade of air caressed our skin, it was cool, not harmful.
Andre roared and raised his hand at the three of us huddled together. Blue electric lightning fired from his fingertips.
“No.” I raised my hand and pictured a shield. The blue bolts appeared to hit something and then stopped.
Andre’s eyes widened as he stared at me. He lowered his hand and his face contorted with anger. He powered toward me, raising his arm again as if preparing to clench my throat.
This time I was ready. I opened my palm and chanted,Wind and fire,take him higher.
A gust of wind swooped in and circled around Andre, capturing him in a funnel. The swirl of vapors rose, and as they did, their color intensified. Pale colors darkened to fiery red, orange, yellow, and blue. He bellowed and rage contorted his features, but the winds stifled the sound. He struggled to get out of the tornado rising around him, but it lifted him off the ground.
“Whoa,” Diego uttered, hushed amazement in his tone.
“What in the world did you do?” Gianna asked.
I couldn’t reply, fascinated by what unfolded with Andre. Plus, what could I say?
Finally, part of one of the spells I’d practiced came to me—one to banish evil.
I gathered energy from deep inside myself before I projected it forward, using the wand as a focal point. “Relinquo!”
The funneling mist appeared to slow and harden around Andre. As it did, the fiery colors faded.
And so did he.
His body appeared to lose substance as he turned translucent, mirroring the vapor surrounding him, which now looked more like ice.
The ice splintered, forming cracks. His mouth opened as a howl came out, but it was cut short as his body froze and faded.
“It’s only just begun.” His voice was little more than a hoarse whisper.
Andre and his magical prison shattered with the sound of breaking glass.
I ducked. Diego jumped on top of me and Gianna, shielding as much of our bodies as he could with his. The surrounding air seemed palpable with energy before it exploded, and thousands of tiny fragments rained down. The freezing pebbles pummeled us.
Countless seconds passed before the explosion was over. I peeked out from under my hands. Frigid fog hovered as if we were in a steam room.
“Are you okay?” Diego pulled himself to stand and helped us up.
I blinked and then scanned myself. Aside from a few scrapes on my hands, everything appeared to be intact. My jeans and jacket provided some coverage. “Yeah, you guys?” I stared at them both.
“Fine,” Diego replied, despite the cuts on his face. At least, they appeared superficial.
“Think so,” Gianna said. She appeared dazed, but as flawless as always.
“Is he gone?” I asked, not sure I could believe it.
“Looks like it.” Diego nodded with approval, and then a glimmer of wonder flashed in his eyes. “You did good, Nova. Real good.”
I threw my arms around him. “I’m so glad you’re here.”
He gave me a one-sided grin. “Good. I thought you might chew my head off for following you.”
