Page 59 of Shattered Veil
The platform lurches again, and I bite back a scream. This is nothing like the warm cocoon of this morning. No strong arms to catch me if I fall. Just me, my shadow magic, and a long, long way down.
Before we were herded on to the platform, which then ascended high in the sky, seemingly of its own free will, Dean Fiona explained what was about to happen. We have to use our powers to safely reach the ground. There are no safety nets, no second chances. Our abilities, or lack thereof, are our only hope. No one is coming to rescue us.
“Candidates!” A voice booms from somewhere unseen.“Your descent begins... now!”
I look down.
And immediately wish I hadn’t.
We’re so high up that the crowd below is a blur. I try to spot Callen, Tiernan and Rory, but there’s no point. They’re lost in a sea of faceless heads.
I take in the daunting task ahead. How are we supposed do this using just our magic? I’ve barely mastered basic spells and now I’m expected to perform some sort of aerial acrobatics?
But there’s no time for doubt or fear.
The platform is starting to shrink.
It’s slow at first but then it picks up speed.
I see others around me already starting to cast spells, some with more confidence than others. One girl creates a gust of wind that propels her towards a spire, while another boy conjures a cushion of air beneath his feet and floats down like the doesn’t have a care in the world.
A surge of panic accelerates in my chest as my mind frantically tries to come up with a plan. But before I can even begin to formulate one, the platform suddenly shifts, and then drops several feet.
The girl next to me lets out a scream as she loses her footing and tumbles off the edge. My body freezes in horror as I watch her fall.
I try to breathe normally as the platform continues to move and shrink. It won’t be long until we’re out of time.
A blur of movement catches my eye. The ice elemental—Urian, I think his name is—steps forward. His hands glow with a pale blue light as he conjures a massive slide of ice. Urian steps up to the edge of the platform.
“Show-off,” Marius appears beside me.
I hadn’t been able to see him on the platform until now. I think I’d rather that he’d stayed on the other side of it—his presence is unsettling.
Urian smirks, then leaps onto his creation. For a moment, it’s impressive—his form gliding down the crystalline chute, leaving a trail of icy glitter in his wake. But then I notice his body tensing as he picks up speed.
“Shit, shit, shit!” His voice carries on the wind as he tries desperately to slow his descent.
The ice slide curves too sharply, and Urian goes flying. His scream pierces the air as he plummets, slamming into the ground with a sickening scream.
Figures swarm him immediately, whisking his broken body away. My stomach churns. How many more of us will end up like that?
This is real. People are going to die today.
Eira steps forward, her eyes meeting mine. A soft smile plays on her lips, at odds with the life-threatening task ahead.
“Don’t overthink it, Brigid,” she says, her voice barely above a whisper.“Trust your instincts. Your magic knows what to do.”
I nod, unable to form words past the lump in my throat. Eira’s confidence is both reassuring and infuriating. How can she be so calm?
Without further preamble, Eira’s form begins to shimmer. Her body contorts, shrinking and reshaping until an owl stands in her place. Large, intelligent eyes blink at me once before she spreads her wings and takes flight.
“Fuck me,” I breathe, watching her glide effortlessly through the air.
Eira’s descent is graceful, a stark contrast to Urian’s catastrophic attempt. She rides the air currents, her wings adjusting minutely with each gust of wind. It’s mesmerizing, beautiful even, if I wasn’t scared shitless about my own impending doom.
As Eira touches down safely, transforming back into her human form, a spark of hope ignites in my chest. Maybe, just maybe, I can do this too.
But my shadow magic isn’t exactly known for its grace or predictability. The power within me feels more like a caged beast than a reliable tool. I close my eyes, trying to center myself.
