Page 16 of The Spark that Ignites (Shattered Soul #1)

L ike sinuous arms, the branches slithered toward them.

A slew of creative curses spilled from Vesper’s lips, and he grasped her elbow, nearly lifting her off her feet as they sprinted.

The fox's horns jabbed Emmery’s chest, but she held tighter.

Unable to match Vesper’s long strides, her heavy pack slammed against her spine, slowing her. Slowing them both.

Vesper was surely regretting the bargain now. And yet, Emmery didn’t regret freeing the creature, even if it meant forfeiting her freedom.

The branches closed in and sweat slid down her back.

Faster . They needed to move faster.

Four-legged beasts emerged from the bushes, blocking their path as their howls cleaved the air. Moss encased skinless faces and vine bound bones rattled. Their pupilless white eyes, identical to Guardian Kaah’s, screamed in hunger, saliva dripping from their fangs.

Vesper unsheathed his sword and darted in front of Emmery. A creature lunged but he deflected it with his blade. It skidded onto its side. In a downward swipe, he gutted it from neck to tail with ease and green-brown entrails seeped from its gut, staining the pale dirt road.

Teeth bared, two creatures stalked forward.

Emmery grasped her dagger as one leapt, its front paws striking her chest. The momentum forced her to the ground and the air burst from her lungs, but her dagger sank true.

Rancid, slimy goo slathered her hand as her blade embedded in its skull.

Her stomach churned as it fell limp and with a sickening thunk , she tugged her dagger free.

The fox desperately clung to her tunic as she reeled back and thrust the lifeless body off her, several other corpses littering the ground courtesy of Vesper’s blade.

As Emmery scrambled to her feet, perching the fox on her shoulder, Vesper sheathed his sword and extended his hands, palms up.

White tendrils snaked from his fingertips and with a sharp flick of his wrists, he cast the threads toward the corpses.

They followed like they held their own consciousness, sinking into the still bodies.

The beasts clambered to their feet, a glow mirroring his vestige in their eyes. It was impossible and yet—

Emmery stumbled back in shock, clinging to her slippery dagger.

“ Go ,” Vesper snarled at the creatures, his voice full of command. Her breath caught when she met his gaze, his pale eyes hardened, glowing savagely as his vestige pulsed.

Beasts tore into one another, claws and teeth gnashing in a symphony of chaos. Thick mud coloured blood slathered the ground, the reek of rotting flesh clogging the air. Whatever those things were, they were not alive. And neither were Vesper’s.

Up ahead, a glow illuminated the forest’s edge and they barrelled toward it as Vesper’s beasts held off the creatures long enough to gain distance.

A metallic taste flooded Emmery’s mouth chased by the sting of bile as her head pounded. Sweat stung her eyes, but she didn’t wipe it away. There was no time.

A root surfaced, ripping her feet out from under her. The fox launched from her shoulder, thankfully breaching Guardian Kaah’s territory. Ribs bruising, Emmery struck the ground. Dirt crusted her fingernails as she clawed for safety, but the unyielding root hauled her back.

She was so close. Freedom was nearly within reach. Adrenaline overrode the pain lancing her leg and Emmery kicked out at empty air. Gritting her teeth, she caged a furious scream.

Not like this. She would not go like this.

Drawing his sword, Vesper dove and landed with a grunt. He clasped her forearm, his shoulder popping as he tugged her toward him, and brought the blade down. The root severed and, chest heaving, he sprang to his feet and hauled her with him.

Branches barricaded the sky and roots climbed to meet them.

They were out of time.

Pupils engorged, his wild eyes locked on hers for a tense moment then darted between her and their disappearing path, his thoughts written in the taut lines of his face.

“Don’t—” she started but with a low, anguished sound, he dropped his sword, grasped her in both hands, and shoved. A hearty gale propelled her, lightning cracking the sky, as she landed beside her fox.

The branches wove a wall. Tightened. Sealed.

And Vesper’s desolate face disappeared behind it. Emmery stared at the barrier as harsh reality sank in—the consequences of her actions.

This couldn’t be happening. He was trapped. He was trapped on the other side. And with Kaah’s deadly beasts. Emmery’s stomach sank, a tidal wave of panic drenching her.

Oh gods, what did she do?

“ No !” Scrambling on her hands and knees, Emmery lunged with her dagger. She struck but it ricocheted off the roots. “Vesper!”

