As much as I want to help the town’s inhabitants, I have to check on the witches and shamans—and the other main cloud. If it turned sentient too…
The journey back takes much longer than it should have. I fly limply. Destroying the cloud has taken a toll on me.
Lightning rains down, the sparks of light flickering like a roaring fire. The witches and shaman are no longer fighting each other; they’re attacking my storm. Witches throw fire at the hailstones, melting them before they can do damage. Shamans hold up rods that rerouted the lightning bolts back to the cloud. Instead of lessening the storm’s might, the cloud grows with each blast. Now it encompasses many miles, at least twenty times larger than the other cloud.
If it continues to grow at this rapid pace, will it eventually encompass the entire world?
A sentient, magical storm… no one will be able to stop it. Maybe not even me.
Have I unknowingly doomed the world? Am I not only magic incarnate but also the bringer of the apocalypse?
Chapter 43
MY HEART POUNDS in time with the lightning that bounces between the cloud and the lightning rods and back again. If magic feeds into the cloud, even I might not be able to destroy it.
But I have to at least try.
A half dollar-sized hailstone collides into my head. In my weakened state, I collapse to the ground. Staggering, I roll over to my feet and accidentally knock into a shaman.
A lightning bolt sears through me. I shudder. It takes all of my willpower to climb onto all fours and push myself up into a standing position. My light isn’t brilliant anymore. It’s beyond dull. Both light and blood pour from my wound. This terrifies me, if I have the energy to be terrified. My true form… Is it dying?
A raindrop lands beside me in a perfect bubble. I scry within it. This cloud will continue to grow until it covers the entire world. The cloud will bring about the destruction of the earth. I am, indeed, the bringer of the apocalypse.
Not if I can help it.
I grab the rod from the shaman and dip it into my blood. The rod glows a brownish red color. Blood and metal. Next, I manage to catch a small hailstone on it. Water.
Silver Tiger comes over. “You look like—”
I don’t bother to waste words and point to the now purple rod. “Fire.”
The witch zaps it with a small fireball.
Too tired to talk again, I nod to show my appreciation and smear some dirt onto it. All I need now is wind, which the storm itself supplies.
My attempt to fly is pathetic. My body refuses to comply. I’m too weak.
The storm is growing in magnitude, and witches and shamans are grabbing onto trees to remain grounded. I jump into the air, and the wind picks me up and hurls me straight to the heart of the storm.
It has been waiting for me. It knows me as its creator. It’s hellbent on killing me.
Hailstones pound me from every direction. A large, sharp one slams into my wound, and I almost drop the rod. Lightning singes me, and I convulse from the charge. The clock is ticking down, and time’s almost up. I can’t take much more.
Slashing wildly with the rod, I cut the cloud apart like butter.
The pieces reform, somehow doubling in size.
The rod isn’t strong enough.
I need a sacrifice.
Vince. Mom. Bri.
Unwavering, I shove the rod into my heart. A pure ray of magic shoots out, piercing through the cloud, disintegrating it.
Without the cloud holding me up, without the wind to lift me, I plummet to the ground and land face first in the muddy hill, narrowly missing a broken gravestone.
That horrid sound… What is it? Is that awful wheezing me? I can scarcely breathe.
A sacrifice is only a sacrifice if the lamb dies.
The rod is gone, and blood is flowing freely down my chest, drenching me. No light remains. Somehow, I’ve reverted back to my human form.
To die.
Tears stream down my face. Not because of pain or the growing coldness. I don’t fear death. No, I’m crying because I’ll never have the chance to tell Vince I love him.
Vince… Vince, I love you.
I want to wipe my tears away, but my arms won’t move.
Please, dear Lord, I know I don’t believe in you anymore. I shouldn’t even be praying now. But please, if I’m wrong and you do exist, please… Vince… watch over him. Help him. I never wanted to leave him. Please let him turn to you this time. Please… Vince… And my mom… she’s lost so much. Bri… my friends, everyone, please watch over them. Please keep them safe and happy and…
With that final prayer, I breathe my last and die.
Epilogue
I’M DEAD. I know I am. There’s nothing around me.
No Heaven.
No Hell.
Just a huge vast emptiness.
Suddenly, there’s an incredible brightness I can’t bear to look at.
“Crystal.”
That voice… It’s so familiar, but have I heard it before?
“Your time has not come yet. Are you ready to go back?”
“Yes!”
