The Witch's Tool (The Witch's Tool #1)

The New Dark World

ZELENIA

The moment we stepped through the portal - doorway I knew something wasn't right. Everything was dark; from the leaves to the bark on the trees. Even the ground I stood on, was like a pool of dark-black dirt, littered with even darker leaves and stones.
And when I looked overhead, the sky was pitch dark. The only thing that had any light was the full moon.
It was as if someone had took a coat of black paint and threw it on everything.

My mind wondered how other forms of life would look, and I felt glad there weren't any around for me to know.

Before I had stepped through, I had expected it to hurt but it hadn't. I felt just like I did before I had stepped thorough. And I still looked and felt the same. Even my biggest fear that I would have come through naked was now just a thought. I still wore my torn and filthy hospital gown and Jace's shirt.

Looking around me I noticed that Lyris was standing just a few feet ahead of us. Her head bowed and shoulders slack. She was sad and I couldn't blame her, anyone who lived in a place like this had to be pretty depressed.

Turning my attention to Jace, who stood beside me. His face had a look of absolute horror engraved on it, his entire body had gone cold and rigid and his eyes; never will I forget the look of pain in them.

My hand was still in his and I could feel it trembling as he squeezed the life from mine, but still I didn't let go.

"Jace." I said his name as one would quietly whisper.

When he turned and saw me, I don't know why but the pain changed to absolute rage.

I gasped and tried to get from out of his grasp, but his hands held on tighter. Then he shoved me - hard.

I only registered a pain that started from the back of my neck down to the tip of my spine. It quickly spread to the rest of my back and even my head. I cried out and my free hand went around to it.

Tears had welled up in my eyes and were now trickling down my face.

I heard someone talking but I couldn't hear what they were saying.

My mind only registered pain and my ears rung hard. But all I could do was lie there, as the pain spread and my whole entire body shook from pain and confusion as to why Jace had just hurt me.

JACE

Coming through the portal and left me with a dizzy headache and stiff limbs. After a long minute of waiting for it to pass it finally did and I slowly opened my eyes.

What I saw will forever be etched in my mind and very soul.

Before I had left, my world was still vibrantly colorful. The sky had the most beautiful blue; even when the rain fell.
The trees and plants had a kaleidoscope of colors and fragrances that stuck to you no matter where you went or how often you washed your clothes. It stuck, like some stain.

Now I had returned to find my home in a state of dreaded darkness and gloom.

It was enough to send me crashing over the edge to a place I never thought I could go.

My whole body shook and I could feel the anger feeding my magic, and instead of seeing white I saw red.

Someone beside me said my name and I felt a hand squeeze mine. I turned in their direction and the face that met mine was the one my whole mind and body held responsible for my anger.

Not waiting a second to think, I called forth my powers and pushed it in the general direction of The Witch.

I watched as she flew through the air and collided with the trunk of a huge dark tree.