Page 87 of Dead Wolf Walking (Bad Moon Academy 1)
It’s never a good sign to show your weaknesses.
We should leave.
Oh, how very observant of you,I say to Joan, failing to keep the bite from my mental voice.
One of the side doors slams open, bringing a rush of air and dim light with it. The floor illuminates, and I gasp, jumping back a step when I see the tentacles of darkness straining toward me. They lash back and forth, chasing after me. It’s almost like they’re racing to see who will catch me first.
They continue toward me. It doesn’t matter how many steps I take away from them. They reach for me all the same. Some of the shadow tentacles merge, creating a larger, longer shape I have to scurry away from before it can wrap around my ankle. Fear paralyzes me and chills race down my spine. It’s trying to take me.
Are we going to die?Joan asks, seeming unbothered by the attacking ghost.
No! I won’t let a fucking spirit win.I stumble slightly when I jump onto the stage, slowing enough that one creepy shadow coils around my ankle. My head throbs with a sudden onslaught of pain and a snake-like voice hisses in my head. Kicking at it with my other foot, I pant and groan in frustration.
I’m going to shift, you obviously need help,Joan says, concern coloring her words.
No, I don’t know how to use my medium powers in wolf form. If this is a ghost of some sort, I have to have access.
Very well, don’t die.If I believed she was worried about me, I’d be touched, but I’m more than certain she doesn’t want me to die because she’d die as well.
The darkness tightens around my leg, and I bend over to try and rip it off, only to be pulled forward. My body heaves back, and before I can catch my balance, I slam into the stage. Air rushes from my lungs. It drags me along to the edge, and my body thuds onto the dancefloor. The impact makes my tailbone sing with pain.
That’s it, now I’m mad.
Mom always cautioned against this type of power, but I can’t very well let it drag me off into whatever demented realm it’s trying to take me to.
Using the pain to focus, I reach into the depths of my being, strum the strings of Death’s guitar, and yank my necromantic powers from his hands. A vile darkness swoops over me and ichor fills my veins. My fingers tingle with the strange power, and I grit my teeth to maintain my grip. Placing my hands over the dark tendril, I shove all of that strength into it, reaching for the tattered remains of its life thread.
A blanket of black covers me, and I trudge through the dark. There off in the distance, barely a speck, is a light.
What is that? What are you doing?Joan asks, panic coloring her words.
The soul.
Living or dead, they’re all the same. The souls of the dead are harder to get to, though. For a good reason too. Once the bodies cease living and begin to rot, the brain decays, preventing any successful reviving.
A day or two after death, I might be able to reanimate someone for a short while. Much after that, though, is playing with wildfire. Lose control of the soul and you’ll fucking regret it because the world will suffer. If you do manage to bring the poor creature back from the afterlife, well, they’re nothing but a shell. I’ve only seen one in real life, and it tore my mother apart. It nearly did the same to me as well.
My feet are leaden, but I force myself to continue moving through the muck standing between me and this soul. I’ve never done this myself, so I don’t know what to expect. The soul shining in the distance is a good sign, right?
Raven, stop.
I’m almost there,I say, fighting a gasp when my chest pangs.
You have to stop.
I’m mid-step when my lungs seize and all the oxygen is sucked from my body.
What the fuck?
Raven, let go!
With a nod, I open my palms, releasing my hold on the shadow creature, but nothing changes. My body is screaming for air. I can’t take a breath.
I’m shifting.It’s all the warning she gives me before she takes control.
We land on the dusty wood floor. Our paws slip slightly on the filth, but she’s in control and finds our balance.
I try to say something to her, to let her know we’re okay and she got us out of there, but I don’t have the energy. My heart is beating slowly, which means hers must be too. She takes a step, but it’s sloppy, and our knees buckle. Using the last of our strength, she keeps us from banging to the floor.
