Dark Secrets - Linsey Hall Page 0,54
As they began to search the text, the sky darkened abruptly.
Carrow looked up, a frown creasing her brow. “That’s weird. It’s not even close to dusk.”
Energy surged on the air, and thunder rumbled.
“That’s even weirder,” Mac said.
Wind began to howl, and the air prickled ominously, pulling from the direction of the Shadow Guild tower.
“Something is wrong.” Eve walked to the window, and the others stood.
I joined her, looking out into the eerily dark sky. Dusk appeared to have fallen, and lightning exploded against the blackness.
“I’m going to check the tower,” Eve said.
She spread her sparkling wings and launched herself off the windowsill and into the sky, flying in the direction of the tower on the other side of town.
Eve wasn’t gone long. She flew back through the window, her eyes wide. “It’s coming from the tower. We need to get over there.”
Mac spoke into her comms charm. “Quinn? Meet us at the new tower. Bring any shifters you can get. We might need backup.”
“Time, I need time,” Carrow muttered. “There’s something in this book. I feel it.”
“Read and walk,” Seraphia said.
Carrow nodded, her gaze on the book. Eve strode into the kitchen with a bag over one shoulder and two vials, one in each hand. She gave them to Mac and Seraphia, who gulped them down.
“What you really need is rest,” Eve said.
“So do you.” Mac looked her over. “You’re pale.”
“We’re all pale, and we all feel like shit,” Seraphia said. “Now, come on. Let’s go win this fight.”
My brows rose. There was more to the little librarian than first met the eye.
Eve gave Seraphia the bag. “That’s full of potion bombs. Most are meant to kill, so be careful with them.”
“Thank you.” Seraphia looped it over her shoulder.
The four of us hurried down the stairs, Carrow bringing up the rear as she kept her nose buried in the book. I walked in front of her, close enough to catch her in case she tripped.
When we reached the street, Eve launched herself into the air once more and looked back at us. “I’m going to get a head start.”
“Be careful,” Mac said. “That lightning looks bad.”
Eve kept low, flying just below the rooftops.
We pushed our way through the streets, which were crowded with people staring up at the strangely dark sky. The wind whipped more strongly, coming from the direction of the Shadow Guild tower.
“Getting any clues there, Carrow?” Mac asked.
“Maybe.” Her eyes raced over the pages as she flipped through them. “There’s got to be something about this.”
We had nearly reached the narrow alley that led to the courtyard in front of the tower when Carrow yelped, “I found it!”
“What is it?” Seraphia asked.
“When the spell on the tower is threatened by the return of the guild members, Councilor Rasla will rise one last time to protect it.”
“Guild members?” Mac said. “That has to be us.”
Carrow nodded. “It says they will be led by one with strange and deadly magic. It is her arrival that instigates it all.”
“That’s you,” Mac said. “It has to be.”
Carrow frowned, her eyes still racing over the page. “The disturbed magic will reinvigorate him for a short time. He will be powerful, so powerful that he can ensure his agenda once again.”
“Killing all of us,” Mac said. “Because I’m pretty sure that’s his goal.”
“And hiding the Shadow Guild once more,” Seraphia said.
“We won’t let him.” Carrow snapped the book shut.
We reached the alley. I led the way, sprinting through the narrow space. It had become a wind tunnel. I forced my way through, pushing against the gale.
The courtyard in front of the Shadow Guild tower was chaos. Lightning struck overhead, thunder booming every few seconds. The ferocious wind roared and whipped the dead leaves in a cyclone.
Magic pulsed, oily and evil. It came from the statue at the center of the courtyard.
The others joined me, and Eve landed at our side.
As if it had been waiting for us, the magic pulsed once more, so hard that it popped my ears like we’d changed elevation.
“What’s happening?” Mac shouted. “The magic is changing!”
The statue of Councilor Rasla exploded with a deafening boom. Shards of stone bombarded us, and we ducked against the wall to protect our faces. I wrapped myself around Carrow and Mac, who stood closest. The stone sliced through my back and arms, and Carrow hissed in pain.
As soon as it stopped, we whirled around.
The statue was gone. In its place stood a man formed of thick smoke instead of muscle and bone. Power