Page 103 of The Awakening of Essensia

Vaelira moved without thinking.

Elijah caught her arm. She tried to wrench free, but his grip was too strong. The scream came again, sharper this time, but he didn’t let go as his head whipped back to the chapel.

Vaelira took advantage of his distraction, yanking hard. Breaking free, she sprinted up the steps, her heart hammering as she threw open the doors. She stopped just past the threshold, the darkness inside swallowing her whole as she strained her eyes and the silence pressed in tight, broken only by footsteps of the others behind her. Then she stepped forward, leading them down the central aisle.

The chapel was too quiet. No candles burned, the tall stained-glass windows standing black and blank against the night outside.

A shuffle sounded to their left. Erryn and Axel spun, putting their backs to the group. Willem pivoted, knives raised. Figures stepped from the shadows. They were cloaked and hooded, their hands clasped at their chest as if in reverent prayer. There was at least a dozen, maybe more, slipping silently along the walls.

They began chanting, the words not in any language she knew, the twisted syllables slithering in her ears and rotting inside her head. The air turned metallic, sharp on her tongue, and she stiffened, her senses tugged in every direction.

“Relics,” Willem hissed.

Her pulse spiked. The figures closed in, cutting off their exit.

Vaelira’s fingers curled around her conduit as she summoned fire with barely a thought, flinging it at the nearest figure. It struck him square in the chest, his panicked scream echoing raw and broken off the stone. The flames surged up his robes, and for a moment, he was a beacon in the dark, a torch of flesh and fabric collapsing to the floor. The stench of seared meat struck her like a slap, and she gagged, her eyes stinging.

Elijah shielded his face from the blaze, swearing under his breath.

A snarl split the air.

Vaelira whirled towards the sound. A creature crept from the gloom, its frame hunched, its claws scraping the stone. Drekal.

The chanting began to fade, overtaken by thudding steps, hissing breath, and bone-chilling snaps. Another demon crawled into view, scaled and low to the ground. Its barbed tail swung behind it, slicing the air like a whip.

A knife shot past her. It hit the demon’s shoulder and bounced off, clattering to the flagstones. The beast hissed, a forked tongue darting between jagged teeth.

Vaelira lifted her hand and summoned the fire again. The flames rolled across the demon’s armoured back. It flinched but didn’t slow.

It wasn’t enough.

The demon lunged, its tail sweeping low, and she jumped, barely clearing the ground as it sliced beneath her boots. Behind her, Willem cried out. She turned to find him on the ground, clutching his ankle. “I’m fine,” he grunted as he stood, his leg nearly buckling beneath him.

Vaelira ran to him and pressed her dagger into his hand. “Take it.”

“I said I’m fine.”

She ignited her other palm, letting the flame engulf her hand. Willem met her gaze and nodded, taking the blade.

The demon charged again. Vaelira stepped forward to meet it, channelling her essensia into the conduit. She could feel it building, swelling inside the stone. She threw her arm forward and a thin beam shot from the amethyst and sliced clean through the demon’s neck. Its body slumped, twitched once, then stilled.

Behind her, Elijah was locked in combat with another Drekal. The first was already a pile of ash at his feet. Erryn fought beside the pews, her sword arcing high. A black tentacle lashed at her, and she ducked low, sidestepping before driving her blade down hard. The severed limb flopped to the floor, writhing. Vaelira scorched it.

Her heart lurched as her eyes found Axel. He had been separated from the group and blood streaked his arm as he battled two tall, humanoid demons.

Panic rose but she swallowed it down and ran. She inhaled sharply and closed her eyes, holding the flame in one hand, light in the other. The power surged through her, fierce and demanding. “Get down!” she shouted. She raised both arms and a torrent of fire burst from her left hand, a searing beam of light slicing from her right.

Stone cracked, pews turned to ash, and demons shrieked. One leapt for her and disintegrated mid-air. Her temples throbbed. The world spun.

She turned. Again. Again. Spinning like the girl in the pink dress.

Keep going, the essensia whispered. Burn them all.

Her legs shook, but still she turned. The ground groaned beneath her, but still she turned.

A hand grabbed her ankle. She staggered, the flames sputtering as she looked down. Elijah’s face was pale, streaked with soot. “Stop!” he pleaded.

Smoke stung her eyes. She blinked, wiping her sleeve across her face. The chapel came into view. Bodies lay everywhere, demon and summoner alike. Pews smouldered. Piles of ash littered the ground.