“Can you touch it now?” She’d managed to put up with her own birthmark attacking her; he figured she was strong enough to endure the pull of the book.
She swallowed hard but nodded, holding out her hands for it. The tome was heavy. He coated both of her trembling hands in hyssop oil and then carefully placed Xavier’s spell book into her open palms. As he turned toward the approaching enemy, he saw the holes in the book grow into gaping wounds. Blood poured from the pages. Insects rushed up Julija’s arms.
“Sun scorch that book from hell,” he snapped and tried to take it from her.
“Just go,” she hissed. “Hurry. Keep them off of me until this book has disappeared.”
She had no idea tears were running down her face. She looked exhausted. Her arm was chewed up and bloody. Her wrist still dripped blood. She tried to keep her wrist over the book, holding the spine of the book with one hand, but she looked as if she could collapse at any moment.
It was one of the hardest things he’d ever had to do, but he turned back to face their enemy. Just know, Julija, that you are very loved. You are everything to me. My heart. My soul. And I am prouder of you than I can say. He poured the truth into her mind, sending her as much strength as he could spare.
She sent him a watery smile and immediately switched her attention back to Xavier’s spell book. As he was turning to go, he caught a glimpse of the hand beneath the book, only because the wind had blown the snow onto the ground, covering it completely. Great drops of bright crimson blood fell in globs onto the snow. Her hand was welded to the spine of the book with several sharp hooks that had pierced right through her skin.
“Just keep them off me,” she hissed, concentrating on spreading the blood over the cover of the book. She began to whisper softly, as if talking to her birthmark.
I call to snake, you who are of my blood.
Through you I am reborn, transformed.
Heal me. Renew me.
I call to scorpion, whose wisdom runs through my mind, my body.
Rid me of all poisons, protect me from unseen attack.
Guide me as I fight.
Three now become one together. We are whole.
The gaps in the book widened. With every minute growth, more mutant bugs and vile wormlike creatures that snapped sharpened teeth at her as they crawled up her arm emerged. Isai couldn’t take it. He turned back to help her. As he did, the scorpion switched allegiances, ceasing to fight Julija’s will and suddenly joining with her. The arachnid attacked the worm creatures, stinging them repeatedly. The snake joined in, devouring the insects as they raced up her arm.
“Go,” Julija insisted. “They can’t reach the book before it is fully destroyed.” She couldn’t let it go. It had wrapped roots into her hand and wrist, trying to feed off her blood, fighting to stay alive. The fate of his mage and the book were tied together.
Fetid smoke rose in the air as the book tried to fight back. He gave it one last shot of his blood, snared the nape of her neck and kissed her, and then loped off, whistling softly.
Blue. Give me a report. He shared the request with all the cats.
Hellhounds are held in check. Anatolie has sent the shadow warriors to you. We have surrounded them, but there is no way to kill them. There are others mixed in, mage followers he has sent to bring Julija back to him.
The images the cat sent back at first were difficult to decipher. He was getting better at it the more the cats communicated with him.
We are picking the mage followers off one by one.
That explained the occasional bloodcurdling shriek he’d heard. He knew the moment his warriors engaged with the shadow warriors. The night erupted with the sound of metal clashing as swords struck swords or shields.
Do not take any chances. Any of you. Whatever you do, do not get close to the hellhounds or the mages.
All six cats gave a little sniff of disdain, as if his order was ridiculous. Who knew shadow cats could be rebellious? He couldn’t think about anything right now but slowing down the approach to Julija.
He moved into the swirling snow, coming up on the first of the combatants. Anatolie had forced the shadow warriors to rise.