The Rose Witch - Chandelle LaVaun Page 0,81

chest. I looked up to try and get Malachi’s attention and my eyes widened. The forest was gone. We were walking on a beach. The white sand was soft and powdery. The water was calm, with only small waves rolling into the shore. I’d never seen the colors that vibrant. At the shore it was almost entirely transparent, with just a hint of green. There was aqua, then turquoise, then the richest blue I’d ever seen.

A white chalice floated on the ocean’s surface, blending in with the breaking waves. A chalice!

“No, Chloe.”

I opened my mouth to try and ask why there were so many chalices but then black smoke flickered in my vision. I blinked and looked around, yet no matter where I turned they filled the edges of my vision. With every step the black smoky flames danced farther into my line of view. My pulse quickened.

“Malachi,” I whispered. And then everything went black again. “MALACHI!”

“I’m here. Listen to my voice, Chloe. I’m right here,” he said calmly. “Use your magic.”

My magic. Right. I pushed it out and instantly felt that tug in my belly as it exploded around me. The coldness brushed over my face and the black faded away.

In front of us was nothing but white, puffy clouds and what appeared to be a spiral staircase, though I could only see the first few steps. The stairs were made of a light gray, smooth stone that matched the walls which closed us in. Wait, when did these walls get here? Where are we? What’s happening?

We took three steps and the black smoke shot out from the edge of my eyes like tunnel vision. I tried to shoot my magic at it again but the black smoke slipped around it and coiled around me, drenching me in darkness.

NO! SHAKE IT OFF, CHLOE!

I gasped and jumped right out of Malachi’s arms. The darkness faded. Pain burst from every spot of my body as I tumbled to the ground. Malachi’s hands gripped my waist and lifted me back up — my breath left me in a rush.

All I could see was a line of palm trees separating a beach from a forest. Behind us was utter darkness, with the exception of the moon’s glow lighting up the tops of the trees. It looked like there was fresh fallen snow. Malachi dragged me forward and the ground lit up under my feet. Instead of darkness, I found a luminescent blue. With every step I took, the light returned. A blast of light slammed into my back and I dropped to my knees. The ground beneath me surged with blue illumination. Two big splotches of blue light lit up under my hands, and it didn’t stop. It shot out from us like a wildfire, illuminating a massive oval shape. My jaw dropped.

It was a lake. “What is—"

Everything went black.

Except this time, it felt warm and inviting. All the pain in my body subsided. I sighed and sank into it, letting myself fall. It was a relief to not hurt, to not have to pretend anything. I just wanted to lay down for a few minutes…to not hurt for a minute…the black light began to fade, lightening with every second until everything was a bright white—

“CHLOE!” Malachi shouted.

I gasped and jumped – and flopped in Malachi’s arms. He leaned over me with wide, panicked eyes. He cupped my face and tipped it back. The blue glowing crescent moon was brighter than before and reflecting on Malachi’s bare chest. He looked green. His hands trembled but he pressed them to my chest and bright light poured between us.

Our soulmate glyph glowed bright red.

“Malachi…” I said as loud as I could but it was just a whisper.

“Chloe,” he said with a heavy, relieved sigh. His hands on my face tightened and then my lips were pressed against his. He pulled back far too soon. “That was too close. I can’t lose you. Stay with me. We’re here.”

Where? Where are we? I tried to say but my lips were glued shut.

“The Lake of Holy Water.”

Holy Water keeps what isn’t welcome, an unfamiliar woman’s voice said into my mind. You’re not welcome.

I glanced around but it was only us. No one else was there. It was just us and the lake.

And then Malachi’s words registered. We’re here. My heart fluttered. That meant the chalice had to be here for me to drink out of. I frowned and looked around, ignoring the sharp pains shooting into my body