The Shadow

Chapter 24

Kai watched as the shard of light flew through the air. It sped toward him and he watched as death looked him in the eye. It was so close, so close—

Everything stopped. The grass stopped twisting in the wind, the streams stopped flowing, the birds stopped singing. It was as if the whole world had come to a halt, unless...no, it hadn't stopped. Things were still moving, just far slower than they had been before. The knife was still moving through the air, slowly approaching Kai's heart.

But he could move, he would be safe, he would—no. Kai tried to turn his head but something kept it in place; something stuck him there, an unbreakable barrier that would not allow him to budge. He fought against the thing keeping him from moving, fought against the barrier, willing it to let him pass. It did not.

So he was here too, stuck in a world where time seemed to function differently, anticipating something that he could not stop.

It was two feet away now. The blade was fire; yellow flames enveloping a red-hot core of burning death. An inch closer now. It would reach him in seconds, and he would die. The light would burn through his heart—

Kai fell to the ground as the world around him sped up. No, he hadn't fallen. Someone had pushed him. Then he heard it. A sharp scream that pulled Kai back into reality. He turned, heaving himself to his feet. And there she was, writhing on the grass, hands clawing away dirt and weeds. Harper.

And that terrible blade of light was lodged between her neck and shoulder. The smell of burning flesh came a moment later as Kai knelt before her.

He screamed but heard nothing as everything drifted away. There was only Harper, his companion. His friend. And she was dying. The weapon of light buried deeper as tears formed rivulets down her cheeks. He had to do something.

Kai was distantly aware of shouts around him, but it did not matter. And then he felt it. That thing rising up inside of him; a serpent curling out from its lair. The blade of light burned through Harper's flesh; it seemed to sense her heart and pushed harder.

Shadow's shot from somewhere deep within Kai, groping for the terrible light that would kill Harper if he let it. The branches of darkness grabbed ahold of the light, twisting their inky black leaves of power around the blade. Perspiration slid down Harper's face, mingling with her tears.

Kai's shadows grasped the weapon, darkness weaving around the pillar of light. They seemed to clash, the light and the darkness, but only for a moment. Within seconds the shadows burned through the light, destroying whatever power the wraith had wielded. Harper's face relaxed as she slipped into unconsciousness.

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Kai stood over Harper, forcing himself to turn his gaze toward the danger standing mere feet away. Was the wraith even standing? Yes, booted feet flickered under the cloudy sky, soft blades of grass crushing beneath their weight.

Branson and Sean lay on the ground near the wraith, puddles of blood growing beside them. The rest of the soldiers stood at the ready, weapons outstretched. Theo panted, attempting to nurse a wound on his shoulder, but the rest seemed to be unscathed. Physically, at least.

The wraith bore no wounds, and now held a sword of light in its hands. And its eyes...yes, the creature was still staring at Kai.

He looked down. Surely enough, Kai's shadows still remained. They fluttered around his hands, awaiting their master's commands.