Page 120 of Dancing with Vipers and Shadows

Can’t fix you when you’re dead.

“OPHELIA!” Asher and the others are screaming my way.

I dare look back by lowering my head farther back to see them racing toward me. The sight of them gives me a boost of energy because I push more magic into my arms and wrap my aura around them to further empower our connection.

Enough to release them from the clutches on the other side.

I shriek when we all fall to the ground, but I’m already up because I notice a hand reaching to grab Ophira.

“Oh no, you don’t!” I shout and grab the hand before it can get a hold of Ophira, whose body is still connected to the wall.

I use my other hand to grab her and place her on my other shoulder, but when I try to pull away, the person holding me is so much stronger.

“AH!” I can’t stop myself from going through the wall, my feet all but giving up with the pulled force that takes me off my feet.

Entering the scorching world leaves me completely shocked in my spot as the hand that pulled me with every bit of strength drops to the floor.

The rest of the individual’s body is a pile of melting flesh.

The sea of students that were banging against the wall is all but a few sole survivors who watch in complete mayhem the aftermath of their demise. I can’t tell if a sea of lava came in and melted their bodies, but it wouldn’t explain how a few individuals scattered around survived.

Deep down, I feel that’s all irrelevant now, for our next plague is approaching.

“We need to get out…”

I look over to my right to see the girl with purple hair with a lonely look in her gaze. This time around, she’s absolutely petrified as she quivers in place.

“Death is coming. We can’t escape this one. We’ll drown.”

“Drown?” I whisper.

“No fucking way am I dying!”

I’m surprised to hear Azrael, but when I look over to my right, I confirm it isn’t him.

But his brother.

“Alaric?”

He’s surprised to see me, and I don’t like his expression at all. It’s not just a little crazed.

He looks like he’ll kill anyone in his way to survive.

“If it isn’t the Teacher’s Pet,” he gleams. “If you’re here, that may mean I’ll survive.”

“What do you mea—”

I jump at the crackling sound that comes from behind me, drawing the attention of all of us ‘survivors’ as the sight of Asher banging against the wall as it becomes visible.

I’m surprised to see the brewing rage in his eyes as he keeps banging at the wall to keep it from returning to its invisible properties.

“See?” Alaric chuckles manically. “You always seem to have someone in your corner ready to save you.”

“A shame I’m usually the one doing the saving,” I mutter back at him, hoping it reminds him of the fact I saved his ass during the entry trials.

I regret it now. I knew my instincts never lied to me.

“Get us out of here,” he demands.

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