I could feel it around me, the water rushing down my skin, soothing me.
And then it blinked into focus. There was a split second when I thought he realized what was going to happen, but it was too late. I called forth the last bit of my magic, pushing it into the orb before giving him one last smirk.
“You won’t be taking anything. From me or anyone else. Ever again.”
I slammed the orb into the ground as he lunged for it. It shattered as soon as it hit, the magic exploding outward in a fiery blast.
The fire magic caught onto anything and everything. I dragged myself across the floor before I could push myself up to run away from it. The flames licked at me, desperately trying to eat me alive.
But I didn’t check where I was going and found myself trapped under the statues of the gods as the entire cathedral started to go up in flames. My coven leader was screaming in pain as they came at him with a vengeance.
They seemed drawn to him.
This was our revenge.
Mine. Morgan’s. Morgan’s sister. And the revenge of every single person he had ever wronged.
The smoke started to choke me.
I'm not going to make it out of here alive.
This was what the seer warned us about. The coven was always going to burn. It had been set in motion long ago, and I played right into fate’s hand.
My chest hurt as I focused on the bond.
I wish I could see them one last time.
And then I felt it behind me. The low rumbling of ancient magic. Something I had only felt in passing.
I looked behind me to see that the gods had shifted. Their glowing eyes were on me. I almost dropped to my knees right then and there.
A shackled little boy appeared from the fire. It was like it made way for him, not burning even a hair on his head. He looked up at me with a melancholy face.
“You finally made it,” he said.
“I did. Am I going to die here?”
He smirked at me.
“The gods have other plans for you.” He took both my hands, turning me just slightly so I was facing the entrance of the cathedral. The fire was waning. It was set to attack the coven leader, and him only. Now that he was lying in the fire, charred to bits, it had done his job.
“Thank you for coming back.”
I turned to look at him again, but he too had disappeared, and with him the rest of the fire. The only thing left was the ashy remains of the high priest.
I fell to my knees then, my mind trying to make sense of it all, but I only allowed myself a moment.
Vesper and Aurelia need my help.
My magic was trying to recover, and for the first time, I was able to access it without the lingering bits of his.
It was pure and all mine.
My body hurt, begging me not to move. But I didn't have that luxury.
Just as I stood up, the door opened.
Gabriel stuck his head in, his eyes going wide when he saw me.
