I shivered. That was really creepy. I didn’t like it when magic objects thought for themselves. Too unpredictable. Unable to stand still, I crossed even closer to the bridge, and just as I was about to step onto it I felt a new cold darkness sweep in. Rowan met my gaze, and I gave her a nod. It was the Dark Fae Lord.
Doing a half spin, I looked all around the park and the adjoining water, and saw no one. Nix screeched in the sky and I was reminded that our familiars were doing patrol. I connected to Finn.
Anything out there, buddy?
His reply was instant.Negative. And Nix says the sky is clear. All areas of the perimeter are secure. But I sense a dark energy coming from the lake.
Shit.
Be careful. I’ll be there in a moment.He ended our mental conversation.
I turned my attention to the lake. “He’s in the water,” I murmured to those around me.
All of us took a step forward, the icy water lapping close to our feet. I wasn’t sure who saw it first, but as soon as the water’s ripples grew in size, all of us were paying close attention. The dark energy was getting stronger. I let out a yell as two horns broke the lake’s surface.
“Kade … Vi … you better hurry up!” I shouted, not taking my eyes off those growing swells.
I already had my fae and mecca energy mingling ferociously within me, my wolf inside pressing her own brand of energy to the front as well. Even though I was stronger in my human form when it came to magic, her strength still helped fuel me.
Rowan and Nikoli stepped in on either side of me.
“We need to keep him away from them,” I said, as more of his head appeared. He slowly rose, water trailing off him, his long black robes flowing out behind him, swirling through the dark icy water. He held his staff, the black crystal at the top sparkling in the dull light.
His eyes locked on Violet, who was churning energy through the water, causing a small whirlpool.
“Hey!” I shouted, bringing his gaze to me. “You and I have a little score to settle.”
Chapter Eight
Who you gonna call? Darkness Destroyer.
He stared at me, and I wasted no time slapping out with my energy the way I had been learning with Rowan, letting my fae-side take the lead, because mecca magic had no effect on him. The dark fae faced me fully, so at least none of his attention was on Kade and Violet.
He jabbed forward with his staff, countering my attack with one of his own. Our energy met in the middle, sending out an explosion of light and power.
Ari, be careful!Kade’s voice was briefly in my head, but there was no time to reply.
Two erchos burst from the water on either side of the dark fae, hovering in the air.Well, shit.Things just got real. Rowan, Nikoli, and I ranalong the bridge, heading closer to Kade and Violet so we could defend them.
The erchos let out a screech, which sent waves of pain through my ears, but Nikoli, after muttering a spell, did something that dulled some of the effect. I kept half of my attention locked on their dark oiliness — a blot in the gray skies. The other half was on the Dark Fae Lord. He had a grin on his face now, that creepy, sardonic, psycho smile he did so well.
“Last chance to join me, Ari.”
His shout echoed across the water, and I responded with another blast of energy, which he lazily blocked. He then waved his two creatures on. They came straight for us, but thankfully, we had reached the others by now. We could stop running, and start fighting.
“Remember that drill we practiced, Arianna,” Rowan said in a rush. “Where I boost your powers with my own for an attack spell.”
I nodded, understanding immediately where she was going. This was what Violet did in the Otherworld, when she had made the eternal fire. We had been practicing this as well as spell breaking.
I summoned my winter fae magic, focusing on filling my center with ice, and just as I was about to fling it free, Rowan latched onto my forearm. The moment she wrapped her hands around me,it was like I had stuck my hand onto a pure source of power. It jolted through my veins and I released the spell, aiming for the two erchos. They tried to avoid my blast, but with the extra boost, my range was wide, spreading out across the water. There was nowhere for them to go.
I wasn’t sure what to expect. I had refused to freeze any living beings when we practiced. It had been a potted plant, a few stuffed animals, and the pool. All of which had been a success — after a few attempts.
I didn’t have a few attempts this time, so I sent everything I had at them. Thankfully, the ice wrapped around them as I had hoped would happen, freezing both of them in the air. I held the magic for a few beats, letting them plunge deep into the water. I had no idea if they could withstand a full body freezing … or hold their breath indefinitely … but I had bought us some time at least.
The Dark Fae Lord looked unperturbed, walking along the top of the water, closing the distance to Violet’s swirling portal. My friend’s face was lined with strain, veins standing out across her pale skin, even throbbing in her forehead. I leaned closer, careful not to touch her. The second crystal was visible just below the surface of the murky lake; whatever she was doing was working. Slowly.
As more of it emerged, I realized that it wasn’t just a dark crystal. It was another staff. There was a gold filigree of vines wrapped around the base of the stone, and it looked like that gold metal extended down into the water.
