Crowning Glory (In Bloom Book 2)

14: Trick Up Their Sleeve

We came to the doorstep of the Eastern fortress much sooner than I anticipated. I should actually say through the window.

I wrapped my arms tightly around myself. The stone structure only allowed an icy draft to course through its halls. Metallic doors containing the emblem of the Silver Owls separated each room.

The sense that we were being watched never seemed to leave me. I also picked up on a strange essence of magic, but I could not locate its source. For that reason, I had my own arsenal of magic ready to fire at any surprise attacks. Though, there was something else that seemed off. And no one else seemed to be bothered by the absence of guards inside compared to the outside.

Baul and Lilia brought us to an empty room. Judging by its sheer size, it was meant to hold a large congregation. There was a disgusting scent in the air.

I exchange a look with Grim. We both had the same thought. We had to leave. Now.

At that moment, the metallic doors behind us slammed shut. A glamour lowered to reveal our opponent. An armed excavator. In front of the machine was Agostino Salvatori. He also brought along his merry band of Silver Owls.

The wizard chuckled, "Ready for another round, witch?"

"Everyone, to arms!" Lilia commanded.

Agostino launched his own attack. A wave of black smoke came towards us. At me.

This time, I would not render myself helpless.

I control the dark. The dark does not control me.

Practicing since before the sun rose, I was nowhere near a level of proficiency in shadow magic. But, I was able to learn a few tricks. Like making Agostino's veil of darkness split in two and return to him.

The weight of the darkness nearly pulled me along with it. I had practiced on smaller shadows along our route, making them move wherever I wanted them to go. But for something of this size...it was like I was getting dragged along by a powerful current.

I control the dark. The dark doesn't control me.

The two fragments of shadows came back together before flying towards the original caster.

The same spell was thrown again, and again. The shadows grew lighter. They became easier to maneuver through the room, like controlling a stream of water. I could also see the vein on Agostino's forehead become more prominent.

He thought a pyro trajectory would catch me off guard. A wave of water rose in front of us to extinguish the flames. The mist spreading throughout the room was a perfect distraction for the Silver Owls.

Once our field of vision cleared, Agostino was revealed as the last man standing. His comrades were restrained by twining vines and pressed against the stone walls. Their weapons lay on the ground beneath them.

Agostino's face became a ghostly shade of white. But I knew better. When a Salvatori did not get their way, a temper tantrum was bound to come.

Another shadow slithered on the ground toward me before sharply veering to the left. At Grim. I got ahold of the shadow and steered it back at Agostino's direction. I maintained my grasp on it. I felt a pull on my power as the Salvatori Silver Owl attempted to reestablish control. I refused to allow it.

Another battle lesson: when someone is occupied on offense, they often forget to defend.

While he was distracted, my plants wrapped around his wrists and ankles. When he realized, I yanked him backwards for him to meet the wall. Flames were blown onto the vines, but they did not burn to a crisp. A barrier encapsulated him before some violet flowers blossomed from the ground to release their mist. His thrashing began to lessen, soon his screams were silenced.