Beyond The Shadows (Shadows Saga bk3) ON HOLD

Chapter 3- Merge

There is an audio attachement this time along with the image. I know it's not something I normally do, but I felt like the tone of this song really went well with the chapter. 

Hope you enjoy!

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The magic flowed from Mara's hands. She felt Marx's muscles tense up as the power touched him, flowed into him. He groaned as the move shifted the bullet inside. Mara bit her lip and gently pulled up with her magic.

Marx growled and bit his hand as the bullet slowly made its way up.

She could hear the hissing as the bullet slid against his muscles and flesh inside, burning Marx as it made its exit.

Mara cringed from the sound. The smell of burning flesh nearly making her gag as it wafted up.

She felt the cool metal touch her hand and she pulled the bullet out. Marx's body lay still as the agony slowly subsided.

He weakly sat up, looking into Mara's red, puffy eyes.

"Go," he whispered.

She didn't want to leave Marx there, but she needed to see her aunt. She needed to do what she could to save. Makortax had said it wasn't possible, but it wouldn't be the first time something impossible had been made possible. That was the hope she had to cling to.

Mara turned and ran. Breaking into the hallway, she sprinted down toward her aunt's room. A weight pressed down on her chest as she stepped through the doorway, tears springing to her eyes again.

The brief moment she had away from Natalie, had allowed her to believe it wasn't truly happening, but now here she was. Natalie was lying still on the bed, her skin pale and the red stain seeped into the material of her blouse.

Mara covered her mouth and stepped closer.

"She's still alive for now, but it won't be much longer now. Whoever it was wasn't the best shot. The bullet missed all vital organs. It's the poison that's killing her, not the wound," Lillian said solmnly. "She's been given something for the pain."

Mara choked back a sob and knelt down next to the bed. A shaky hand reaching out, touching Natalie's shoulder.

"Lillian, what can I do to help her?"

"She has already been helped," the woman said.

"I don't mean like that. I mean actually help. Something can be done, there has to be something."

"Makortax has already told you, there is nothing that can be done. The poison is immune to all magics, no witch nor fae powers can possibly stop the process now."

"You have to be lying, that can't be true."

Lillain's silence was her answer. Mara knew they weren't lying, but it still didn't cease her hope

Natalie's eyes slowly moved toward her niece. Mara could tell it was all she could do to keep them open.

"And the guests?" Mara asked bitterly trying to focus on something she did have the power to change, to do something about.

"They were escorted out. Each of them searched for a weapon. So far we have found nothing."

Mara felt her aunt's cold hand move to hers.

"Mara"

"You can't leave me, Nat," Mara whispered.

"Shh. It's going to be alright."