Page 92 of The Rebel and the Rose
All hell, she was petrified.
‘What exactly are you planning?’ she said, through chattering teeth.
‘I’m getting answers,’ said Nadia, gathering more shadows around her. ‘And then I’m putting that Necromancer into its own grave.’ She lifted her chin. ‘ARE YOU FRIGHTENED, GRAVEROBBER?’ She picked up a leg bone and flung it towards the trees. ‘Come back here and pick up your toy soldiers!’
‘You’re mad,’ huffed Sera.
‘Absolutelyraging,’ said Nadia, tightening her ponytail.
There came a cool rush of wind. Sera’s spine went stiff, her magic whispering through her bones.
Don’t be afraid. Don’t be afraid. Don’t be afraid.
The trees rustled, and from the darkness within, a figure lumbered out. They were tall and slim, wearing a long crimson robe that swept the ground. Their hood was low, hiding their face, and they wore a pair of black leather gloves.
They raised one, as if in greeting.
A long finger twitched.
The leg bone Nadia had flung stood on end and then leaped into the air, returning to her as though carried by an invisible dog. As it floated towards them, it gathered more bones, all of them stacking and clicking, until it became a complete skeleton.
It was the most fascinating and terrifying thing Sera had ever seen, the scent of rot – ofdeath– making her stomach churn. Here was a saint in full control of their power, and she had nothing to defend them with. Just this choking fire in her belly, and the violent howl of her own terror.
Refusing to be cowed, Nadia sent out a wall of shadow. Theskeleton shattered into pieces. ‘Neat trick,’ she sneered. ‘Now give me back Lark Delano’s body before I crush the life out of you in ten heartbeats.’
So much for not killing any saints.
Rising to her challenge, the Necromancer advanced, their strides lumbering to one side. Raising their hands, they silently readied another assault.
‘Have it your way, freak.’ Nadia sent out another wave of shadows. They crested over the figure and everything that surrounded it, the blackness so sudden and complete, the entire end of the graveyard turned to night.
‘Ha—Shit.’
The shadows shattered. Night collapsed around them, and Nadia stumbled backwards, gasping. The Necromancer remained exactly where they’d stood, hood cocked as if to say,Is that all you’ve got?
Nadia looked at Sera over her shoulder, her brown eyes wide and darting. There wasn’t a flicker of silver left. Her Shade was spent. The Necromancer had eaten through it by simply… standingthere.
Sera cursed herself for not realizing sooner. If Shade no longer worked on her, then it stood to reason that the other saints would likely enjoy the same immunity.
The Necromancer must have known that, probably saw this little run-in as a game. They were moving faster now, those leathered hands flung out, like they were reaching for Nadia.
‘Run!’ yelled Seraphine.
This time, Nadia listened. They made for the other end of the graveyard, the rattle of footsteps behind them getting closer,louder. Halfway there, Nadia’s boot caught on something. She tripped, coming down hard on her knees.
The Necromancer closed in, hundreds of bones trailing alongside them like calcified snakes. Nadia staggered to her feet. Too late. The Necromancer lunged.
Without thinking, Sera leaped, a cry bursting out of her as she landed between them. She flung her hand out, welcoming the fullness of her magic as it connected with a hard chest.
There was a blast of heat. The Necromancer fell backwards, crashing into a towering headstone. The stone cracked under the weight, the bones around them finally falling still.
The gaping hood slipped back as the Necromancer’s head lolled.
Sera’s magic was a fuse inside her, that ancient voice louder than ever before.
Maker.
It belongs to you.
