From the Ashes

Chapter 57 ~ Body and Soul

Morana was on her knees, both hands raised over her head to brace the shield that faltered around her. Orilight lay discarded just beyond it, near Rehema's unconscious form. The Elder had suffered a hard blow to the head and even now, blood continued to drip from the wound. Morana was shielding her too but she wasn't sure how much longer she could hold it.

She gritted her teeth against a grunt of pain as Astaroth's power etched another crack in her shield. The dark Lord waited above her, his cold grin dripping with malice. Morana sucked down a few rapid breaths and glanced about herself.

There was still no sign of Gaelen. Where was he? She couldn't protect herself and Rehema much longer. The Elder needed to get to safety! Shadows smashed through parts of her shield and began ripping away at it piece by piece.

Morana attempted to patch the holes they created, but the shadows were moving too quickly. More cracks appeared across the crimson dome and the shadows targeted them next, squeezing themselves through the cracks and splintering them wider.

She was out of time. Morana gulped down one last steadying breath and let her shield fall. Shadows dove for her instantly, but she was already flinging herself towards Orilight. Her fingers touched the hilt, then shadows were wrapped around her arms and hauling her backwards.

Morana cried out in shock and thrashed against their grasp, magic surging through her limbs. A few of the shadows released her, but even more came to take their place. Wind bellowed around her, carrying the shrieks and roars from the battle below, but Morana didn't pull her gaze from the figure that rose before her.

Astaroth watched as his shadows dragged her closer to him. Morana continued to fight, trying to burn her way through the shadows' hold. Another gust of wind blasted her from behind and her ears popped as the air was sucked away again.

Astaroth's gaze snapped behind her and a growl of frustration slid past his jagged teeth. Morana stiffened, her magic alerting her to several new presences atop the hill. She still didn't look away from Astaroth, but tears pricked at her vision as a familiar voice called her name.

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"Morana!" Tarion shouted again, silently pleading with her to break Astaroth's hold. He was already sprinting towards them as fast as he could, but his strength was fading and his legs threatened to give out beneath him.

Wind whipped hair across his face and the acrid scent of smoke burned his nostrils. The battlefield around them was alight with leaping flames, some of magical origin, others started merely to cause destruction and confusion. Tarion didn't let himself dwell on the carnage. He was scanning the hill for any sign of Gaelen.

"You're too late, Prince," Astaroth seethed. "She is mine!"

Tarion let out a scream of shock and rage as the shadowy figure plunged, forcing its way into Morana's body. Her head fell back, her mouth gaping in a silent scream and eyes wide with terror. "No!"

"Morana!" Neeri and Lonan's horrified shouts overlapped behind him.

Morana's limbs thrashed uncontrollably as her body convulsed, an invisible war waging between its two inhabitants. Tarion kept running towards her, begging her to hold on. To keep fighting and not let Astaroth win.

She was screaming, the sound more terrible than anything he'd ever heard before. Shadows lashed around her, trying to wrestle her into submission. Morana strained against her shackles but to no avail. Tarion was only a few paces from her when a new figure appeared, a familiar sword in his hands.