Page 37 of King Elijah (The Zemiran Chronicles 2)

Nalla jumped forward, sidestepping the dark creature as it slithered between them. The mere movements from the shadow wracked utter fear through his body. He took a long, shallow breath, feeling his heartbeat thud, but remained steady.

The shadow moved so fast, like a wild beast, causing both horses to rear back, Valkanon’s horse kicking up his front legs.

In a blink, it rushed by them again. That time, a cold chill shivered over Aiden’s skin that wasn’t from the elements. The shadow hovered longer near the path as if it watched and observed its new prey, slithering along the trail. After a second, it blended into the snow, disappearing within the vast forest.

“We’re slipping, Aiden!” Valkanon cried as his horse bucked again against the sleek ice.

Aiden turned just in time to see Valkanon’s horse hit the ground hard, one leg snapping at the knee and sounding like the crack of a tree falling. His friend was jerked forward, thrown over his horse’s head, and hit the ground with a cry. The force of the impact threw Valkanon close to the edge of the trail.

“Valkanon!” he shouted.

The path is narrower now, he thought, panicking. He’s going over the edge.

Suddenly, the shadow moved again. That time, Aiden saw something that caused every hair on his pale skin to stand straight. It was no longer a black, translucent aura, but its form knitted together into a large body with scale-like wings behind it. The monster reached out, clawing at the elf’s chest with its bright red eyes bearing into him.

One more glint of those eerie eyes shone in the darkness before the creature disappeared within the trees near the steep, white cliff.

“What the fuck?” Aiden said, looking for Valkanon, but instead saw his wounded horse thrashing, trying to ride itself. Aiden jumped off Nalla, running to his friend’s aid, but Valkanon was caught on a rock, hanging dangerously over the cliff’s edge. One of the horse’s legs clipped the thick mud that was holding Valkanon in place, and then they were both slipping, falling down the cliff.

“No!” Aiden shouted, diving forward.

Valkanon’s horse plummeted, disappearing into the trees below with a cry that was cut short. Aiden watched Valkanon slip further, his arm stretched forward, reaching out to capture his wrist.

Aiden gripped tightly to his friend, but he was too heavy. He was slipping down the icy mud as well. Valkanon’s legs kicked frantically, causing Aiden to struggle to hold on.

“You need to stop moving so I can pull you up!” Aiden slid forward, his chest hanging in empty air. He was going down with him.

As he attempted to grip both hands around Valkanon’s wrist, the shadow moved swiftly again, hovering over the Elven warriors. Aiden felt the creature at his back, rough prickles traveling up his neck like sharp thorns.

Power vibrated against Aiden’s chest, the magical light pulling from his body. He fought it with everything he had, feeling his power waning with every moment the creature latched on to him.

Valkanon blinked, and Aiden watched a tear roll down his cheek.

“Fight it with your father’s sword, Aiden,” Valkanon said, trying to pry Aiden’s fingers from his wrist. “Let me fall so you can fight it!”

Aiden edged closer to the cliffside, gripping a rock to avoid sliding down with him.

He shook his head, feeling his own life pass before his eyes as magic drained from him. Valkanon wrapped his fingers over Aiden’s hand, digging his nails into his skin.

“Don’t, Valkanon,” Aiden pleaded desperately. “I can save you. Stop digging into my fingers.”

Time stood still, his friend’s eyes growing dim as if he had lost the fight in them.

Valkanon shook his head and whispered, “Fight it, Aiden. Fight it and save your sister’s life.”

With one kick off the cliffside, Valkanon’s wrist tore free from Aiden’s grip.

Valkanon was quiet as he fell. Aiden felt like he was in a dream; one minute, his friend’s wrist was in his hand, and the next, he was gone. It happened so fast, and the only evidence was the echo of a faint cry when Valkanon hit the trees. Aiden knew that it was a sound that would haunt him for the rest of his life.

He let out a pained scream and slammed his fist onto an ice-covered rock, splitting his skin at his knuckles. His body welcomed the pain as punishment for letting his friend fall. For allowing Valkanon to follow him to Myloria in the first place. As the searing pain pulsated on his hand, the haunting sense of danger once again lurked behind him. He flipped around, throwing his hands out and releasing his light as the shadow came crashing down on him.

He felt pure rage rushing through his veins, hurling him toward the monster. It was less translucent now, almost a solid form. It reached out toward Aiden with a malicious howl, but the elf released his magic just as it grabbed him. It hit the creature in a wave, making it shriek so loudly that the snow cracked on the mountain top, falling down the trail.

It let go, dropping Aiden down on his back. After clambering to his feet, he swiped up his sword from the snow and charged forward—wielding his sword in one hand and his power in the other. He swung his sword down with one slice through the darkness, hitting the snow beneath. The cries from the beast rang out, shaking the mountain until the ground cracked beneath Aiden’s feet and snow fell from the trees. The creature shifted back into a mist-like form and fled into the forest.

Aiden kept his sword out front, feeling the burn at his palms, ready to attack if it came back. When he no longer felt its presence, when he finally felt the crisp, thin air again, he fell to his knees and wept for his friend he couldn’t save.

Heavy, painful grief filled his heart as he stared down at where his friend had fallen. He attempted to simmer the adrenaline surging through him while heavy tears poured down his cheeks.

Aiden withdrew his sword, keeping it flush with his hip for a beat before dropping it at the side of the mountain. He dragged himself back until he hit the rocks. Aiden lowered his head between his knees, his long hair draping over his legs.

How could the crew be so foolish as to let something like that into our world? he thought.

What Janelle shared about the Shadow Creature, and what Elijah had seen in her dreams, was nothing like what he had just witnessed. That shadow was the first monster that had truly terrified him, and it would come back for his magic.

I’m never going to make it, he wept bitterly. I’m going to die before I reach shelter.

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