The Angelus Reprobi just manages to spring off the ground to avoid another direct hit as the Ram charges again. I sweep back around and zero in on my target. The Ram sees me coming though and bounds aside right as I breathe ice.
The icicle shatters harmlessly on the ground.
My Angelus Reprobi swiftly swings back around and quickly snatches the Ram as he tries to run for cover. I toss him into the air and while he's airborne I hurl another gust of ice at him. This time he's mine. The Ram is frozen solid before he plummets to the ground and shatters.
The audience cringes but now roars with thrill. They are really enjoying this! I realize with a smile.
My Angelus Reprobi only has one more competitor and that happens to be Queen Eastyn of Diamonds' mighty Ox.
I land in front of the Ox in the middle of the arena. She paws at the ground before she charges me. I charge too, rapidly gaining more speed and powerful as I push myself.
The collision sounds like two trains thundering together.
The Ox secures her horns under my jaw and brutally twists, slamming me to the ground hard enough to leave a crater beneath me. I roll to the side, using my wing to slap her away from me as I stand again. The Ox rears back for a heartbeat before diving into me again, hitting me so forcefully I'm being slid backwards under the force of her push.
I'm slammed back against the wall -the audience in the seats above us shriek and cheer with amazement- and now the Ox slams her horned head into me once, twice, again, trying to daze me long enough to fracture my tether with my animal soul spirit.
But I've come too far to hold back now!
My Angelus Reprobi reaches down with mordacious jaws and brutally seizes the Ox by the back of the neck, hurling her into the wall beside me. The impact resounds like thunder around the arena and a huge spiderweb of cracks race up the wall as the Ox staggers up to her feet.
I lunge forward and seize her horns, dragging her closer. I anxiously breath ice once more, determined to bring her down before she can recover, and now to my amazement, I watch as the mighty Ox rapidly becomes crystalized within the confides of ice.
Back up in my balcony, I glance across the way at Queen Eastyn wincing in pain. She quickly catches my eye though and smiles, nodding and gesturing down at the combative creatures, urging me to claim my victory.
I smile with relief. No hard feelings, Eastyn!
My Angelus Reprobi instantly lunges forward and snaps her jaws over the Ox's head, shattering the mighty creature with one bite.
A shockwave ripples throughout the arena suddenly, shaking everything with the force of an earthquake. It's Raetri congratulating me! I realize with a speeding heart.
I did it!
I defeated the Court's animal soul spirits with mine!
My Angelus Reprobi throws her head with a victorious roar.
But before I let myself celebrate too much; I anxiously summon my animal soul spirit back to me. I can't use any magic once this is over!
The world stops shaking just a heartbeat before my animal spirit returns to me. As soon I recapture my animal soul spirit though, it feels like I've just swallowed the sun.
I gasp with pain as the burning sensation spreads throughout my body's every system. It's like I can feel fire crackling to life inside of my bones. I struggle to mask my pain as I frantically look myself over. My skin begins glowing, much like how it does right before I have a powerdrop. Only this time I know I'm not being threatened with losing my magic, I'm being cooked alive by having too much magic.
"Don't lose focus, Adara," I startle as I realize Cornelius and Quill are beside me now. "I know it feels like you must get rid of some of this magic but you can't, the levels of magic in your blood will settle once your body processes everything."
"Wh-when will...that...be?" I manage to say through shaky breathes of pain.
"Any moment now," he smiles reassuringly. "You're an Alice after all. You process things far more quickly than the rest of us magic users."
"Cool," I stammer, clutching my temples as now what feels like icicles stab through my head, giving me the ultimate brain-freeze. "Ahh, it's still fluctuating!" I exclaim with a wince.
"You poor thing," Quill reaches for me but Dad quickly holds him back.
"We can't touch her when she's like. She could inadvertently absorb magic from anyone she touches."
"Whoa," Quill and I both exclaim with surprise.
A heartbeat later, the grueling ache begins to melt away from my head. Now all I feel is raw energy coursing through my body, I'm shaking all over as I feel current after current of static electricity cycle through my body. "Th-this is crazy!" I wobblily laugh as I look my trembling hands and arms over. I can literally see the bands of lightning flashing beneath my flesh every few heartbeats. "How long will I be like this?"
"You'll have everything completely processed within the hour," Dad informs me. "You'll still be absolutely brimming with power though and the urge to use magic will be dauntingly tempting but you must reframe."
"Not even a little sparkle?" I press.
He smiles a bit. "I'm afraid not even a little sparkle. If you summon so much as an ember with magic, it'll be like opening the floodgates and your entire supply of magic will abandon you. That's why it's important not to do anything, understand?"
I smile and eagerly nod. "Yeah, for sure! Wow, this is incredible!" I laugh as I look my hands over.
"It is truly stunning," Dad agrees. "Oh, and by the way, congratulations on conquering your fifth Labor, Adara. It was very impressive."
That's right! I suddenly remember. I look around the cheering arena. Everyone is on their feet, cheering and chanting my name.
I did it!
Another one down, only thirteen left! Fortunately for me, I've always considered thirteen to be a lucky number so now I can honestly say I'm looking forward to the rest of my Labors.

YOU ARE READING
Behind My Shadow - Book Three
FantasyThe day has finally donned for Adara to complete the sacred Eighteen Labors of Alice to prove her merit to Raetri and secure her rightful place on the Vorpal Throne! But Adara feels like she's playing against a stacked deck. While struggling to conq...