and the only things I hear are our footsteps.
“Wait until we reach the top to release the magic,” Arland says.
An eerie silence blankets the cliff, making it difficult to keep the magic inside, but I do. I have no choice. With our backs to the rock formation, we slink along toward the mouth of the cave.
Hooves clop on the stone. Muffled voices rise in a panicked state. Groans echo into the night.
Arland leans next to my ear. “Now would be a good time to release the magic, Kate. When you do, step out where they can see you, and do not let go of me.”
Closing my eyes, I send my mind searching through every part of my body for strength, for love, for all the things I think of when I need control. I see the horses, my sister, my mom, my friendship with Brad, but most of all I see Arland, and I
feel
Arland. Grasping onto those images, I will them over my heart and push out the Light. I take a step into the open with Arland by my side, Brit, Cadman, and Flanna all behind me.
Daemons startle and rush to the narrow corridor leading to the exit, then pause. Their mouths foam, excited by our sudden appearance at their prison. The tairb’s eyes widen and glow red. The coscartha’s shrieks—loud, agitated sounds—pierce my ears. There’s even a hound or two in the group.
A howl rings into the Darkness.
The daemons advance.
We brace.
“Okay, everyone, remember what you need to do. When the old magic comes to life, command it into fire and burn the daemons. Do you understand?” Arland stares at me, but he speaks to all of us.
“I cannot wait.” Flanna leans forward and growls.
We don’t move from where we stand. Arland and I hold hands and Brit’s are on my shoulders. Cadman and Flanna flank our sides.
Wake up
!
I speak no other words to the magic. Stones, leaves, beads of water, bark from trees, blades of grass—all the representations of nature come alive in brilliant blues, greens, whites, and thousands of other colors to fight by our sides. The sprites swirl around, lift our hair, cover our skin and caress us with their soft wings.
Blue flames light all of us on fire.
Arland closes his eyes. Other than Brit and me, everyone’s eyes are closed. Cadman, Flanna, and Arland whisper inaudible words.
He squeezes my hand, reassuring me, reminding me I am in control. “Now, Kate, send the magic to the daemons.”
“Turn to fire. Burn them!” I command.
Transforming from soft, ethereal creatures into blue fireballs, thousands of sprites fly into the cave. Flames reach from my body and into the daemons as they continue their advance. With outstretched claws, bared teeth, and growls so loud they rumble in my chest, the daemons jump to the side to avoid the magic. Some are burned and killed instantly while others seem to ignore our attack.
Releasing a low, guttural sound, a giant black hound bounds toward us through the flames.
Flanna raises her hands above her head and smiles wickedly. “Mharúdó!”
One large, blue flame forms above her. She points her lifted arms toward the creature; the fire stretches out then lands on him. With a whimper like an injured pup, the hound burns until all that’s left is a pile of ashes.
Flanna winks at me.
Ten more coscarthas approach. Before I have time to react, Cadman, Flanna, and Arland all control the magic, shouting commands. The power flows through us as it did when we were healing Brad. A heightened sense of connection to them, as though their existences are attached to me, tugs at my core. The power dwindles as it spreads into them, stealing strength from me, but empowering them.
My knees shake.
Arland squeezes my hand. “Just a little while longer, Kate.”
Give her strength, Griandor
. Arland’s voice plays in my mind.
Looking at him, I notice his eyes are locked with a daemon a few feet in front of us, his mouth closed.
P-please, let us l-l-live
. This time I hear Brit.
Lann. Lann. Lann
. Flanna.
Sunshine
. Cadman thinks the word as though he
“Wait until we reach the top to release the magic,” Arland says.
An eerie silence blankets the cliff, making it difficult to keep the magic inside, but I do. I have no choice. With our backs to the rock formation, we slink along toward the mouth of the cave.
Hooves clop on the stone. Muffled voices rise in a panicked state. Groans echo into the night.
Arland leans next to my ear. “Now would be a good time to release the magic, Kate. When you do, step out where they can see you, and do not let go of me.”
Closing my eyes, I send my mind searching through every part of my body for strength, for love, for all the things I think of when I need control. I see the horses, my sister, my mom, my friendship with Brad, but most of all I see Arland, and I
feel
Arland. Grasping onto those images, I will them over my heart and push out the Light. I take a step into the open with Arland by my side, Brit, Cadman, and Flanna all behind me.
Daemons startle and rush to the narrow corridor leading to the exit, then pause. Their mouths foam, excited by our sudden appearance at their prison. The tairb’s eyes widen and glow red. The coscartha’s shrieks—loud, agitated sounds—pierce my ears. There’s even a hound or two in the group.
A howl rings into the Darkness.
The daemons advance.
We brace.
“Okay, everyone, remember what you need to do. When the old magic comes to life, command it into fire and burn the daemons. Do you understand?” Arland stares at me, but he speaks to all of us.
“I cannot wait.” Flanna leans forward and growls.
We don’t move from where we stand. Arland and I hold hands and Brit’s are on my shoulders. Cadman and Flanna flank our sides.
Wake up
!
I speak no other words to the magic. Stones, leaves, beads of water, bark from trees, blades of grass—all the representations of nature come alive in brilliant blues, greens, whites, and thousands of other colors to fight by our sides. The sprites swirl around, lift our hair, cover our skin and caress us with their soft wings.
Blue flames light all of us on fire.
Arland closes his eyes. Other than Brit and me, everyone’s eyes are closed. Cadman, Flanna, and Arland whisper inaudible words.
He squeezes my hand, reassuring me, reminding me I am in control. “Now, Kate, send the magic to the daemons.”
“Turn to fire. Burn them!” I command.
Transforming from soft, ethereal creatures into blue fireballs, thousands of sprites fly into the cave. Flames reach from my body and into the daemons as they continue their advance. With outstretched claws, bared teeth, and growls so loud they rumble in my chest, the daemons jump to the side to avoid the magic. Some are burned and killed instantly while others seem to ignore our attack.
Releasing a low, guttural sound, a giant black hound bounds toward us through the flames.
Flanna raises her hands above her head and smiles wickedly. “Mharúdó!”
One large, blue flame forms above her. She points her lifted arms toward the creature; the fire stretches out then lands on him. With a whimper like an injured pup, the hound burns until all that’s left is a pile of ashes.
Flanna winks at me.
Ten more coscarthas approach. Before I have time to react, Cadman, Flanna, and Arland all control the magic, shouting commands. The power flows through us as it did when we were healing Brad. A heightened sense of connection to them, as though their existences are attached to me, tugs at my core. The power dwindles as it spreads into them, stealing strength from me, but empowering them.
My knees shake.
Arland squeezes my hand. “Just a little while longer, Kate.”
Give her strength, Griandor
. Arland’s voice plays in my mind.
Looking at him, I notice his eyes are locked with a daemon a few feet in front of us, his mouth closed.
P-please, let us l-l-live
. This time I hear Brit.
Lann. Lann. Lann
. Flanna.
Sunshine
. Cadman thinks the word as though he
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