Page 99 of Ashes and Lilies
Xavier… Who was he?
I lost my chance to ask. The mood before us shifted, and James moved again, stumbling back from Brayden as he touched his chest. “No!” he shrieked, and my breath caught. “I’m not done yet!”
The ghost lunged for me, pushing past Brayden. I stared asclaw-like fingers reached out, coming closer—so close that I could practically feel them across my face.
Harsh hands snatched at my arms—a fiery pain radiating from the source—and I was thrown back to the ground. Someone followed me, and the light was blocked as I was pressed behind a larger form.
“A-Anthony?” I gripped his jacket as my concentration refocused. He was on the ground in front of me, while Finn stood in front of him, his sword ready once more. My arm burned where Finn had grabbed me.
Finn started forward, something strange and foreign in his features as a smoky heat began to rise across the ground, but Brayden reached the ghost first.
“That was a big mistake.” Brayden swung his blade down, and as the point of his weapon moved near the ghost’s feet, James froze.
There was a telltale snap in James’s expression, a terrible blankness that came across his eyes, and his form turned so light that I could see through him.
Then, before I could do more than hold out my hand, he vanished in a wisp of smoke.
The sky gradually began to clear, and the light and salt circle faded away. Within a minute, the only sign that anything had happened was our presence alone.
“Bianca!” Miles’s voice echoed distantly in my head.
I was still staring into the space where James disappeared as Miles grabbed me.
“Hey!” he said, running his hands down my arms. “Are you okay?”
Why did it sound as though he was about to cry?
“Sure?” I responded, blinking. Did I not look okay?
“It almost got you.” Miles was shaking as he smoothed down my hair. “It looked terrible.”
“It’s fine,” I told him. “See, everything worked out in—”
My sentence was cut off as an invisible force slammed into my chest, and the breath was knocked from me. I doubled over and wrapped my arms around my stomach. The feeling of flames licked the bottoms of my feet, crawling up my legs, even though there was nothing there.
“Bianca?” Miles pulled at my shoulders. But I could not answer—my heart was racing so fast that I thought I might throw up.
There was a shout, furious at first and then worried, as additional voices began to enter the fold. But I couldn’t see, couldn’t look for them.
Suddenly, there was a new set of hands pressing against me, turning me over, before Damen’s torn features were wavering in my vision.
“What’s wrong?” he asked, and when I didn’t answer, he looked out past me. “What happened?”
It was Finn who responded, kneeling beside us. His features were somewhat blank, but we’d been familiar with each other long enough for me to see that he was desperately worried. “Itoldyou—” he sounded furious, and his glare was accusing. “Youcan’tuse your abilities!”
Indignation mixed with the fire. Distantly, a soft and melodious sound, barely distinguishable, replayed in my mind. But I could hardly focus past the flickering clouds spreading from the corners of my vision.
Yet, my attention was captured by the lingering looks between my companions.
No! I would not have them be worried. This was a definingmoment, and both Bryce and Brayden were watching. I had to make a good impression.
This was nothing.
“I’m fine.” I pushed Damen’s hand away and sat up. “D-don’t listen to him,” I muttered, refusing to meet Finn’s glare. I pushed the pain to the back of my mind as I stood and brushed off my knees. “I just fell.”
“Really,again?” Finn’s reply reeked of sarcasm. “Then show me your arm.”
My arm?
