Chapter 35
Alchera
Standing on the stretch of beach of a lake that has an eerie mist creeping over the water, I stare at a great willow tree to my left. Its roots are covered in the greenest moss I’ve ever seen.
Looking to my right, my lips part and the air is ripped from my lungs. Beyond the forest, everything is dark. There are massive tunneling clouds looming overhead. The one nearest to me surges with bolts of lightning, ripping a tree from the ground, roots and all.
What’s happening?
Unable to stop myself, I walk toward the darkness before I float into the sky, the pull unbelievably strong.
I stare beneath me at the landscape that’s turning from green and colorful to dark and gray and soon find myself hovering over a barren land where a man is kneeling.
Ares.
His head snaps back, and he looks up at me.
“Leave this place, Luna!” He shouts.
Luna? I glance down at myself, and seeing the silver strands of hair billowing in the air and the balls of light forming in my palms, I gasp.
What is Luna doing here?
There’s a rumble of thunder, and shadows begin to move, swirling around each other until Void takes on a shadowy form with a black cloak billowing in the wind.
“I’ve been waiting for you, child of the moon,” he tells Luna, his tone eerie and hollow.
“Free her mind,” Luna demands, her tone filled with aggression, “Or I will kill you right here and now.”
Void’s laughter fills the air, and it sounds so evil I shrink back.
His arm flies up, and a tidal wave of shadows rushes toward Luna, but she shoves her arms forward, and streaks of light race to collide with the advancing shadows.
The thunderous force of light and shadows colliding makes the air vibrate and the ground shudder.
Jerking awake, I shoot upright in bed while shouting, “Luna!”
To be continued…
Luna & Storm’s story is next in The Land Of Shadows, which will be released in 2025.