I edged my way out of the barrier—I couldn’t attack the two creatures from within it, at least not the wayIliked to fight.
The two snake-like monsters crashed into the barrier. It shook, but held strong—all of her practice was paying off.
I cloaked myself in shadows, and magic spilled over from the sword as I tapped my natural magic.
Shadows flickered across my eyes, and in a heartbeat I was standing in the shadow of one of the creatures.
I tried slicing through the monster’s tail, but the blade only made the monster’s shadowy innards swirl as it passed through it as if it were a smoke cloud.
That’s going to make things more difficult.
“Look at me,” Dion commanded the monster. Even through the purple haze of Leila’s barrier, his magic was strong enough that the second snake creature actually turned its head to him.
Dion’s eyes narrowed, and his poppy red magic flowed from his artifact—a bejeweled pin forged in the shape of a bird.
The creature I was attacking rammed into Leila’s barrier again.
The surface didn’t even ripple, but Leila growled. “These suckers pack a punch.” She shook her head as if shaking off pain—and maybe she was—and arranged her feet in a solid defensive crouch. “I can’t cast anything else at this rate.”
“I’ve got a bit of a line on them,” Dion shouted. “They’re forged of magic, and they’re controlled by a fae compulsion spell.”
“Can you break it?” I tried stabbing my blade through my snake’s head, but it was also insubstantial, and I did no damage.
“Nope—too powerful,” Dion said through gritted teeth. “I can hold this one here, but that’s about it.”
I briefly flicked my eyes at him.Dion is very powerful in compulsion magics. For him to be unable to do anything…whoever made these is incredibly powerful.
“Try blowing them away,” Indigo suggested.
“How?” Leila asked. “Fae can’t use elements—like wind.”
“No.” I yanked one of my hidden daggers out of a bracer. “But we can make things explode.Aer.” I jumped backwards and threw my activated dagger at the snake. Just as the blade started to pass through the creature’s head, I activated an anti-theft spell on the dagger.
The magic stored in the dagger exploded, blowing the smoke that made up the shadow across the lobby.
The creature flopped to the ground, then the rest of its body lost its definition as the shadowy-smoke dissipated and it disappeared altogether.
“Oh,” Leila said. “Yeah, that’ll work.”
Chase came shooting out of the theater, the pixie hovering over his shoulder. When he saw the creatures he ran toward the chaos.
“Now!” Dusk shouted.
The Night Court fae in the lobby all threw the little glowing orbs commonly used to light up rooms at the remaining monster.
The orbs that landed in the snake lit up its innards. Everywhere the light touched, the monster’s smoky flesh faded away.
Only half gone, the snake swung around to face Dusk and the others.
“Oh no you don’t.” Leila’s eyes glowed purple, and with her jaw clenched, she forged another ward that protected her people.
When did she get this skilled at wards? I saw her practice, but it normally takes more than one fae to keep barriers like this going.
“Again!” Dawn yelled as she threw her own orb.
Since all fae were capable of the low-level spell, the lobby was soon bathed in the glowing light cast by every member of the Night Court present as they pummeled the creature.
The snake tried to strike at Leila again—ramming her shield.
