Immortal Consequences(79)

“Or…he left us,” Irene sneered. “Just like I knew he would.”

“He wouldn’t do that,” Olivier snapped back. When no one else chimed in, he glanced around with a helpless look in his eyes. “Right?”

The four of them went silent.

“I have a potential theory that might help,” Emilio said, looking among the group warily. “But I could be wrong.”

“Well,” Masika said, “considering the horde of shadow creatures currently circling us, I’m all ears.”

“The original creature was much larger than this, right? It looked different. Felt more alive.” Emilio’s voice wavered as the others listened. “What if these smaller versions aren’t real? Just an illusion the real creature is projecting to distract us while it went looking for August and Wren.” He sighed when he clocked the confusion on their faces. “Think about it. We’re totally outnumbered, yet we’re the only ones attacking. They’re just circling us. Look.”

He was right. The creatures continued to surround them, but they didn’t move closer.

“Because if they’re surface illusions, they can’t actually hurt us,” Olivier whispered, letting his control on the tree root drop. “It’s how we confused the creature in the maze. By replicating Irene.”

Emilio nodded. “Exactly.”

“And how do you suggest we test this theory?” Masika asked.

“Well…” Emilio scratched the back of his neck. “I guess we try to make a run for it. If we run right through them, then I was right. They’re illusions. Nothing but smoke and magic.”

Irene stepped forward. “And if they’re not?”

He shrugged. “Then we cross that bridge when we get there.”

It wasn’t a plan. Not even half a plan. But it was all they had.

Masika let out a shaky breath. “I say we go for it.”

The four of them exchanged nods. A moment of hesitation stretched before them.

And then they started running.

Emilio braced himself as he approached the first shadow creature, holding his breath.

To his immense relief, he ran straight through the creature, the edges disintegrating before his very eyes. He was on the other side of it now, running through shadow after shadow as if they were nothing but vapor and air.

He had been right.

Emilio watched the realization wash over the faces of the others as they ran beside him.

“You brilliant idiot!” Irene screamed, a smile on her face.

Olivier let out a joyous cackle of laughter, wrapping his arm over Emilio’s shoulders, nearly toppling him to the ground. Masika seemed relieved, the corners of her lips lifting into the hint of a smirk. They were almost at the main grounds that led toward the first set of dorms when something shrieked above them.

The shadow creature.

The real one.

“Shit.” Irene produced shards of silver light from her fingertips. “It found us!”

Olivier glanced up, the smile on his lips vanishing. The four of them came to a sudden halt, frozen in place. The shadow began to descend upon them, its wings spreading far enough to envelop them completely.

“Get down!” Masika bellowed.

They flung themselves onto the ground. Emilio shielded the back of his head with his hands, pressing his cheek against the cold grass as he shut his eyes and braced himself.

He waited. He waited for the suffocating darkness, for the smothering pressure, but it never came.

When he opened his eyes, it was to the image of a blinding white light shooting toward the creature, shielding them from its pointed claws. It wasn’t until he gathered himself up onto his elbows that he noticed August standing a few yards away, hands extended, the particles of magic enveloping him in a brilliant halo.

August let out a hoarse scream and stretched the light out farther. The creature howled, pushing against the protective barrier. Terror unfurled in Emilio’s chest. It won’t hold. August was exhausted, nearly depleted from his trip into the Ether. He would never be able to stop this creature on his own.

But then a secondary burst of magic exploded from behind August—a swirling wave of shadows that crashed against the creature and caused it to implode, dissolving into nothing but ash.

The particles rained down upon them, coating Emilio’s skin in soot. The others looked up, their faces riddled with confusion. August seemed equally startled as he reached out his hand, catching the flakes of ash in his palm.

Emilio was about to speak when something behind August’s shoulder caught his eye.

Not something…someone.

A collective gasp sprang from the group when the realization dawned on them. Because standing right behind August, surrounded by the residual cloud of shadow magic, was Louise, white-faced and shaken.

Her lips quivered as she looked down at her palms and realized what she had done.

Her knees buckled. Her eyes rolled back into her head.

August reached out and caught her just in time, her body slumping in his arms.

It was in that same moment that a swirling cloud of smoke appeared, along with a dizzying swell of power, and then Headmaster Silas was standing before them. He looked around the group with wide eyes, his face a clouded mask of unreadable emotions.

“Well…” He cleared his throat. “I suppose it’s best if you all follow me.”