Two teenagers become Earth's last hope.
This fresh fantasy series-launching debut is perfect for readers who love coming-of-age magical school adventures, sprinkled with romance and mystery.
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The ambient noise of the festival dulled as she centred her thoughts. She imagined a barrier between herself and the torrent of emotions that flooded her.
Slowly, painfully, Jelna clawed her way back to clarity. The chaos around her faded to a dull roar, allowing her own thoughts to resurface. She took a deep, shuddering breath, steeling herself. She pushed herself off the wall and reemerged into the main street, clarity renewed. The world snapped back into focus, every detail sharp and vivid.
She caught a glimpse of the boy turning a corner and hastened her steps. The chase led her through a labyrinth of alleys and backstreets, past overflowing trash bins, startled cats, and the occasional drunk reveller. With each turn and narrow passageway, she drew closer to him.
Finally, at the end of a dimly lit alleyway, she closed the distance.
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"Stop! Please," Jelna gasped, her hands on her knees, recovering her breath. "I'm not here to harm you. I'm here to help."
They paused in the shadowed alley. "Then you better help soon, lady!"
Jelna's pulse raced, her ears straining for signs of pursuit. Morwyn's followers were nearby. Their heavy footsteps echoed like a sinister drumbeat that reverberated through the ground, vibrating through the soles of her boots. They were here on Earth, and whenever they went, their path was marked by unimaginable cruelty.
A guttural shout shattered the momentary calm. "There! They went that way!"
Jelna's hand plunged into her pocket, fingers curling around the charm, its edges biting into her palm like tiny teeth.
"Don't make a sound," she whispered to the boy, locking eyes with him.
With a deep breath, Jelna closed her eyes as she cast an incantation. The words felt like fire on her tongue, ancient and powerful. Suddenly, it was as though the alley's dust had come alive, swirling and coalescing into a billowing veil. Smoke rose, coiling around them like a protective serpent, its acrid taste sharp against her tongue.
Through the swirling mist, Jelna could barely make out the boy before her, his edges blurred by the smoke. The alley's stale air clung to them, the rotting garbage and mildew amplified by the magic. The stench of waste and damp stone clawed at her nostrils. Her skin prickled in the silence, every nerve ending hyper-aware of their situation.
The spell was taxing, far more difficult to maintain on Earth than it would have been on Eldora. The veil wouldn't last forever, but it didn't need to. It just needed to last long enough. She gritted her teeth as she felt her energy drain with each passing second.
The dark figures paused at the entrance to the alley, their heads swivelling as they searched. She could hear their ragged breathing, smell the bitter essence of dark magic that clung to them like a shroud. One of the figures turned to look straight in their direction. Jelna's fingers dug into the boy's shoulder, silently willing him to remain absolutely still.
