Scholomance 9 by Logan Jacobs (read books for money .TXT) 📕

want to waste any power until they are in our view. They’ll have to show themselves eventually.”

How do you know, Cole? Alexander asked.

“Because I’m going to force them to show themselves,” I muttered. “I just need a moment.”

No one said a word as the women kept their wands aimed at the ready and pointed high above us, and we held our breaths as we waited for something to happen or for another weapon to come bursting through the clouds. I knew the elder warriors were being cowards and using the clouds for protection, and because we were stuck in a holy domain, the elements were on their side.

A heavy silence filled the air as they waited for the right moment to attack, and then, just as I predicted, I heard a swishing sound slip through the air like a whip. It was another golden arrow, but it was going too fast for any of us to stop it. In a heartbeat, I heard an ear-splitting scream, and when I spun around, Faye stood there pale-faced as the giant arrow stuck out right in between her perfect breasts. Blood pooled around her the puncture wound and soaked her dress, but for some reason, she didn’t try to pry the weapon out of her skin. Instead, she stood there, and she swayed back and forth as thin, grayish-green veins started to spread across her creamy freckled skin. I’d never seen anything like it before, and it sent a chilling sensation deep in the pit of my stomach.

“What the hell is happening to her?” I demanded as her lips slowly turned purple. “She can barely move.”

“It’s a poison!” Morgana screeched as Faye began to sway backward, and the quick-minded brunette ran toward the redhead and caught her before she could collapse over the cliff. Morgana then placed Faye’s head in her lap and brushed the long red strands of slick hair out of her face. “Obviously, the arrow won’t kill Faye, but it will slow her down, even with the help of the potion. This is the most powerful kind of holy magic imaginable, and I bet they’re going to try and stun all of us.”

“Well, two can play at this fucking game,” I growled as my mouth went dry. “We just need to catch them in sight, and when we do, it’s over for them.”

“You’re right, master,” Penelope said as she stood by my side. “We can’t give up now. And soon, they’ll be as good as dead.”

“Is that so?” a deep voice echoed like thunder from above us. “You weak children of Satan have no idea who you’re dealing with. We’ve been forged by the elder lord himself! Crafted from the purest stone and brought to life by his own breath--”

“Just fucking save it,” I called out. “We don’t need to hear any more of your holy, rambling bullshit. Why don’t you show yourselves instead of hiding like a pair of cowards? Or did your precious lord forget to give you balls?”

“He speaks about our lord in the most blasphemous of terms,” the other voice added in an appalled tone. “Perhaps we should teach him a lesson? Something more permanent this time.”

“Agreed, brother,” the first voice responded.

Another swoosh swept through the air, and in the blink of an eye, another arrow was heading my way. I didn’t have time to raise my wand or jump out of the way, but Penelope quickly shoved me aside while the arrowhead stuck right in her shoulder.

“Fuuuuuuuuck!” the orange-haired witch screamed as deep blood spurted from her wound and dripped down her body.

Penelope crouched down, held onto the arrow, and squeezed her eyes shut before she swiftly yanked the whole thing out. Her perfect skin quickly started to turn a sickly color, just like Faye, and I rushed to catch the orange-haired Wicca before she could fall off the cliff. When I looked down into her eyes, they were bloodshot, and her pupils were the size of saucers. She coughed up blood and scrunched up her face, but there was still a resilient spark in her eyes.

“M-Master,” she stuttered before she placed a bloody palm on my cheek. “Don’t worry about me. I-I’ll be fine.”

“I know you will,” I whispered before I planted a small kiss on her forehead and placed her down on the stone. “I refuse to let any one of you die.”

“Cole, these fuckers will keep trying to wipe us out,” Vanessa spat with spiteful eyes, but she still looked pale and shaken from exerting herself earlier. “One by one, they will pierce us with arrows until there are none of us left to fight. What the fuck are we going to do?”

“Let me think,” I growled. “There has to be something we can do to bring them out into the open.”

I stared up at the cluster of thick colorful clouds, and suddenly, an idea sprung to mind. If I could move other natural elements and bend them to my will, then I surely could do the same with these hazy heavenly shields. I knew it would take an immense amount of power, but with Penelope’s potion, it could work.

“I need you all to be on the lookout,” I ordered my coven. “If you need to take an arrow for Vanessa, so be it. Remember, you’ll live, but she won’t. I know the poison looks painful, but you’re tough, and you can handle it.”

“Yes, master,” Vesta purred. “We won’t let you down.”

“I know you won’t,” I replied before I rolled up my sleeves and took a long deep breath. “Now, everyone brace yourselves and hold on to something.”

“What are you going to do, master?” Circe asked with wide, serpentine eyes.

“You’ll see.” I grinned before I raised my hands high in the air and closed my eyes. I pictured the thick white clouds above us and imagined them