Page 135 of Skyshade
Something roared.
A massive serpent broke through the remaining treetops, rising like a tower before them. The serpent-woman. The ancient creature that had fought beside her and Lightlark in the battle against the Nightshades.
Her scales were muted. She was covered in dirt.
Dead. She was dead and risen.
She launched at them with her tree-sized fangs bared, breaking through the shield.
Oro sent them hurtling back with a blast of power, and they rolled through the forest together, before hitting a tree that had been reduced to splinters. There was another roar as the serpent-woman made to strike again.
They couldn’t portal away. They needed to run. Oro grabbed her hand to help her up, and she did not drop it as they tore through the forest, taking cover beneath any remaining trees, hiding from the massive serpent.
She couldn’t think straight. Her head pounded and her breathing was uneven, but Oro guided them through the forest, running until they reached the cliffside. They stopped just short of the edge, rocks hurtling below.
The snake broke through, hissing. Curling. In a flash, she shot forward toward them, with nothing to stop her from swallowing them whole.
At the last moment, Oro grabbed her hand, and they jumped.
The snake followed, sliding right off the side—and crashing into the jagged rocks below, stabbed through. Pinned in place.
With Oro’s power, they landed safely on the beach.
And were immediately surrounded.
Skylings, everywhere, with arrows drawn. Part of the legion that had fought in battle. There were dozens of them. Expressionless. Dead.
Arrows shot through the sky, right at Oro. Right at her.
She reached for Grim’s power, hoping to find a thread, but there was nothing. Nothing. Fury gathered in her bones. Pain lanced through her.
I can’t feel him.
I can’t feel him.
I CAN’T—
Her vision went black as power exploded out of her. She could taste it, feel it slide against her skin like a blade, ripping the air itself into tatters, shattering everything in its path.
Her skyre burned. Her heart burned.
Mist rained down. She had boiled the sea behind her. She had turned the cliffs into a thousand daggers. All the Skylings were in pieces along the beach. Her breaths were labored from the effort. Her knees nearly buckled.
She turned slowly to Oro, only to see him clutching his chest. When he dropped his hands, she saw all the blood.
And the blade buried beneath it.
SACRIFICE
Oro was bleeding everywhere. His eyes were wide and unblinking.
Saltwater brushed against her legs as she kneeled beside him, hands shaking, rushing to apply pressure against his wound.
“I’m—I’m so sorry, it was—”
An accident. Just like before.
This couldn’t be his end. This couldn’t be the prophecy. She refused to let him die here, on this beach.
