Chutney stumbled around me and walked a little farther in. Then she froze mid step with her back to us. When she spun, her face was sheet white and her eyes wide. “Run. Now.”
We turned and sprinted in the direction we’d just come, but then something huge dropped out of the sky right in front of us. I spun and tried to run across the flaming slates, but two more huge objects landed on the ground in front of me. Except these two were under the full glow of the moon, and I saw every horrid detail. These things had the bodies and heads of ferocious male lions with huge manes…but sticking out above their shoulders and behind the mane, was the head of a goat with massive, pointy horns. The one on the left jumped forward and whipped its tail. A snake head hissed from the end.
Oh God. O, God. Oh God.
I stumbled backward until my body crashed into something hot, and my heart kicked up about a hundred notches. The entire group huddled together, our backs facing each other’s. But they had us surrounded.
“What are these things?” Harlan whispered.
My stomach rolled. I’d read all about these in mythology. “Chimera,” I whispered back.
Everyone gasped and turned toward Chutney.
She cringed and nodded. “Okay, this one is on me.”
“Next time you want to manifest an animal, Chutney, why don’t you try a fluffy nice puppy first?” Cooper cursed. “Tenn, what’s our play here?”
Tennessee clutched Tegan tighter to his chest.
The Chimera standing on its own lunged toward our group. But Jackson leapt up and sliced the blade of his sword through the creature’s stomach. Blood oozed down on us. The Chimera hissed and crashed to the slates, then rolled out of the way.
The other two Chimera went nuts. I tried to track what was happening, but to my eyes, it was simply a frenzy. Willow, Chutney, and I surrounded Tennegan while the others fought off the two remaining Chimera. The third one was in the back, limping and circling the group with sharp eyes. But it was too dark to really see what was going on. I only saw flashes of light and orange glowing eyes in the distance. My friends cursed and groaned. Metal blades of their swords clashed and rattled against these monsters’ bones. But these things were smart. They were circling us like the prey that we were. They knew we’d get tired and show weakness, and then they’d pounce.
Tennessee dropped to one knee with my best friend still in his arms—then the ground trembled under us. The Chimera were thrown to the ground.
Tenn glanced over his shoulder. “Willow, give me dragons!”
Willow gasped and her eyes widened. She looked back and forth between the two Chimeras then threw her hands into the air. A wall of neon blue light shot out of her palms. The Chimera stumbled back a step and looked up at the wall of magic. Then Willow wiggled her fingers, and a big blue dragon soared over our heads then landed right in front of us. The Chimera hissed and scrambled to get away.
But Willow wasn’t taking any chances. She flicked her wrists, and several more dragons appeared behind her. To my eyes, they were transparent and glowing blue, but the Chimeras cried out like they were the real deal. Willow’s main dragon, the biggest one, stopped right in front of us and shot a translucent stream of fake fire out of its mouth.
The Chimera screamed and took off running out of sight.
Willow sighed and dropped her arms. Everyone spun, looking for another attack.
Just then, golden light shimmered at the far end of the flaming slates. It was our way out of this area. I couldn’t have said how I knew; I just knew.
“RUN!” Tennessee shouted then sprinted across the flaming slate den toward the door.
I turned to follow him, but the ground disappeared under our feet…and we fell into darkness.
Chapter Fifty-Two
Jackson
When we finally stopped moving, I rolled onto my back and opened my eyes. Except I saw nothing. Just utter blackness. My pulse quickened. Adrenaline rushed through my body. I’d seen darkness like this before.
The night we lost Warner.
I scrambled up onto my feet, then spun in a circle. There was nothing in front of us or behind us but a wall of black. My heart stopped. My bones turned to ice in my body. The Chimera and their slates were gone. It was just a black wall. No life, no energy, no monsters lurking in the shadows. Just…nothing.
I know this.
Then I spotted it. The single torch. My heart sank. Every muscle in my body tightened. My pulse pounded so hard it drowned out every other sound. My feet carried me toward the torch. In the back of my mind, I registered my group moving around and asking questions. I heard the concern in their voices—and then I heard their gasps.
They knew where we were.
I walked up to the torch and stopped. Fire exploded out of it, shooting through the darkness. A single, narrow tunnel emerged, stretching out in front of us. Around it, the flames surged and swayed. Little sparks flickered on the ground. Red glowing mist seeped out of nothingness all around us. It grew taller than a person, then swirled and shifted until it made shapes.
“The balefire.”
Will they get Warner back from the balefire? What trouble will the Old Lands cause on their way out? Find out in Book Three of The Coven: Academy Magic Series, The Wild Witch, out summer 2019. CLICK HERE to pre-order now!
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Wanna know what Jackson thought of Bettina the first time he met her? Or how he felt when she walked up to him at Dean’s party? Well just for my fans I’ve got a little glimpse into what those first moments were like for our favorite Swords Major - and it’s completely FREE!
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Are you new to the world of The Coven? Want to see where it all began?? Are you wondering how Tegan and Tennessee’s story began? Check out season one, The Coven: Elemental Magic, and read their story.
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I thought magic was make believe...but I was way wrong.
I was nobody. No matter how hard I tried, I never fit in with anyone at my high school. Now I know why.
Turns out I'm a witch. A scary powerful one, too. Except The Coven that claimed me won't teach me how to use my magic.
Suddenly, I'm selected by the Goddess to hunt down a mythical locket needed to save the world from destruction. The only person who actually tries to help me is the alarmingly attractive Tennessee. He has immeasurable power and breathtaking mismatched eyes. I'm drawn to him on a level I can't explain...and he's forbidden from getting too close to me.
When the quest takes an unexpected dangerous turn, I have to improvise. This supernatural world is unraveling at my fingertips and I need to master my magic fast. If I don't, I could get everyone I care about killed...
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If you found yourself wondering what life was like for The Coven before the twins arrived then I recommend reading the Prequel Novella, The Chosen Witch. And the best part? It’s FREE.
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Check out the cover and description for The Chosen Witch below.
My magic doesn’t define me.
Within my secret, ancient race of witches, everyone prays to join the most powerful circle of all—The Coven. Well, everyone except for me. All I want is to discover the truth of the past that was stolen from me. So I lay low, defending the world from demons and training to strengthen my magic.
But when I discover an artifact that can defeat the demons for good, I’m forced to do the one thing I never wanted—claim my rightful place in The Coven so I
can hunt down the artifact myself.
I know my success will require sacrifices, but I fear I won’t be able to handle the price…
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About the Author
Chandelle was born and raised in South Florida. She is the ultimate fangirl. Her love of Twilight, Harry Potter, and The Mortal Instruments inspired her to write her own books. When she’s not writing she’s on the beach soaking up the sun with a book in her hand. Her favorite things in life are dogs, pizza, slurpees, and anything that sparkles. She suffers from wanderlust and hopes to travel to every country in the world one day.
The Fallen Witch
Published by Wanderlost Publishing
Copyright © 2019 by Chandelle LaVaun
This book is a work of fiction. Though some actual towns, cities, and locations may be mentioned, they are used in a fictitious manner and the events and occurrences were invented in the mind and imagination of the author. Any similarities of characters or names used within to any person past, present, or future is coincidental.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
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The Fallen Witch (The Coven: Academy Magic Book 2) Page 27