* * *
If you liked this book, check out:
A MATTER OF DOUBT
(Magic Incarnate Book Two)
http://amzn.to/1OIfxLA
http://nicolezoltack.blogspot.com
* * *
About the Author
Nicole Zoltack loves to write speculative stories for all ages. When she’s not writing about knights, superheroes, or witches, she loves to spend time with her loving husband, three energetic young boys, and precious baby girl. She enjoys riding horses (pretending they’re unicorns) and going to the PA Renaissance Faire, dressed in garb. She’ll also read anything she can get her hands on.
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JUMP TO...
A DOSE OF BRIMSTONE by NOREE COSPER
END OF DREAMS by KIM FAULKS
HAUNT by HEATHER HAMBEL CURLEY
DARK CROSSINGS by ANN SIMKO
HEADSPACE by CALINDA B
THE OTHER F WORD by SUSAN STEC
UNLEASHED by RACHEL MCCLELLAN
HIDDEN INTENTIONS by STACY CLAFLIN
THE COMPLETE BLOODLING SERIAL by AIMEE EASTERLING
SHE WHO FIGHTS MONSTERS by KYOKO M
ST. CHARLES AT DUSK by SARAH M. CRADIT
WICKED BY NATURE by MADISON SEVIER
UNDERLIFE by MARISSA FARRAR
DRAGON’S REDEMPTION by EDEN ASHE
MILAN’S RETURN by GRAE LILY
THE BREAKERS CODE by CONNER KRESSLEY
THE MEDIUM by MR GRAHAM
WICCAN WARS by HEATHER MARIE ADKINS
CARPE NOCTEM by KATIE SALIDAS
A QUESTION OF FAITH by NICOLE ZOLTACK
Table of Contents
MAIN TOC
A DOSE OF BRIMSTONE
Brimstone/Prologue
Brimstone/Chapter 1
Brimstone/Chapter 2
Brimstone/Chapter 3
Brimstone/Chapter 4
Brimstone/Chapter 5
Brimstone/Chapter 6
Brimstone/Chapter 7
Brimstone/Chapter 8
Brimstone/Chapter 9
Brimstone/Chapter 10
Brimstone/Chapter 11
Brimstone/Chapter 12
Brimstone/Chapter 13
Brimstone/Chapter 14
Brimstone/Chapter 15
Brimstone/Chapter 16
Brimstone/Chapter 17
Brimstone/Chapter 18
Brimstone/Chapter 19
Brimstone/Chapter 20
Brimstone/Chapter 21
Brimstone/Chapter 22
Brimstone/Chapter 23
Brimstone/Chapter 24
Brimstone/Chapter 25
Brimstone/Chapter 26
B
rimstone/Chapter 27
Brimstone/Chapter 28
Brimstone/Chapter 29
Brimstone/Chapter 30
Brimstone/Chapter 31
Brimstone/Chapter 32
Brimstone/Chapter 33
Brimstone/Chapter 34
Brimstone/Chapter 35
Brimstone/Chapter 36
Brimstone/Chapter 37
Brimstone/Chapter 38
Brimstone/Chapter 39
Brimstone/Chapter 40
Brimstone/Chapter 41
Brimstone/Chapter 42
Brimstone/Chapter 43
Brimstone/Epilogue
END OF DREAMS
Dreams/Chapter 1
Dreams/Chapter 2
Dreams/Chapter 3
Dreams/Chapter 4
Dreams/Chapter 5
Dreams/Chapter 6
Dreams/Chapter 7
Dreams/Chapter 8
Dreams/Chapter 9
Dreams/Chapter 10
Dreams/Chapter 11
Dreams/Chapter 12
Dreams/Chapter 13
Dreams/Chapter 14
Dreams/Chapter 15
Dreams/Chapter 16
Dreams/Chapter 17
Dreams/Chapter 18
Dreams/Chapter 19
Dreams/Chapter 20
Dreams/Chapter 21
Dreams/Chapter 22
Dreams/Chapter 23
Dreams/Chapter 24
Dreams/Chapter 25
Dreams/Chapter 26
Dreams/Chapter 27
Dreams/Chapter 28
Dreams/Chapter 29
Dreams/Chapter 30
Dreams/Chapter 31
Dreams/Chapter 32
Dreams/Chapter 33
Dreams/Chapter 34
Dreams/Chapter 35
Dreams/Chapter 36
