I followed, Tio joining my side as we departed from the abandoned camp.
“We’ll find her,” I said, hoping I sounded more sure than I was. This kingdom was vast, and so much of it was forest. Finding her would be like searching for a sewing pin in a haystack. But with an aerial scouting party, and one that could sniff her out, we at least stood a chance.
“How are you feeling? Do you need to rest before you try your magic?” One hand held Braxius to his chest, the other gliding along the small of my back.
“No. Maybe. I hope not. I don’t want to rest, I want to try.”
“However this turns out, I’m proud of you. This journey hasn’t been easy,” he said, motioning his hand in comforting circles.
I sighed, taking in the decrepit surroundings. “It’s certainly a long way from the tea room.”
Tio offered a soft chuckle, one that pushed past his concern for his friend. “That it is, sunshine.”
I thought I had seen the worst of the curse’s destruction. Thought that the destroyed life, ravaged forest, decaying land was as bad as it could get.
It wasn’t.
The veins that seemed to breathe, despite existing only to suffocate anything living, writhed slowly. The depth of black swallowed any light that dared touch it.
“It looks like pure evil,” I whispered, wrapping my arms around myself. The warmth of the summer day couldn’t keep the shivers from erupting over my skin.
“It’s been bleeding further into Argora Vale,” Dante said, his voice grave.
“Maybe you can stop it, blondie,” Jasper said, a crease of worry between his gray eyes. Braxius sat atop his head.
Tio took in a deep breath beside me. “You ready?”
The obsidian malice laid ten feet away. To give my magic the best shot, I took a step forward.
“Careful,” Dante warned. “If you touch any part of those new veins, it’ll suck the life out of you within an instant.”
My hands started shaking.
“I’m here with you, Mel,” Tio whispered. “Just try.”
I would have taken a deep breath to center myself, but the thought of inhaling air that might have touched that crawling darkness made me feel uneasy. Instead, I raised my hands andsummoned light to my fingers. A low rumble barreled across the sunny sky, a preparation for the strike I was about to call.
Breathing slowed. Eyes locked. Each passing second weighed heavier than the last over the potential outcome. The fate of an entire kingdom depended on these next few seconds, and every single one of us knew it.
Now was not the time to cower or hide. I pulled on that thread of magic, the one that connected me to the light, and sent it hurtling into the living veins. A loud crack rang out, echoing into the corrupted woods. Light erupted in a dazzling burst. I pulled that thread taut, summoning and controlling the power. The light didn’t dissipate like a normal bolt would. No, this lingered as I pulled and pulled.
I sank into the well of power, drawing all I could. When I felt like I’d used the majority, I released it. The world returned to its peaceful summer state, and my chest heaved. Tio’s hands swiftly secured my hips. I hadn’t noticed I was swaying. I worked to calm my ragged breathing, eager to see what I’d done.
Dante took half a step, staring out at the place where my magic had struck.
Jasper looked at Dante.
The beast’s paws curled at his sides, tension gripping his shoulders. Simultaneously, I became more steady and determined.
“I can try again,” I blurted out, as if that hadn’t been the most potent light wielding I’d ever accomplished. Tio’s fingers dug into me.
“You tried, Mel. That’s what we came here to do, and you did it.” It was the pity in his voice that had me shaking my head uncontrollably.
“No, no, I can go again. Maybe it just wasn’t in the right spot. I can try again, I can try again.”
I raised my hands, but he stepped in front of me, clasping his own around them with securing strength. “It’s not your fault.”
I broke.
