Ashes Of Betrayal

rned with malice. At its heart stood Evie, her body thrumming with a power she could barely understand. The ritual had trans

s shining in the low light. "How do you feel?" she a

as if sprouted from Lactris herself, coiled around her staff as if i

in you. It will empower you, but at the same time it will drain you out, piec

racked in all directions, marred by sharp black columns of rock that stabbed into the sky like the ribs of long-dead creature. She

she asked just

ut here, in limbo between life and death. Some of them might attempt to entrap you, to use you

ng to let anything or anyone control

here's a gate there, a way back to your world. But it is guarded by the first flame,

vie asked, already

the forgotten," Liora said,

time to speak and simply began walking towards the distant light, the sound of her footsteps carr

king and splintering from the heat. The red light became blinding, flaring to a blazing pillar of flame

e figure barked, voice low and growling

ce steady even as the fear coiled in her

been a man. His skin was crisped and fissured, and his eyes shimmered with the same red light as th

," the figure said, lifting the sword. "Defeat me, and th

A creature made of flame and shadow would not halt her. Calling forth the dark power inside her,

of fire streamed blood through the air. Evie ducked and parried, adrenaline pumping through her body. Her will d

sing moment. Evie started to grow weak, her body shaking with the effort. Just

s not to be defeated by being fou

fell slack and allowed her flesh to burn. It was excruciating pain, but she didn't push

y her they made her. Her body filled with dark, blazing light, 

voice was stifled and it fell into the ground. The first

came through the other side she was standing in a thick wood with cool crisp

was free, but her journey had just begun. Kael and Seraphine out there

r her anger. They had stolen from her everything her family, her

she