Dreams/Chapter 37
Dreams/Chapter 38
Dreams/Epilogue
HAUNT
Haunt/Chapter 1
Haunt/Chapter 2
Haunt/Chapter 3
Haunt/Chapter 4
Haunt/Chapter 5
Haunt/Chapter 6
Haunt/Chapter 7
Haunt/Chapter 8
Haunt/Chapter 9
Haunt/Chapter 10
Haunt/Chapter 11
Haunt/Chapter 12
Haunt/Chapter 13
Haunt/Chapter 14
Haunt/Chapter 15
Haunt/Chapter 16
Haunt/Chapter 17
Haunt/Chapter 18
Haunt/Chapter 19
Haunt/Chapter 20
Haunt/Chapter 21
Haunt/Chapter 22
Haunt/Chapter 23
Haunt/Chapter 24
Haunt/Chapter 25
Haunt/Chapter 26
Haunt/Chapter 27
Haunt/Chapter 28
Haunt/Chapter 29
Haunt/Chapter 30
Haunt/Chapter 31
Haunt/Chapter 32
Haunt/Chapter 33
Haunt/Chapter 34
Haunt/Chapter 35
Haunt/Chapter 36
DARK CROSSINGS
Dark/Chapter 1
Dark/Chapter 2
Dark/Chapter 3
Dark/Chapter 4
Dark/Chapter 5
Dark/Chapter 6
Dark/Chapter 7
Dark/Chapter 8
Dark/Chapter 9
Dark/Chapter 10
Dark/Chapter 11
Dark/Chapter 12
Dark/Chapter 13
Dark/Chapter 14
Dark/Chapter 15
Dark/Chapter 16
Dark/Chapter 17
Dark/Chapter 18
Dark/Chapter 19
Dark/Chapter 20
Dark/Chapter 21
Dark/Chapter 22
Dark/Chapter 23
Dark/Chapter 24
Dark/Chapter 25
Dark/Chapter 26
Dark/Chapter 27
Dark/Chapter 28
Dark/Chapter 29
Dark/Chapter 30
Dark/Chapter 31
Dark/Chapter 32
Dark/Chapter 33
Dark/Chapter 34
Dark/Chapter 35
Dark/Chapter 36
Dark/Chapter 37
Dark/Chapter 38
Dark/Chapter 39
Dark/Chapter 40
Dark/Chapter 41
Dark/Chapter 42
Dark/Chapter 43
HEADSPACE
Headspace/Preface
Headspace/Chapter 1
Headspace/Chapter 2
Headspace/Chapter 3
Headspace/Chapter 4
Headspace/Chapter 5
Headspace/Chapter 6
Headspace/Chapter 7
Headspace/Chapter 8
Headspace/Chapter 9
Headspace/Chapter 10
Headspace/Chapter 11
Headspace/Chapter 12
Headspace/Chapter 13
Headspace/Chapter 14
Headspace/Chapter 15
Headspace/Chapter 16
Headspace/Chapter 17
Headspace/Chapter 18
Headspace/Chapter 19
Headspace/Chapter 20
Headspace/Chapter 21
THE OTHER F WORD
FWord/Chapter 1
FWord/Chapter 2
FWord/Chapter 3
FWord/Chapter 4
FWord/Chapter 5
FWord/Chapter 6
FWord/Chapter 7
FWord/Chapter 8
FWord/Chapter 9
FWord/Chapter 10
FWord/Chapter 11
FWord/Chapter 12
FWord/Chapter 13
FWord/Chapter 14
FWord/Chapter 15
FWord/Chapter 16
FWord/Chapter 17
UNLEASHED
Unleashed/Chapter 1
Unleashed/Chapter 2
Unleashed/Chapter 3
Unleashed/Chapter 4
Unleashed/Chapter 5
Unleashed/Chapter 6
Unleashed/Chapter 7
Unleashed/Chapter 8
Unleashed/Chapter 9
Unleashed/Chapter 10
Unleashed/Chapter 11
Unleashed/Chapter 12
Unleashed/Chapter 13
Unleashed/Chapter 14
Unleashed/Chapter 15
Unleashed/Chapter 16
Unleashed/Chapter 17
Unleashed/Chapter 18
Unleashed/Chapter 19
Unleashed/Chapter 20
Unleashed/Chapter 21
Unleashed/Chapter 22
Unleashed/Chapter 23
Unleashed/Chapter 24
Unleashed/Chapter 25
Unleashed/Chapter 26
Unleashed/Chapter 27
Unleashed/Chapter 28
Unleashed/Chapter 29
Unleashed/Chapter 30
Unleashed/Chapter 31
Paranormal After Dark: 20 Paranormal Tales of Demons, Shifters, Werewolves, Vampires, Fae, Witches, Magics, Ghosts and More Page 492