Page 95 of The Madness Within

Dorian was already moving. His power coiled around him like living smoke. His eyes blazed. He lifted his hand, and a glyph ignited beneath the creature’s feet.

The ground opened in a flash of runes and light, swallowing it halfway before it clawed free, shrieking.

“I’m going to tear your heart out,” Dorian growled, “and gift it to the Veil as a warning.”

But the creature, still smiling, cocked its head. “Too late.The door has already begun to open.”

“Then I’ll burn the hinges,” he snarled.

It lunged again.

I leaped forward, magic flaring between my fingers. I screamed a binding phrase in an ancient tongue I didn’t remember learning, but the spell knew me, and it obeyed.

Chains of light lashed around the creature’s limbs. It hissed. Fought. Began tounravelitself just to escape.

“Dorian!” I yelled. “Hit it… NOW!”

He did.

His magic collided with mine mid-air, fusing like lightning crashing through oil. The explosion sent the creature into the ceiling with a blast that cracked every window in the house.

And still… It got up.

Blood leaked from its mouth. If you could call that thick black ooze blood.

It pointed at me. Smiling. “You are the key,” it said. “Andheis the lock.”

My heart stuttered.

“Who?” I demanded.

Its head tilted, eyes flickering between us. “You already know.”

And then it said the name I’d been avoiding. The name that made the back of my neck go cold.

“Kreed.”

The creature gurgled a laugh. “But he isn’t the one you should fear the most. No, no, no. Not the traitor cloaked in riddles.” Its body convulsed, flickering like flame in wind. It leaned closer. Eyes glowing green. “The one wearing Cassian’sskin... He’s the true herald.”

Everything in me went still.

“What did you say?”

Dorian’s entire body locked.

The creature grinned wider, its teeth doubling, tripling. “Cassian died weeks ago. A demon ripped out his soul and slipped into the hollow he left behind. You dine with the dead and don’t even taste the rot.”

“No…” I whispered.

“You think he came to warn you? Came to help?” It cackled. “He came toopen the Veil. Because what waits beyond it... Feeds on things like you.”

Dorian lunged.

He drove a spear of pure magic straight through the creature’s heart.

It screamed.

Not in pain, but in rage.

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