Again and again, she brought her blade down, but it was no use. The impenetrable wood mocked her, squeezing tighter at each attempt. This couldn’t be happening. It couldn’t .

Breath not coming fast enough, her chest convulsed.

Emmery cursed, the foul words echoing in the empty air.

She screamed, voice fading, as her fists and feet feebly struck the roots.

The seconds dragged into minutes, and the invincible wall only stared back.

Her dagger slipped from her grasp and, hopeless, Emmery slumped to the ground with it.

She did this. He was trapped because of her. Because she didn’t listen. It was all her fault. And now she was completely and utterly alone in a world she knew nothing about. And she’d condemned Vesper to this fate. Her berating mind chanted— fool, coward, monster.

Emmery bit her cheek until she tasted blood. There had to be a way to destroy the wall. She just didn’t know how. All she had were daggers and a pack full of useless supplies.

She needed to think but her pounding heart and roaring in her ears drowned her.

Surveying Emmery with wise amber eyes, the fox nudged her clenched fist. She blinked back. The fox did it again, flipping her hand, palm up.

Vesper had mentioned her ability to disintegrate barriers. Was this what he meant? The fox’s eyes glimmered approval as Emmery studied her palms like she could visualize the magic clinging to each line. It was worth a shot. At this point, what did she have to lose?

Slowly, Emmery rose to her feet.

With a deep breath and pounding heart, she extended her palm to the wall. Leaning her face away, her magic surged. And released. Sparks pounced on the roots and smoke filled the air as flames ignited.

Emmery pushed. And pushed .

Indulging her magic was strange when suppressing the beast under her skin had become essential to her safety. But it was easy, fluid, like breathing or walking or speaking—an intuition locked within her. And the magic in her veins thrived, now no longer within human constraints.

She was free .

Emmery coaxed the blossoming flames, feeding them sparks, singing to them a melody swimming in her blood. Her teeth gritted and she fanned her magic, willing it harder, bigger, brighter, until—

The brittle branches crackled and disintegrated. Charred wood flaked until there was a patch large enough for Emmery to punch her fist through. She clawed the wood away, her nails broke, and blood ran down her fingers.

On the other side, Vesper’s wide eyes met hers.

“Stand back!” he hollered.

Emmery darted away just as his sword cleaved enough of the charred roots to push his broad shoulders through. Vesper sheathed his sword, and she grabbed his forearms, throwing her weight back before the branches could mend. He crashed through, knocking her to the ground.

The branches stitched back together, solidifying the wall once more.

They both landed with a thud and a groan. He lay atop her, their chests heaving, battling for air. His hands, on either side of her face, kept from crushing her, but also formed a cage.

“Are you trying to get us killed ?” Vesper barked, his breath hot, and face too close.

Emmery flinched but there was nowhere to go. No escape.

Swiping the perspiration from his brow, Vesper’s eyes smouldered. “I told you not to touch anything! Do you know how moronic that was?”

She shrank into the ground, fear spiking her body and pulse pounding. With Vesper’s limbs tangled with hers, she couldn’t move. Memories of rough hands and pain and pressure resurfaced, the helplessness of her pinned arms, her legs spread, exposed, unable to move—

“You nearly got us trapped! Do you know what Kaah would have done to me? Probably an eternity of servitude. Or his laundry, I’m not sure which is worse.” Vesper grumbled. “Did you see his cloak? That’s nasty !”

His humour merely slid off, her mind rejecting it. Emmery squirmed, pushing at his chest but he didn’t budge. Her world tilted and spun, and she couldn’t breathe. Raw panic followed the memories.

“Please,” she whimpered, tears stinging her throat. Hysteria bubbled up and she couldn’t stop it, her hands shaking as she shoved his chest. “ Please , get off me.”

Vesper’s brows rose as he scrutinized her unfocussed eyes, but he couldn’t seem to place what was happening inside her, the riotous torrent of panic choking her.

Shuddering, she sobbed, and the words ripped from her throat. “Vesper! Get off me. Get off me! Get off me! ”

His lips parted as recognition sank in, and he rolled off and got to his feet. Gripping the back of his neck, skin whitening around his hold, he helplessly watched her wipe her grubby hands down her face.

She wouldn’t cry. Wouldn’t reveal the weakness. Wouldn’t let him see her pained heart. But would she ever truly be whole again? Would the haunting memories ever cease?

