mythean arcana 07 - witchs fate Read Online Free
Author: Linsey Hall
them.
CHAPTER TWO
Sofia opened her eyes at the edge of the dark forest. Enormous, leafless trees reached for the dark sky, their branches angry claws that threatened to sweep her up. She shuddered.
Kitty hissed. She hated this place.
The entrance point to the High Witches’ afterworld was freaking creepy. It was always night, the sky black and ominous. A sickly orange moon illuminated the haunted forest ahead of her and reflected off the eyes of black owls who sat in the trees, watching.
“Are we in an afterworld?” Malcolm’s rough murmur drifted over her. His accent was the same as she remembered—that of a refined English gentleman. But he wasn’t one.
The owls shifted nervously at the sound of Malcolm’s voice. As if they sensed his power. She glanced toward him. His dark sweater and trousers blended well with the forest, but it was his golden eyes and almost cruel handsomeness that most suited this place.
No, he wasn’t the man she remembered. But she wanted him all the same. The desire thrummed within her like a living thing, unwilling to be stifled by her anger or fear. Not even by the memory of their past. He’d made her feel like her heart had been torn out of her chest, but the worst of her pain was buried by the years.
One by one, the owls began to take off, their wings beating the air, as if they feared remaining in his presence. Magical beings were good at sensing a threat. She was no exception. The way that Malcolm blended so well with this evil place made her heart race. Combined with his height and the muscled power of his body—not to mention the immense magic that radiated from him—she couldn’t help but take a step backward.
If he noticed, he said nothing.
“Yes,” she said. “The High Witches are too conspicuous to live on earth. They destroyed the souls who lived on this afterworld long ago and took it for themselves.”
She’d been raised on the terrifying stories of the High Witches’ attack on this afterworld. The nightmarish tales spun by her mother for as long as she could remember kept her fearful and in line. If the High Witches could destroy all the souls who’d come here after death—Sofia had no idea what religion had created this afterworld—then they would have no trouble destroying her village.
“Where are they?” Malcolm asked.
“We’re at the edge of the haunted forest. Their stronghold is on the other side. This is the only place I’m allowed to aetherwalk to.”
“Why the hell don’t they just let you enter through the garden?”
“They like to play with me.”
He scowled. There was something odd in his gaze. Concern? Had he not realized how dangerous her role was? What she risked to save her village?
Welcome to my life, jerk.
She turned back to the forest, swallowing hard. Part of the game was that they filled the forest with nightmares. Or perhaps the forest did that itself. She’d never known if this afterworld had been a heaven or a hell, but if she had to put money on it, she’d say hell. Though mortals weren’t aware of the fact that the heavens and hells of their religions existed, Mytheans were. Some could even travel to them.
Sofia reached out a hand for Kitty, who had turned into smoke and now hovered at her side. Nothing could touch Kitty in that form. Sofia wished she could do the same.
“We’d better get started.” She set off toward the forest, wincing at the eerie sponginess of the ground. Once, it had wept blood. After that, she’d stopped looking down.
Malcolm joined her as she picked her way between the trees. Something slithered in the distance. She drew her wand from the aether and gripped it tight.
“What have you been doing these past centuries?” Malcolm’s voice broke the silence.
“Why do you want to know?”
“Pass the time.”
“I’m not here to entertain you. That time has passed.”
“You were never merely entertainment to me.”
“Whatever.” She
CHAPTER TWO
Sofia opened her eyes at the edge of the dark forest. Enormous, leafless trees reached for the dark sky, their branches angry claws that threatened to sweep her up. She shuddered.
Kitty hissed. She hated this place.
The entrance point to the High Witches’ afterworld was freaking creepy. It was always night, the sky black and ominous. A sickly orange moon illuminated the haunted forest ahead of her and reflected off the eyes of black owls who sat in the trees, watching.
“Are we in an afterworld?” Malcolm’s rough murmur drifted over her. His accent was the same as she remembered—that of a refined English gentleman. But he wasn’t one.
The owls shifted nervously at the sound of Malcolm’s voice. As if they sensed his power. She glanced toward him. His dark sweater and trousers blended well with the forest, but it was his golden eyes and almost cruel handsomeness that most suited this place.
No, he wasn’t the man she remembered. But she wanted him all the same. The desire thrummed within her like a living thing, unwilling to be stifled by her anger or fear. Not even by the memory of their past. He’d made her feel like her heart had been torn out of her chest, but the worst of her pain was buried by the years.
One by one, the owls began to take off, their wings beating the air, as if they feared remaining in his presence. Magical beings were good at sensing a threat. She was no exception. The way that Malcolm blended so well with this evil place made her heart race. Combined with his height and the muscled power of his body—not to mention the immense magic that radiated from him—she couldn’t help but take a step backward.
If he noticed, he said nothing.
“Yes,” she said. “The High Witches are too conspicuous to live on earth. They destroyed the souls who lived on this afterworld long ago and took it for themselves.”
She’d been raised on the terrifying stories of the High Witches’ attack on this afterworld. The nightmarish tales spun by her mother for as long as she could remember kept her fearful and in line. If the High Witches could destroy all the souls who’d come here after death—Sofia had no idea what religion had created this afterworld—then they would have no trouble destroying her village.
“Where are they?” Malcolm asked.
“We’re at the edge of the haunted forest. Their stronghold is on the other side. This is the only place I’m allowed to aetherwalk to.”
“Why the hell don’t they just let you enter through the garden?”
“They like to play with me.”
He scowled. There was something odd in his gaze. Concern? Had he not realized how dangerous her role was? What she risked to save her village?
Welcome to my life, jerk.
She turned back to the forest, swallowing hard. Part of the game was that they filled the forest with nightmares. Or perhaps the forest did that itself. She’d never known if this afterworld had been a heaven or a hell, but if she had to put money on it, she’d say hell. Though mortals weren’t aware of the fact that the heavens and hells of their religions existed, Mytheans were. Some could even travel to them.
Sofia reached out a hand for Kitty, who had turned into smoke and now hovered at her side. Nothing could touch Kitty in that form. Sofia wished she could do the same.
“We’d better get started.” She set off toward the forest, wincing at the eerie sponginess of the ground. Once, it had wept blood. After that, she’d stopped looking down.
Malcolm joined her as she picked her way between the trees. Something slithered in the distance. She drew her wand from the aether and gripped it tight.
“What have you been doing these past centuries?” Malcolm’s voice broke the silence.
“Why do you want to know?”
“Pass the time.”
“I’m not here to entertain you. That time has passed.”
“You were never merely entertainment to me.”
“Whatever.” She
Readers choose
Luke; Short
Paul Lisicky
Simon R. Green
Ron Carlson
Josie Litton
Kelly Favor
Lisa Tucker
Kevin Killeen
Belinda Murrell
Helen B. Henderson