Demon Day Penelope Fletcher (which ebook reader TXT) 📖

“Rae!”

I could not have told you who screamedmy name. The wind was too loud.

Standing, I shielded my face with myhands and pushed forward, angling my body so I could cut throughthe wall of wind. I climbed up the stone barricade, my footslipping only once as I scaled the dusty rock. I reached the top ofthe stones, and set my two feet shoulder width apart.

I ducked when a screaming Cleric’sflailing body flew past, upward, and was sucked into the spiral ofwind. Seeing it was Samuel I lurched forward and grabbed his ankle,channeling magic into the stone beneath me to ground us. Yankinghim back down, I took his head in my hands, and forced him to openhis eyes and look at me.

“Climb down and run,” Iordered in a calm voice. “Get the others away fromhere.”

He nodded repeatedly, his blonde curlswhipping in the wind. “Come with me.”

I frowned; I did not have the time tosee him down safely. “I can’t. Trust me if I could go with you Iwould, but my place is here. Go.”

He scaled down without another wordand I watched him to make sure he reached the bottom.

The airstream reversed, sucking intoitself, and the cloud above twisted around and around until it wasthe shape of a tapered spike. Lightning cracked the sky and thunderrolled. A freak spray of rain pelted my body. I staggered back,arms flapping in circles until I regained my balance.

I swiped my hands over my face,dragging the wet and heavy hair that lashed my neck and shouldersout the way so I could see.

The tunnel of wind swooped over myhead and touched down on the ground, blocking everything andeveryone from view. It became eerily quiet, the wind a distant roarin the background. I could hear my own panicked gasping as I stood,waiting, anxious.

I was trying to fight, Iknew I should not give up … I just could not seewhat I was trying tofight.

There was a pulse of energy overhead.My head snapped up, and I stared into the churning ruckus,searching.

“You cannot defeat me,” avoice alleged sympathetically behind me.

I spun on my heel and tried to stepback, but the he-witch grabbed my throat in his hand and squeezed.I swung my fist in a punch, but my hand sailed straight throughhim. He was made of nothing but shadows and smoke.

“It is my power that holdsyou not my body.” He cocked his head at me and frowned as if Ishould have understood this.

His eye sockets hollowed and his mouthopened to an unnaturally large size. He inhaled me, rather theessence of me, and I whimpered as the world spun andlurched.

“The High Lord had nothingon you, did he? Ní fhéadfadh sé seasamh inaghaidh mo fhéadfadh. But you … you arepowerful, Rae.” He chuckled as he said my name and I could not helpmy eyes widening. He drew me closer and whispered in my ear. “Yes,I know your name, Priestess.” He spat the word. “Do you know mine?”The hand of shadow at my throat tightened. Black spots dancedacross my vision. “Do you know who I am? I am the one who is goingto destroy everything and everyone you love. Your time has ended;you just don’t realize it yet.” His power rolled over me, trying toscare me into submission. “And the one you’re bonded to … hmm …would you like to know his fate?”

My eyes snapped fully openand my nature flared. Furious. Enraged. Whoever this man was hejust made a mistake. He almost had me. Almost. But he’d made theultimate mistake in threatening the one person I would die for.When it came to protecting myself I would always hesitate, alwaysthink twice about taking a life. But nobody would be able to threatenBreandan without being annihilated. This witch was about to learnthat. What I should and could do became all too clear.

I called magic to me and drew itthrough the amulet of power. I took hold of it so forcefully andquickly I thought my head might pop off from the pressure. Then Itapped into the amulet of protection, and felt his hold on meloosen, as I focused my strength on the ever-present hum of energyfrom the amulet of wisdom. It was incomparable in its wonder, and Ifelt superior magics to rival the clout of the gods themselves comeunder my control. The amulet of wisdom gifted me with the abilityto think in separate channels. I protected myself, channeled theSource, and became aware that Breandan was close, ready to help ifI needed him. I shut that channel of thought down. I was strongenough to manage this task alone, and the longer I focused on ourbond the more it sucked me in.

I reached out this time andgrabbed him by thethroat. My hand did not pass through him – it was able to takehold. It was like I pulled more of his spirit from wherever it wasinto this form so I could touch him.

Then something strange happened.Recognition. It was like I looked at myself in the mirror but sawdifferent features.

“I know you,” Iwhispered.

The shock on his face reflected mine.He grunted then closed his eyes and disappeared.

He reappeared a few steps back, andheld up his hand. A smooth edged beam of azure light grew in hispalm. The light darted toward me and I sent a shield of magic tosmother it, but before my spell could take effect, the light brokeinto a dozen forks. I screamed as they struck me in the chest andscorched the stone beneath me.

I staggered back gasping for breathand trembling. There was no pain. I had expected my skin to sizzleoff, but rather than an overwhelming agony it felt like butterfliesdanced on my chest, wings fluttering across my skin.

The he-witch started, jerked back.Muttering an incantation, he watched me with raptattention.

A bolt of lightning struck the groundbeside me. My head flew back as another raced from the black sky toearth and struck me square in the forehead. The lightning glancedoff me, hit the ground, and disintegrated. My hand flew to mycirclet, now scalding hot and burning my brow. It cooled as Ipushed my hair from