Page 49 of The Spark that Ignites
The gold dimmed and eyes shrivelled until only hollow sockets remained. The monstrous face was black as a shadow, depthless as the obsidian spring waters.
With inhuman strength, the monster’s hands clamped around Emmery’s throat and she inhaled water. Sputtering, her fingers clawed the monster’s hold digging into her windpipe—
Its feral screech held no hint of humanity. Emmery thrashed but its unceasing grip was too strong. Those empty eye sockets bore into her—relishing the kill—as her vision blurred. The monster’s edges smudged but the skeletal black smile permanently seared into her mind.
Emmery’s frantic hands fumbled for her dagger. Every wasted second ticked by as the air left her lungs. Consciousness faded and shadows bordered her vision.
With a taunting finger, the surface beckoned, but there was no way to reach it.
She was too far away, and failure loomed closer.
Instead of fear, she leaned into the simmering rage flooding her veins.
She didn’t come this far to die in this stupid trial. Shewouldwin this.
With every remaining scrap of strength, Emmery grasped the dagger’s hilt. Her hands shook as she plunged it under the monster’s ribs, penetrating its heart. At least if it had one. She gave a twist for good measure.
The monster’s face flared. Its grip on her throat faltered and its horrible smile fell. Black blood clouded the ocean as she yanked her dagger free. Emmery flailed away, but the monster burst into a thousand obsidian bubbles, and the force knocked her back.
Blinded, she spun through the water, the magnetic blackness drawn to her. She inhaled the darkness. It consumed yet fed every pore of her being. Itbecameher.
Emmery heaved, her chest caving—
Invisible hands launched her upward and she disconnected from the trial, the force shoving her from her mind. Emmery’s back struck the surface as she tumbled into consciousness, water cascading from her lips. Bile and metal flooded her mouth.
She retched, her chest burning with each ragged inhale.
But she wasalive. At least for now.
Vesper shook her, his hair dripping on her face, hands crushing her ribs as more water lodged from her lungs. She dragged her eyes open and locked with his wild gaze, but her eyelids were too heavy, her limbs too far away.
He said something, his voice frantic, hoarse, but she couldn’t decipher it over the ringing in her ears.
Vesper’s laboured breaths filled the air as the world fell away again.
SOMEONE CALLED HERname. Again. Her body shook. Consciousness seeped in. Sank into her flesh. And she lingered ... somewhere just outside of it. But she touched it, grazed it, and—
Knocked back into her body with a cataclysmic force, Emmery gasped and folded uselessly like a rag doll.
Every muscle ached. She slivered an eyelid to find Vesper’s face looming over hers and propped herself on her elbows with great effort. Taking her first deep breath, Emmery cleared her throat and pushed her hair aside. A hoarse cough slipped free. It burned. Fuck, she felt awful but simultaneously good.
Vesper stared with fire in his eyes. Of all things was heangry?
“Why are you staring at me?” she managed, the words wheezing out.
Vesper handed her a canteen and helped her sit with a broad hand on her back.
She gulped half the water before her stomach rolled. Without warning, Emmery leaned over, and black inky water spewed from her mouth, her body violently tightening and uncoiling. She groaned, waiting for another wave but it didn’t come.
Running a hand over the back of her mouth, she immediately felt better, but the canteen slipped from her fingers when she caught sight of her hand.
Gold. The shimmer encasing her skin was gold.
“Did I—?” she croaked, her voice rough like she’d snacked on gravel.
Vesper gave a nod. “You passed.”
She should be relieved but all she could focus on was the crackling fire, the shadows of nightfall hovering around the sheltering trees.