Emmery lay there gasping for air, her head falling back in the long, damp grass. Her vision blurred at the edges, temples pulsing as she squeezed her eyes shut, fighting the gathering moisture, and tried to collect herself. In and out, her breath went. In and out. Slow .

She was alright. He would never hurt her again.

When her thundering heart quieted enough to make out the ticking of her pocket watch, Emmery focussed on the steady beat and pressed it into her chest. Tick , tick , tick .

She tried to remember what her mother’s tight squeezes felt like.

‘Bearhugs’ she would call them. Gods, she would give anything to be held by her again.

This was before she was sick of course. There were no bearhugs after Maela was born.

Remorse radiated off Vesper, his gaze locked on her, but he couldn’t have predicted that reaction. He didn’t know her. Didn’t know the vile things done to her. And she couldn’t blame him.

When her heart finally slowed and the panic subsided, she sank into the earth wishing it would open up and swallow her whole. But the air outside the woods—smelling of petrichor and sunlight—soothed her.

Gone were the thundering skies. Magic shimmered, stroking every blade of grass. This was what she imagined beyond the gate. A world tied up in wonder.

The fox nuzzled her neck and their eyes locked.

It was a strange little being, with tiny white horns protruding from its head.

Snowy fur coated its body in lush white waves, its tail, the length of its small frame, narrowed with a puff of fur at the end.

Fangs poked over the lips of its tapered snout but most notable were its wings.

The glossy black feathers were flawless except the left, likely twisted in the taut webbing.

As it watched her, that connection and undeniable pull remained. Her heart squeezed and she pushed her forehead against its side. Emmery tugged off the remaining webs and scratched its head. Tucking its nose under her arm, it curled into her lap as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Vesper doubled over, exhaling loudly as he braced his hands on his knees. His head hung between his legs, the colour bleeding from his cheeks. Emmery desperately hoped he wouldn’t retch. The smell of vomit was sure to make her sick too.

That hadn’t exactly gone the way she planned.

Emmery gave him a sheepish smile, but her brows scrunched as she noticed the black roots of his hair had completely greyed.

When did that happen? Not wanting to give light to her episodic panic, as a distraction she said, “That didn’t go well. ” She bit down on her lip. “Oops.”

“ Oops? ” His eyes narrowed but his voice softened. “You’ve got to be joking. I told you not to touch anything. We had one goal. To get across Kaah’s territory and—”

“I’m sorry you got trapped, but not that we saved her.” Emmery hugged the fox tighter. “She’s thankful. See?”

The fox gave Vesper a toothy smile which he narrowed his eyes at.

“You’ll be the death of me, I swear.” His face hardened as he righted himself and extended his hand. Blood smeared his cheek, a ragged bite mark on his shoulder peeking through his ripped tunic. Vesper gritted his teeth as he pulled her up, his shoulder hanging at an odd angle.

“You’re hurt,” Emmery murmured. The fox curled around her neck, head nestling on her collarbone above her zvezda . She reached for Vesper’s arm, but he jerked away.

“It’s a tad tender. Needs a good rest.”

She frowned. “Dislocated is more like it. It needs to be put back in.”

“I said it’s fine . It’s popped out before, it’ll go back on its own. No need to baby me.”

She knew it wasn’t but let it go. “It’s your shoulder. Your pain. Don’t come crying to me when you want to use your arm.”

“To be clear, I’m still bloody pissed,” he grumbled, glowering at the creature on Emmery’s shoulder, but a gentleness tainted his gaze when he met those big amber eyes.

“But look how cute she is.” Emmery cupped the creature’s cheeks. Saving it was one of the few things she’d done right in her life, even if it nearly cost them theirs. “How could you stay mad at that face?”

Vesper gave an exasperated sigh but stepped towards them. The creature bared its teeth as he reached a handout and a low pitch growl rumbled in its belly.

“I don’t think it likes me,” he said, retracting his hand but the creature didn’t let up. “Look, it's going to bite me! Emmery, do something!”

“Well, maybe she doesn’t want to be touched. If you would let me fix your shoulder, you might be able to fight her off.” Emmery choked back a laugh and hissed in the animal’s ear. “ Stop it. Be nice. ”

But she couldn't shake the image of Kaah’s unseeing eyes, as if he predicted she would save the little winged fox. Like he had planned it all along, taking the opportunity to claim Emmery for himself. As if the web was truly made for her .