Page 11 of Dancing with Vipers and Shadows

Once they’re bound, I’m on my knees, and Azrael aids in getting Alaric on my back. Then Blair kneels next to me, and Azrael gets into position.

He takes a few breaths and whispers, “Bolunacia Le More Va Vuke.”

Compared to the immense weight on my back seconds earlier, I can barely feel anything weighing me down. It’s so nonexistent, I’m worried I wouldn’t realize if Alaric fell.

Before I can comment on it, golden vines swiftly wrap around my biceps and waist, strapping Alaric securely against me.

The culprit is Blair, who’s smiling when I give her an intrigued look.

“I have a strong feeling we’d drop their asses and not notice,” she concludes and rises up with me.

“I’d carry no remorse, but I would miss the chance of free lunch every day.”

“Food is more important than mortality,” Azrael complains. “You two are dangero— What the fuck?”

His swearing comment forces us to shift around so we can look behind us.

The sight is frightening.

If the suddenly eerie quietness isn’t enough to make us realize we were the only four standing here, the stillness of the students sends us into our plan.

Without comment, Blair and I turn away and begin to execute our plan. Going straight into a sprint, we seem to easily manage, the walls of bushes and roses blending while we focus on the gate that awaits our arrival.

“It’s as if they all became statues,” Azrael finally announces when two minutes have gone by. “But those behind us weren’t hit by the mist yet. Why were they frozen like that?”

“We have been protected by it,” I breathe while trying to time my breaths, so I don’t get winded too easily.

“You did something, Ophelia?” Blair asks, sounding breathless, but she’s still keeping up my pace. I decide to slow down just a smidge, which seems much appreciated by Blair from her expression of relief.

“Before we started, when I took that first step, I summoned a protective barrier. It mimics an aura of sorts, which is why I like it because people normally assume I’m showing off or something,” I reveal. “It’s something I’m used to doing entering any sort of combat that may invite unfair usage of magic. The aura I release must have been big enough to wrap the four of us in line formation. I didn’t think about it until now.

“When I used to train with my sister, I realized quickly how big her spells would be. They covered a lot of ground on purpose in hopes of getting rid of her target long before the battle had gotten to the good part. That’s why I’ve gotten used to always pushing out a protective chant in my mind. With years of experience, I don’t think about it. My body does it without paying mind to its execution.”

“Wow…” Azrael struggles to find words. “I can kind of see why you’ve already gotten accepted to this university.”

“Your praise is appreciated,” I breathe. “I also want breakfast for at least a week. Alaric’s heavy.”

“And you were going to carry his full weight,” Azrael acknowledges before he gasps. “Look ahead! I think that’s the loop!”

We follow his direction, glancing ahead to see a glint of gold floating through the air. It looks more like a ripple in the space, as if one push-through would tear away the illusion we’ve been plagued with as a trial.

“Ophelia! Hand!”

I’m moving my hand and placing it into Blair’s offered one, her entire body beginning to shimmer until her hand is like golden scales. It reminds me of snake skin, and it takes everything not to be distracted as her energy flows around my hand and begins to ignite a layer of black scales upon mine.

I grit my teeth and ignore how my energy is bubbling inside me at this unique sensation of power. My eyes return to the ripple that’s approaching us.

“Ready?!” Blair shouts. “Hold your breath!”

I take a deep breath, as does Blair, and I hope Azrael does something to ensure his brother’s nose is covered.

There’s no time to tell him otherwise because we crash right through the ripple of gold.

Only to be invited into the swarming warmth of thick darkness.

3

POOLS OF SHADOWS AND INK OF DESTINY

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