Their gaze snaps back to the far window, which slowly opens. More deep growls slither into the room, asserting their presence. Four more Travelers crawl in from the black night. They share a quick glance, then move their backs to one another, continuing to fight. If I don’t hurry, we will quickly be even more outnumbered.
Shadows and lightning swirl around my body, creating a storm of chaos fueled by my rage and sorrow. I allow the anger to continue consuming me, digging deeper into my magic. Thoughts of my father, Thatcher, and the trials surge in my mind, and the power begins to envelop me as my rage grows. My eyes start to lose focus, and the power surge becomes too much to continue holding on to.
“Keep going,”Kalix’s beautiful voice taunts my mind. “Murder him.”
Malachi watches me closely, yet nothing in his expression reveals concern.
“Stay. In. Control.” Silas says.
I inhale deeply, focusing my thoughts and strength only on the threat before me, not inside me.
A dark voice escapes my lips. “Do you want to know what I anticipated most about coming to Andorwood, Malachi?” I tilt my head with near feline movements. “Why I’ll never regret setting foot on this soil?”
He tenses his brow but hesitates to move away, staring directly into my black eyes..
“I’ve thought about this very moment for weeks.” I step forward, and a crackle of light sounds around the room.
I extend my left hand to my side in a snap, sending a shock of light crashing into the floor as the power surge illuminates the space. With the other, I do the same, but a darkness slaps the hard floor, sending a rolling smoke to travel around me.
Malachi’s eyes widen in fear, and he steps back, his body flush against the wall.
“I fantasized about what it would be like to rip your fucking heart out, until I realized you don’t have one.” I take another step toward him. “So, my plans changed.”
“You aren’t going to do anything,” Malachi teases.
I laugh. “Oh, that’s where you are very wrong,Your Majesty,” I say, mockingly.
Another clash of light and dark echoes through the room as it leaves my palms, while a surge of power makes the chandelier sway above us.
“I’m going to erase your entire presence from this realm. I know what you are. I figured it out, Malachi.” I send another zap of power playfully in his direction as the light and darkness clash together in chaos. “You are a Traveler—just like those creatures behind us. You knew the Nastrondes were powerful, and you attached yourself to them like the fucking little leech that you are.”
For the first time, his face reflects shock, and I smile, moving closer to him, no longer afraid. Malachi smiles, and before my eyes, his appearance changes. His skin dulls and slowly cracks across his face, like the shattered creature in the forest. I grit my teeth, holding on to the power dancing in my veins.
“How did you find out?” A hissing voice snakes from his mouth.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Silas go rigid.
A crack of lightning shoots from my left hand and hits barely above his head. Malachi quickly ducks, and the short escape of magic feels terrific. I burrow back down, building my power once more, making sure to focus on the light more than the darkness.
“Your eyes. They are the same as the Traveler in the woods. I knew as soon as it got close enough.” I grin, “And your wrist. I saw the skin discoloration at our first meeting. Your powers are slipping, old man.”
“Smart,” he says with a nod, and a different voice slips from his mouth. “Now you know why I keep to myself, and remain at a healthy…distance.”
I move toward him and send another surge of power through the air.
“How did you get here?” I ask. “To this realm?”
“That’s one thing I’ll refrain from sharing,” Malachi says with a smile. “We’re similar, though, Briar. We can go places others can’t, and I’ll give you a reason to visit me someday soon—if you can find me, that is.”
I hear Silas shout, followed by a pained scream from Larkin, that pulls me from my blinding hatred.
I quickly turn, focusing my attention on them, and a sense of dread fills me. One of the creatures swipes a claw across Larkin’s chest. Their distress snaps me back to my right mind. I have to finish this. I glance back at Malachi, but only a trail of ink stains the area around where he stood.
He’s disappeared, just like he promised he would.
Anger consumes me.
I scream into the air, still feeling the tingle of his fading presence.
