Chapter 27
Ilift my gaze, my eyes now completely shrouded in darkness, as the blade spins through the air.
Silas moves around the room like a deadly warrior, unleashing bursts of black shadows toward the two horrifying creatures that have revealed their presence.
The now-visible creatures look exactly like the one in the forest, their tall bodies towering over Silas and Larkin.
Their skin shattered, gray, and dead. However, these creatures seem more desperate than the one in the clearing, their eyes brighter and wilder.
Larkin assists in tandem, releasing bright shocks of light from his palms. His eyes are steady but reflect a hatred I’ve never witnessed.
Malachi remains rooted in the same place, with his back against the fireplace, watching the scene before him. His face shows no repentance, and a sense of pride hangs off his body.
The knife strikes just inches from his face, embedding itself deep into the wooden mantle. His gaze slowly shifts to me on the ground, and a broad smirk spreads across his aging face when he notices my state.
I slowly rise, Yara’s blood dripping off my body, and narrow my eyes.
Anger fuels me like a deadly serum, and I allow the darkness to envelop me in a warm, neglected hug.
I widen my stance, dig my nails into my palms, and feel my skin pop under the pressure, sending a pinch of pain through my hands.
My heart races, but my chest rises and falls steadily.
I clench my jaw and calculate Malachi’s next move.
“There she is,” Malachi exclaims and smiles. “I’ve been so looking forward to meeting the real Briar Blackbyrne. You are quite stunning when you are mad.”
Larkin pauses for a moment and looks at me.
“Fucking Gods," slips from his lips, as he strikes at the creatures surrounding him once more.
Between blows, Silas’s deep voice echoes in my mind. “Don’t let the darkness overcome you too much. Stay in control and use it to guide you. I’m right here, my love.”
I glance in his direction as he moves gracefully, striking the creature with one dark blast after another, as if he said nothing to me. His power doesn’t waver, nor does his endurance. The Prince of Darkness stands by my side, fighting like our lives depend on it.
I step forward and open my palms at my sides.
Shadows begin to swirl around my right hand as I sink down, concentrating all the power in my body to surge ahead.
Looking down, the shadows are as black as night, creeping up my arm like a disease.
I glance at my left hand, and through the fury, disbelief strikes me—a crackling, bright light shimmers in my left palm.
The delicious tingle of lightning dances up my arm, and I smile at the new sensation.
The powerful dance between shadows and light sends a wave of pleasure through me, and I snarl in Malachi’s direction.
I fear no one at this moment, but everyone around should fucking fear me.
Malachi steps back, shocked by the surprising turn of events unfolding before him.
“You are full of surprises, aren’t you?” he mutters to himself. “Just like your mother.”
Larkin and Silas pause momentarily at Malachi’s reaction.
Larkin’s mouth hangs open in shock, and Silas glances at me, standing before his father amid my own beautiful destruction. A wide, menacing smile spreads across Silas’s face.
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.
“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.