Ahead, the world is tearing itself apart. I hear the sound of wolves clashing with monsters. I hear the screams of what sounds like manananggals and the roars of other monsters I can’t place right now.
But there are so many of them, and it’s not just them. High above, I can see the powerful auras colliding in blinding bursts above us. Power that is ripping through the burning woods. I see the cracks of lightning and the dazzling light of Jayce’s power high above us.
The pressure is suffocating, like the atmosphere itself is being crushed. I can feel it in my bones, the earth buckling, screaming under the weight of so much violence.
How long has this been going on? When were they attacked?
“Let’s go!” Jaddati says as she begins racing towards the burning trees, shifting to her wolf, her swords in her teeth.
Sienna’s already shifting, her wings appearing as she launches herself into the smoke, flying toward the epicentre of the battle. Allie snarls, bones cracking as she shifts into her lycan form and bolts ahead, rage pouring off her in waves, her spearin hand. Charlotte, Brock, Tatum and Shahira shift into their wolves. Tatum pauses, jerking his head as he motions me to get on his back. I obey, and then he follows the others, racing toward the chaos.
There are craters in the ground, where the barrier once stood, surrounding the pack. Entire sections of the woods are flattened, dark red stains cover the earth, and I can see several dead on the ground.
A bolt of lightning splits through the smoke ahead, slamming into the ground with a concussive boom that rings in my ears.
Jayce.
The snarls of the manananggals fill the air, and thunder follows, rolling so loud it feels like the sky is cracking open.
“There are two powerful witches here, girls. Stay alert. Jayce, Liam and Theo are fighting the leader!”Jaddati’s voice comes through my Schattensicht.
“Understood,” I say.
“Velasara and Calindra are here! I’ll take Velasara with Shahira. Charlotte, Heaven, Calindra is at 3 o’clock, currently fighting against Ares!”Sienna’s voice comes.
“Leave her to us,” I answer. It’s time to show these damn witches we are not the ones to mess with.
“Tatum, I’m going to jump off,” I tell him. He growls with a swing of his head, confirming he understands as he begins to slow down. Another low growl. He’s telling me to be careful. “I will be,” I promise softly.
And then I jump off, casting a spell for leverage as I jump into the nearest tree and begin jumping from tree to tree, heading towards the powerful aura of Hecate’s favoured. Down below, Charlotte’s wolf is racing in the same direction.
Endora, I need your power. Let’s show Hecate that the one she has favoured was the wrong decision,I say, opening my link to Endora.Let’s show her the power of House di Bianco Galdur.
I will enjoy this,she replies, and I feel her power slither through me.
Then, I pause when I reach my target. Tidal waves rise to the sky as Ares flings them at Calindra, who is blocking them with her own power.
For a moment, time stills, my eyes assessing the area. I can see wolves fighting monsters. Some men are in human form as they shoot the monsters dead. Some wolves aren’t dying, even when shot with those bullets. They must be shadow wraiths. Unless we know the names of their hosts, they can’t be killed.
Several rush towards Ares, who snarls, his aura dazzling blindly, his trident in hand as he spins it, cutting down two of the manananggals before he blocks another.
Calindra stands amid the chaos, hovering in the air, watching him, her aura surrounding her in the form of a hydra, each head reared, focused on him.
And then from the trees bursts the very same monster Allie, Sienna and I defeated in Egypt. A beast that we were able to put a name to, thanks to Jayce’s tomes. A morghul. A beast that looks as if most of its body is encased in bone armour, yetmuscles and flesh can be seen around the joints. Burning coal eyes are fixed on Ares, saliva dripping from its fangs. It’s at least nine feet tall.
“I’ll take Calindra from here. Ares, Charlotte, you handle the morghul first,” I say as I step forward, allowing my power to surge, making my presence known. She’s strong, extremely strong. I don’t know how much of a match I am for her, but I’m not about to give up. Charlotte shifts into human form as she spreads her hands, her eyes glowing a pale green as she summons her power.
“Lend me some of your juices, Westwood,” she says, making Ares scoff as he summons a huge wall of water.
They’ll be just fine.
“Aldona, wasn’t it?” Calindra smirks. “The ancestor-less witch.”
If only you knew.
“Hecate’s favoured. Let’s see who will come out victorious.”
I raise my hands, calling upon my element. Earth around me twists violently, jagged roots shooting through the ground as I focus them on Calindra, who waves her hand, cutting them down. She counters, her magic cutting through roots without care, but I keep going faster and faster until they’re a blur.
