“Coward.”
Silas continues to battle the creatures alone, standing over Larkin as he struggles on the ground, clutching his chest in pain. I move my focus to the remaining Travelers with the pent-up magic I’ve collected this whole time. Nothing now will stop me from making sure these things never touch another person I love. Shadows dance alongside the lightning, and I grind my molars together. I shut my eyes and inhale, encouraging one last draw of power to come forward.
I step toward them and open both palms, extending my hands forward. The sensation of opposing magic tingles inside my body, and it is palpable.
I lower my gaze, and Larkin looks up at me through dazed eyes.
“Cover your head,” I whisper to him.
Silas steps toward me, bringing the creatures closer for the release I desperately need to feel.
I shout to Silas, “Now.”
He crouches, shielding Larkin from what’s about to happen.
A small wall of shadows surrounds them, and I lose sight of them through the dark fog. My hair starts to float around me, my eyes are an unholy black, and I no longer care about what might happen to me. The room is charged, and it’s time to put this magic to use.
I need to get us out of here.
I slam my palms together, and a blinding, chaotic black light erupts from me. A scream tears from my throat, making it raw.
The surge of magic that escapes my body sends waves of pain and euphoria through me. I close my eyes amidst the pleasure and pain, letting the magic flow out. The room bursts into light. The windows shatter, and glass flies everywhere, the fire is extinguished, and books scatter, but the small wall of shadows shielding my family remains strong. The creatures scream in agony, many attempting to flee. However, the blast is too sudden for them to react properly.
Before my eyes, the tall creatures begin to sizzle in the black light, and a glow reveals their shown and invisible forms.
Bones and ash rain down in the room as the entire kingdom seems to go silent at the power and madness leaking from me and pouring into the air.
The breeze pauses, the air lightens, and the dust settles around me. I’m covered in blood and dirt, but the threat is gone.
I blink through the filth and see the wall of shadows vanish around the men. Silas crouches around Larkin, grabbing him in a tight embrace. A large amount of blood stains his shirt, but it's nothing that can’t be healed. Relief floods me, and black dots dance in my vision. My legs quake, but I remain standing, flourishing in the power that still courses through my veins.
Silas stands and rushes to me, snapping both hands around my shoulders. “Look at me,” he pleads. “Look at me, Briar.”
I blink, unable to process what’s happened.
My eyes revert to their normal autumn-gold, as if a veil passes over them, allowing me to see the room more clearly. Larkin stands and groans, still clutching his chest.
The door behind us slams open, and Maines rushes into the room. “Fucking Gods.” Her chest heaves. “What just happened?”
“Go to Larkin,” I manage to get out, pointing my bloody, quivering finger in his direction.
She glances between us, assessing quickly, and rushes to his side, recognizing he’s the one in worse condition. Maines grabs his waist and guides him to the small sitting area as swiftly as she can without causing him pain. I brace myself for what I know is coming and squint my eyes.
Maines screams when she sees Yara’s mangled body lying on the blood-stained carpet.
“Oh, my Gods.” She slaps her hand over her mouth. “Yara?”
Her words ring in my ears, and tears begin to flood my eyes once more. The harsh reality of what’s happened crashes down on me. I’ve been so blinded by hatred that I forgot where I am, what I’m doing, and who was just murdered.
“Speak to me, Briar.” Silas wraps his arms around me.
“I’m…I’m here,” I mumble, and bury my head into his chest.
His heart pounds against my ear, and doesn’t slow.
“We need to get out of here before Malachi or the creatures return,” he says, as he tugs on my arm.
Still in a daze, I let him pull me a few steps before I yank my arm away. Maines quickly tends to Larkin. His back rests against the large chair in front of the extinguished fire, and a black mist seeps from Maines’ hands into his chest. He groans occasionally, but she continues to work with focus and precision.
