Page 46 of Immortal Origins (Chronicles of the Immortal Trials #1)

Another tore at her shoulder, almost dislocating it in the process.

Ambrose’s screams mixed with the excited chittering as though playing with their food was their favorite pastime. She swung her sword but it was no use. Tears spilled down her face as she wondered if Felius had been this terrified during his last moments.

She fell to her knees as the shadows surrounded her, tearing at her skin one swipe at a time. They grew red eyes and mouths that stretched open from the shadows as saliva poured from their teeth.

She was going to die.

After everything she went through, she was going to die.

It was impossible to fight an enemy with no body. There was nothing to cut. It was a fool’s thought to believe she could save anyone. She couldn’t even save herself.

She hoped that her foolish escape had at least given the rest of them time to run. Time to escape.

She hoped wherever he was, Akadian was far away and out of their reach. No wonder he’d been so afraid. He was the only one whose magick could’ve protected her and she ran the other direction. She was a fool.

But if the rest of them got away, then at least her death would be worth something.

“You will not die tonight,” the voices rang over the chittering.

That familiar blinding light burst from Ambrose’s chest and encased the surrounding forest. The Alkijin shrieked—this time from pain—as the light seared their flesh.

Ambrose welcomed the darkness that washed over her body, too tired to fight when—

Flesh, s he realized.

Solid.

With all the strength she could muster, she lifted the sword and swung it at the nearest Alkijin and watched its hand drop as it screamed and backed away from her.

They’re solid!

She hacked at the shadows, the trees, the bushes, anything her blade could slice through. Blackened limbs and foul-toothed heads fell to the ground as she chopped her way through them. Their shrieks echoed in her ears once more, but this time, they shrieked in pain as they withered and died.

She didn’t stop until every last one of them was dead or gone, fled back into the forest or depths of hell—where they belonged. Cutting at the darkness around her until all she fought were true shadows.

When she was done, she fell to her knees as her rage and grief ripped from her throat in a soul-shattering scream.

The light receded back into her as her skin left a glow in the darkness.

Her wounds stopped bleeding and began to close, the chunk in her thigh taking the longest to heal.

She stared at her body in disbelief as her wounds sealed and she regained some of her stamina.

Her entire body ached but her strength returned enough to pick herself up and stand on her own again.

“How?” she asked in pure shock, but the spirit didn’t respond.

Frustrated and surprised, she wiggled every finger and toe to make sure there wasn’t any lasting nerve damage. Her body was healing slowly but with each wound vanishing, she felt better and better.

When it sank in that she survived, relief crashed into her in waves so intense it almost dropped her back to her knees.

She was alive.

… But, Felius wasn’t.

She remembered his body lying in the woods among dozens more and knew she couldn’t leave them that way. She backtracked as best as she could, retracing her panicked steps until she found them once again.

Doing her best not to look for too long, she got to work. Tears spilled down her cheeks as she bent low and placed both hands on the ground. She hoped for them, this worked.

“I’m sorry, Felius. I’m sorry I didn’t make it in time.

I’m sorry you were out here because of me.

I’m sorry you’ll never get to see your home again.

I won’t forget you. I promise,” she whispered as the ground began to shake.

She released herself into the ground until she could feel every piece of dirt, every insect that scurried or wiggled beneath her, until the hum of the planet responded with the one inside of her.

She’d seen this magick done in the palace when it came time to bury the dead and she wanted to do it.

For him. For Artie and Marybeth’s son. For all of them.

She couldn’t let anyone see them like this.

A charge sparked the ground and as she pulled her fingers through the dirt a grave just big enough for each opened up beneath the bodies and swallowed them.

She forcefully brought her hands together and the walls of their graves pulled in gently and laid them all to rest. She pushed another wave into the ground, calling the roots that lay deep into the soil and stems grew from the freshly moved dirt, marking their final resting places with a giant field of new wildflowers.

When she was finished, she placed a hand to the dirt and whispered, “I promise.”

She gave herself a moment and reminded herself there was more danger lurking in the woods. She had to move.

She also realized… she was finally alone.

She could escape.

Now.

She was far enough into the woods that no one should be able to find her, even if they were looking—as Akadian undoubtedly was.

Danthan and Oryon had the supply packs, she’d run away so fast she didn’t think to grab hers.

All the food and supplies were in those packs, which would prove a problem.

But she had a sword. She had her magick. She’d figure it out.

Glancing around to make sure she was truly alone, she took off into the trees.

Finding somewhere safe to spend the rest of the night was top priority.

Exhausted, she’d need ample rest to get a head start at first light.

If she could find a cave closer to the mountains, maybe she’d be able to get some actual sleep.

Though, she doubted it. How could she ever sleep after the night she had?

The tip of Draco Mountain stood tall in the distance and she used it as a landmark to keep her path straight as she walked. At least it would keep her from going in circles.

Akadian likely had to be losing his mind looking for her, so she had to move fast. She set her course and followed the mountain as her guide.

At least no one else would die because of her.

Now she just had to find the perfect place to hide, and maybe she’d even get to live out the rest of her life.

Maybe.

She wandered for at least an hour before boulders started littering the ground as a sign that she was getting closer to the mountain range. Exhaustion threatened to consume her but she forced her eyes to stay open and her muscles to keep moving. Focusing on one step at a time.

Left. Right. Left. Right.

Hours passed and so did any energy she had left. Finding a cave seemed less likely with each step as it took all her will to move. If she could just find a patch of grass big enough, she’d just lie there and sleep.

Maybe, if she hadn’t been so tired, she would’ve noticed the forest go quiet again.

Maybe, if she hadn’t been so tired, she would’ve noticed the scaled body unfold and rise up like one of the mountains in the distance.

But, she didn’t notice.

And now she stood face-to-face with a seriously pissed off dragon.