Page 47 of Loving Amari
“You don’t. But you have faith in Fate.”
I start to respond, but suddenly, a door appears in the void. It’s ornate, carved with symbols that pulse with blue light. The kind of door that belongs in a castle, not floating in nothingness.
I look at Aya. “I don’t even know how to fight him.”
“But I do. Just listen to me and I’ll get you through it.” Her voice is serious for once, no trace of her usual sarcasm.
The door swings open. I take a step back as Nathaniel confidently steps through, shutting it behind him with a boom that dies instantly in the emptiness. Verto immediately goes into defense mode, his body tensing, legs spreading wide, but I hold up my hand, stopping him.
Nathaniel is tall and imposing, easily over six feet, with deep mahogany skin and features sharper than Henry’s—high cheekbones, strong jaw, eyes full of malice.
“The mighty Carla Blackwood, the Spider Queen. Finally have time for a chat.”
“I don’t know what you think you’re doing, but you aren’t getting away with this.” I square my shoulders, refusing to show fear even though my heart is pounding.
Nathaniel laughs, the sound dark and rich. “I’m the biggest threat to Wintermoon. Not Aya, the traitorous bitch.”
Aya smirks at that. “When I was under dark magic, you served your purpose.”
“When I finally possess the body of your nephew, I’m going to deal with you first.” His eyes flash with blue light.
“Ummm, don’t threaten me with a good time.”
“What the fuck do you want?” I spit out, my hands already glowing with pink magic.
“Exactly what Brookstone and Blackburn wants. Power.” He steps closer. “You Blackwoods have no idea the power you hold and I’m sick of watching you waste away again and again. It’s pissing me off.” His voice rises with each word. “You’re wasting away all this power for love. How pathetic. Having Tabatha here was more fun. At least I got the entertainment of a good brawl here and there.”
“And now I’m about to end you.” I tell him.
Nathaniel grins, and the expression is predatory. “You have no idea what you’re dealing with, but you’re about to find out.”
He moves first. Blue magic streaked with black erupts from his hands, a massive bolt that crackles through the air like lightning. I barely throw up a shield in time, pink webbing bursting to life in front of me, forming an intricate lattice pattern. The impact is devastating. The force sends me stumbling back several feet, my arms shaking from the effort of holding the shield. He’s stronger. Much stronger. Solomon’s magic pulses through him, amplifying his power beyond what it should be.
“Shield up!” Aya barks from somewhere behind me. “Counter with a web spell, aim for his chest!”
I drop my shield and immediately cast, pink webbing flying from my fingertips in thick ropes. It spirals through the air toward him. He dodges with inhuman speed, his form blurring, and my webs hit the void behind him, disappearing into nothing.
“Too slow!” Nathaniel taunts. “Is this really the best the Queen of Limbo has to offer?”
He sends another blast. I roll to the side, the magic scorching past me so close I can feel the heat. I come up casting, sending multiple web spells at once. They spread out like a net, tryingto box him in. He leaps impossibly high, twisting in midair, and lands behind me.
Before I can turn, Verto suddenly intervenes. His massive legs slam down, shaking the void itself. He catches Nathaniel with one enormous leg, sending him crashing to the ground.”Good boy, Verto!” I shout.
But then the mob of spirits finally appears. They pour out of the darkness like a plague, hundreds of them, maybe thousands, their forms translucent and writhing. They swarm toward us, their wails echoing through the void in overlapping waves.
“Oh shit,” Aya and I say at the same time.
Verto turns to face the mob, positioning himself between them and me. He’s trying to hold them back, but there are so many. His legs sweep through them, scattering dozens at a time, but more keep coming.
I focus back on Nathaniel. He’s already on his feet, brushing himself off like Verto’s attack was nothing more than an annoyance.
“Binding spell!” Aya calls out. “Aim for his legs, slow him down!”
I cast, pink webs shooting low. They wrap around his ankles, tightening. For a moment, he’s stuck. But he channels blue magic through the bindings and they disintegrate, turning to ash.
“You’ll have to do better than that, little spider.”
He launches a barrage of attacks. Blue magic bolts rain down on me like artillery fire. I throw up shield after shield, each impact sending shockwaves through my body. My arms burn with the effort.