Jovanna guided them to the epicenter of the pounding earth, a nearby town, or what was left of the town. All around them, fires raged and deserted buildings crumbled. The streets were empty, desolate of any signs of humanity. White fluff drifted down from the sky. Lexis rolled down her window, sliding a hand out of the black SUV's window.
"Snow?" She questioned, turning her hand over to catch the flakes. Upon closer observation, she realized that the flakes were gray, not white.
"Ash," Emilia muttered, staring out her own window. Lexis slipped back into her seat, huddling closer to Shadow.
The van sputtered to a stop in the middle of the road. "It's now or never, I guess." Jovanna ran a hand through his hair, turning the key.
"Where's Christopher?" Zoey muttered, opening her door to slip out into the quiet street. A thick smog drifted through the air, making it hard to breath. The others followed suit, taking a moment to absorb the destruction surrounding them.
Shadow broke the silence, "The Shadow Queen and her army have over run this city...and if it's starting here, it will only spread further outward. We need to stop this now, before it is too late."
"Easier said than done," Nicholas readjusted his glasses, "We still don't understand the spell meant to defeat the Shadow Queen, or where to find her, for any matter."
Axel shook his head; it felt impossible. They were surrounded by destruction from an invisible force.
"We travel inwards then, towards the center of the city. We check every building if we have to," Jovanna commanded.
Emilia glanced over her shoulder to him. "Are you sure?"
Jovanna nodded. Without anymore discussion, the teens headed inwards. As they ventured towards the epic-center of the city, a chill came to the air, hot fires turning to blackfire. In the darkness between buildings, figures shifted in slithered.
Lexis gulped, "Did- did you guys see that?"
"Yeah," Shadow answered, eyes narrowing, "they're here."
Emilia's arm ignited. "Do you mind clueing us in over there?"
"The shadows," he replied, "whatever forces stayed behind to protect the queen. Be on your-"
A black viper sprung from the darkness, fire spilling from the creature's mouth as it lunged towards Zoey. Her scream cut Shadow off. Emilia responded with a ball of fire. The flames consumed the creature.
"Holy hell," Zoey panted, staring wide-eyed at the last remaining crisps of the shadow.
"Guys," Jovanna interrupted, stance widening in preparation, "I think we have company."
All around them, shadows slithered into the light, chilling the air. Some of the creatures remained in animalistic forms, but others took on a humanoid shape. Without a moment of hesitation, they sprung forward to attack. The ark moved into action, put on the defense. Using their powers, they were able to press forward, but they were outnumbered, and the fighting pulled them in opposite directions.
Axel and Nicholas stood back to back, both panting as a torrent of water turned into a hurricane to protect them.
"I don't know," Axel pushed the words out as he focused his efforts on moving the air around them, "how much longer I can hold up, Nicky."
"My name," Nicholas gritted his teeth, "is Nicholas."
Axel chuckled, the speed of the cyclone decreasing, "Come on, Nicky, if we're going down-"
YOU ARE READING
Ark of the Light
Fantasy'Long ago an ancient woman of sorcery made a prophecy: 7 Angels of elements shall join in the ashes forming the ring and key to ending a princess of darkness, a shadow queen. ' That, along with a location, was the information the eight teens had re...
