Chapter 48

48

LECTURE NOTES FROM REALM RULES pleas for death. The ground was a tangled mess of scarlet, flame and shadow. Thessa looked down, focusing on her breath and her shield. Her magic still pulsed strong, protecting as many soldiers as she could.

“Thessa,” Soren shouted, pointing up.

Her eyes drifted to a massive cloud of Celestial magic growing overhead. Its glorious plume of white shimmering stars halted every soul in the streets. Countless Celestials appeared through the alleyways next, casting a sphere of magic so large Thessa wondered if there’d be any stars left in the sky.

They came. Why ?

Thessa scanned the crowd. Leora’s warm eyes flashed into view. Both worry and determination laced her brows. Beside her was Ivy, Beatrix, and so many others. There wasn’t time to tell them how stubborn they were, or how perfectly kind and compassionate. Celestial magic wasn’t defensive, only distracting—but distracting enough to cease a war.

If only it’d lasted more than a moment.

The group of Celestials were forced back by the rebellion as the battle ensued. “We need to move,” Soren shouted.

Thessa agreed, letting Hades follow Ares. Turning in her saddle, she hurled her shadows back toward the gates, then all the way around until she faced forward again.

Soren unleashed more serpents on enemy targets; his specificity was unmatched. But the Elemental Army had shifted to destruction mode. Fires burned everywhere. Flames were launching beyond her veil of darkness. Serpents fizzled. The smell of burnt skin was piercing her nostrils while the acrid taste of smoke coated her tongue.

It wasn’t enough. She wasn’t doing enough.

No, no, no.

Thessa closed her eyes, to find her sea within. She dove deep into its depths with every speck of strength she could muster. Anchoring down, down, down … until she exploded.

The scream that escaped her was akin to a banshee. Hades reared in protest just as the sky went dark, and stayed that way. The world was cast in shadows like a sustained eclipse of the sun. Enemy soldiers may outnumber the rebels, but to what advantage do they hold without fire?

The rebellion roared, reigniting their fight as the Elemental soldiers called for a retreat.

Hades stomped her hooves into the earth.

“Thessa, stop!” Soren wailed. At some point he’d hopped off of Ares, because he was bracing her leg .

Sure, she was swaying a bit, but she was focused. This was working.

No, I’m concentrating.

“But your nose is bleeding. Your eyes. Your ears. You have to stop.” He was pleading.

I won’t.

You’re bleeding too much, something isn’t right.

I can end this. Let me.

No. Not like this.

With a flash of night, Soren shifted into the predator he was.