Page 300 of Emylia

Starbursts exploded behind my eyes.

The ground cracked wide, the roar of it louder than my heartbeat.

A giant chasm tore the battlefield open, the earth splitting with a howl of rage—swallowing soldiers whole.

“Look at me!”

Hands.

Hands on my shoulders, desperate.

Maalikai. Shaking me.

“Shit—your eyes—they're completely white.” His voice was nothing against the pulsing in my veins.

Against the fire already licking my skin.

Heat burned across my face. Through my entire body. Claiming me. The earth erupted with fire, spewing from chasms like it had a mind of its own.

“EMYLIA. LOOK AT ME!”

Maalikai’s voice was insistent, commanding me to obey him.

But I couldn't.

I couldn't.

There was no "me" anymore.

Only the storm.

Only the scream that wouldn’t come out.

Thunder rolled, splitting the sky open. Grey clouds choked the sun, dragging the world into darkness.

Lightning struck.

Once.

Twice.

Almost simultaneously, consecutive lightning strikes danced intricately, surrounding us in a wall of chaos. Striking the ground, finding my prey one by one, rendering them motionless, setting the world on fire.

Fire danced down my arms, wrapping around my fingers.

Hungry.

Greedy.

I threw it without thinking, without aiming?—

just rage?—

just fire?—

just death.

Heat flooded me, burning my veins into nothing. Flames burst from my chest, licking my skin, devouring my bones—it should’ve hurt. It should’ve ended me.

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