Page 30 of The Spark that Ignites (Shattered Soul #1)

T he calamitous force of gurgled hisses twined with the impenetrable fog the moment they left the sun-soaked patch. They searched for the source but only the mist answered. Gut wrenching fear strangled Emmery and Vesper’s hand found hers as the fog threatened to tear them apart.

Sprinting the direction they came, her lungs burned, the hair escaping her braid clinging to her sweaty face. Panic climbed her throat as she clutched Aera to her shoulder.

The slithering intensified with each step, but the threat remained hidden as Vesper’s curses cleaved the air. They just needed to make it out. To get some bearing on their surroundings.

She wouldn’t die today. Not after all this.

A hiss snaked the shell of her ear as something leapt from the mist and struck Emmery’s side, knocking her to the mossy ground.

Her grip tore from Vesper’s. Aera fell from her shoulder, swallowed by the fog and Emmery feebly cried out.

A serpent coiled her thigh with such vicious strength, her hip threatened to dislocate.

Her name on Vesper’s lips whisked into the mist as the creature dragged her away.

Emmery kicked and connected, but its crushing grip shot agony up her leg, the pressure bursting her at the seams. Screaming as pain seized the air from her lungs, she flipped onto her back, flailing and fighting with every shred of fury and fear in her heart.

The serpent loomed, its black shadowy body larger than her arms span, face splayed open like a grotesque twisted star. Blood and black inky goo dripped from needle sharp fangs, hunger and vengeance tainting its unearthly screech.

“ Mine ,” it hissed, its voice lancing chills up her spine. “ Mine.”

The creature lunged, narrowly missing her shoulder. Helplessly suspended in its hold, Emmery could only react.

Strike. Dodge. Strike. Dodge.

It reared back and struck again. This time its ravenous teeth punctured her leather trousers, sinking into her thigh with a sickening squelch.

Inky acid scorched her skin—the burn like none she’d ever known.

Her fist collided with its head and its teeth retracted, but Emmery writhed as pain sang through her veins.

The serpent slithered into the mist, dragging her with it, and as she clawed for safety the damp moss clumped in her fingers.

Her thoughts muddled from the searing agony. Alone in the mist with this beast, her ears strained for Vesper’s voice, his breathing, anything to indicate he was still with her.

She hollered his name but only hissing answered. Oh gods, where was he? For all she knew, he too had been whisked away. She was on her own now. And where was Aera? What if they had already stolen the fox’s life.

No . She wouldn’t let that happen.

Raw, unfettered rage forced her breathing to slow, pinpointed each heartbeat, and coaxed the thrum of magic clawing her skin. She wouldn’t let herself be overcome. Her magic would save her, and even if the khaos flame took her, she would welcome it.

They would become one.

Emmery chucked the moss at the creature's head to distract while she readied her flame. Reaching for her beastly magic, she pounced, grasping the serpent’s tail, its spikes puncturing her skin.

It floundered, its hot, moist breath on her face reeking of carrion as Emmery bared her teeth, grip unfaltering.

Spittle laced with her blood flew into her eyes and clouded her vision.

Emmery’s magic trailed her veins, down her arms and hands until golden flame hungrily blazed like never before.

Fire scorched the creature, its screeching and thrashing useless against the khaos flame, licking and consuming until it ceased twitching, its charred body a lifeless husk. A baleful smile claimed Emmery’s lips.

She tossed the body into the mist, limping to her feet. Her leg burned like hot metal searing her flesh, but she kept going, the khaos flame flickering at her fingertips, ready to claim its next victim.

Aera appeared and, despite her size, latched her jaw around a serpent. Pride surged through Emmery as bones crunched, and it tumbled lifelessly to the ground.

Cloaked within the fog, serpents screeched at the demise of their companion and slithered alongside her, impossible to decipher how many loomed on the edge of her vision. Emmery grasped her dagger in one hand; flames contained in the other.

She needed to find Vesper and get the fuck out of here.

From the mist, a serpent advanced and she slashed its side. Rancid blood splattered her face. Emmery clasped its neck, golden flame erupting from its eyes and mouth, engulfing its body, leaving not a speck of life untouched. She tossed it aside like a piece of rubbish.

The mist thinned, revealing a path to freedom and Emmery stared longingly into the beckoning light, biting her cheek until she tasted blood.

It was so close she could escape and leave Vesper to fend for himself.

It would be easy. The cowardly monster inside her ran its talons down her cheek, whispering temptations in her ear and Emmery stumbled toward the light.

“ Emmery !” Vesper’s panicked yell sliced through her trance. “Emmery! Where are you?”

Her head snapped towards his voice and her legs responded, running before she could convince herself not to. Feet slipping on the damp moss, her heart thundered in her ears. Her lungs burned, thoughts racing as creatures surged at her, snaking limbs stretching for her ankles, but she pushed harder.

It was Vesper’s voice that guided her through the shroud of fog.

Aera caught a serpent and snapped its necks with a jerk. The bloodthirsty fox bounded alongside, face slick with blood and a grin vicious enough to make even the gods cower.

When Vesper came into view, centered in a branch of sunlight, Emmery’s heart sank.

At least two dozen serpents surrounded him, his sword clutched in hand, the other commanding three beasts with brutal slices up their bellies.

He was outnumbered. His creatures flopped, thrashing their barbed tails as the other serpents hissed in unison and easily immobilizing them.

There was no way he could fight them all off. He didn’t stand a chance on his own and Emmery couldn’t get there fast enough let alone through the throng of enemies.

Vesper caught her eye and relief flooded his face.

“Watch out!” she called but it was too late.

A serpent knocked the wind from his lungs as his back struck the ground.

His sword skidded from his grasp, resembling the image of the fallen soldier—his sword too just out of reach.

The serpent coiled his arms and neck, Vesper’s choked curses wheezing through.

And despite his valiant struggle, it held tight, snapping at his face, its mouth pried open with his hands.

If not for his gloves, its teeth would’ve shredded them.

Strands of inky drool lolled onto his cheeks, and he roared, snapping the creature's jaw with a sharp crack. He tossed it aside but another advanced, not leaving a moment of reprieve.

But before the serpent could connect, the air whirled as Vesper’s aura grew, expanding, stretching its ethereal reach. Aera brushed Emmery’s leg, her flesh blazing like a vicious sunburn from the serpent’s bite.

Her world tilted, spun, and she couldn't move. What was happening? Her knees buckled and she slumped to the ground.

Vesper yelled, back arching, as a shadow crawled from inside his chest, a terrifying darkness larger than a ship, a thing of nightmares engulfing the misty meadow. The shadow creature licked its lips.

That was—that was a fucking dragon .

The dragon’s pale eyes glowed hungrily as it whipped its thick, thorny tail, sending the serpents flying. It tittered, like a husky laugh, and reared its head, its shadowy, onyx scales shifting as it submerged the serpents in a billow of black fire.

Smoky air scorched Emmery’s lungs, thick with the stench of burnt flesh. Consciousness slipped like a thread between her fingers as her burning veins faded to an icy numbness.

Aera yipped as light eclipsed from Emmery’s darkening world.

She let the icy hand steal her, whisking her away into the void.

And then there was nothing at all.