AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Collectively, the spirits rose from the depths like a sunken galleon from the bottom of the sea. They didn’t appear as human as Ray and Nana Pratt. Some wore layers of wet reeds. Others had lost their human shape, their bodies lacking arms or legs. Years stuck in the lake had twisted their forms and possibly their minds. It was a dangerous gamble to call upon them, but desperate times called for desperate measures.
And there was one surefire way to secure their loyalty.
I seized control of the spirits—all of them. My muscles twitched in response as they resisted. I had no experience with so many at once, especially ones so feral, but I had to try. I kept my focus on the spirits, infusing them with the ability to manipulate the physical world.
Then I willed the ghosts to charge.
The wolves were so focused on the demon, it took a moment for them to register the otherworldly presence. It was only when they were torn from the kulshedra with great force that they realized there was an invisible hand at work. The ghosts dragged the werewolves from the demon’s body and flung them into the lake.
It became hard to breathe. I felt pressure on my chest, as though the ghosts were all piled on top of it in their corporeal forms. My strength waned as I tried to redirect the spirits to drag the werewolves to land. It wasn’t in the same ballpark as manipulating Nana Pratt’s hand. The effort of puppeteering so many at once took its toll. My knees buckled, and I sank to the ground. The tether snapped, and I no longer felt the weight of the spirits.
The relief was short-lived.
Nearby the water rippled and a cold panic seized me. I couldn’t move. I’d wrung every ounce of energy from my body. My lips parted to call for help, but my frail voice was drowned out by the sound of the kulshedra’s roar.
I stared helplessly at the creature, wanting desperately to tell her that I had a plan to release her from the curse that trapped her in the lake, out of sight and alone for decades. That she deserved her freedom.
If only I hadn’t waited.
The demon’s eyes observed me with a mixture of hunger and sorrow. I knew which feeling she would choose to honor.
My body felt like it was gliding over gentle waves. Only when I saw the tree branches overhead did I realize I was moving.
I craned my neck for a glimpse of my rescuer but saw no one. It made no sense. I was definitely moving. In fact, I was now out of the danger zone.
The ground shook as three heads crashed to the earth in unison. I choked back a cry. All my efforts had been in vain.
I focused on my breathing as I worked to regain my strength. A hand scrambled to my side and tugged me to a seated position. I sagged against the trunk of the nearest tree.
“Claude?” My voice was barely a whisper.
The revenant patted my hand.
“Thanks for lending a hand.”
Claude smacked my arm before scurrying into the woods. I didn’t have the energy to call him back. For whatever reason, the revenant had saved me. I’d analyze it later. For now, I was grateful.
“I don’t know what you did to them, but I know it was you!”
Orson staggered toward me, drenched in blood. Each step closer promised vengeance. There was no sign of West or Kane or anybody else.
I scanned the ground for my weapons, but they were too far away.
The alpha threw himself on me, toppling me to the side. I didn’t—couldn’t resist. Pain seared my abdomen as a rib cracked from his weight. Sharp claws slashed my arms.
He was starting to shift.
I grabbed the hair at the nape of his neck and used my last remaining strength to wrest control of his mind.
An image of West appeared, at least he resembled West. He was a few inches taller and wider, and his nose was more crooked, but he was otherwise Weston Davies. Shadows of wolves lowered themselves to the ground in submission. This nightmare version of West snapped Orson’s neck like a popsicle stick and skinned the wolf to wear his black coat as a prize.
The image of West slipped away, replaced only by darkness. I inhaled sharply. It was easier to breathe again, despite the broken ribs.
“Lorelei.” A voice cut through my jumbled thoughts.
“Kane,” I murmured.
“Talk to me, Lorelei.”
