Excerpt Chapter Twenty-Six

     “Ah, there you are my little Maiden child,” muttered Mistraya from her windblown compartment. “And her friend, too. How accommodating. Standing still in the open like that makes you wonderfully easy targets. But how would you know? Alas, I fear I must say goodbye to such a sweet and pretty pair. So endearing. And now, my young duo, it’s time for this chapter featuring the latest rendition of the Green-eyed Maiden to close. Unfortunately, ‘happily ever after’ will not take place at its conclusion. But rest assured, ‘The End’ will be your final sentence. And gleefully enough, I’m just the one to impose it.”

Descending above the grassy area, approaching the courtyard, Mistraya began her incantation, dennunciating quietly.

The oddly shaped object, airborne above the river, caught Heather’s attention, its aura widespread in lifeless emanation, sucking energy like a black hole. Approaching rapidly, a sudden flash sparked from the rectangular structure atop the winged creature.

“Molly, run!”

The girls broke into a sprint, as an arc of charged magic hurtled from the sky like lightning.