JOHN
I followed Hunter through the portal and stepped out into a small clearing. It was full dark now and only Ezra's magic gave off any light. Ezra closed the portal and then immediately continued his hand movements into a summoning spell, calling Kastem.
The other summoners followed his lead, each calling one of their own. Hunter and Anissa stood on either side of me and soon their demons did too. Anissa had found one that looked half-lizard, half-bird, but was nearly the size of a small dog. The tan and white feathers on its claw-like arms seemed to glow in the light of the summoners' magics.
Benji summoned a demon that resembled a gorilla, its dark shape blending with the night, making it hard to know just how large it was. Its piercing amber eyes shone with a deep intelligence I didn't want to cross.
Kastem sniffed the air, a tension held in his muscles before the large dog-like demon turned to me. It stepped across the sm
EZRAI could barely make out the village through the trees. Anissa and I followed Suon, keeping the village on our left. Kastem was a like shadow, another part of the jungle's quiet presence. The sounds from the group of warriors in the village were anything but silent. It was obvious the war-band hadn't left yet. A big fire blazed in the village center and the sounds of the men talking and laughing in rowdy bouts echoed off into the trees with the smoke.We paused behind one of the outer huts and Suon and I peered around its edge as Anissa kept an eye out behind us. I could see clearly through to the heart of the village, where Nako's hut sat nestled in with the others. The only thing that stood out definitely between the Chief's hut and the others in the village was that it was slightly larger. Tamner had told me that was for all the meetings with village elders, but otherwise, the Chief was treated the same as any of the village elders.
EZRAAs soon as we were clear of the village, I opened a portal back to the Temple. We all rushed through, and I quickly shut it down, not wanting to chance that one of them would follow us."What the hell?" Anissa said, dismissing her lizard-like demon. "Why are they still camped there?""They're waiting." I thought to say more, but another portal opened next to us, throwing a bright light throughout the Temple's courtyard.Hunter and John came through, Benji and their demons followed. Benji turned and immediately closed his portal just as quickly as I had.A tightness in my chest eased. We'd all made it back in one piece. No one had been hurt or captured, and we'd gotten the information we'd needed.Suon clapped me on the shoulder, "A good night, Hassim. Rest now. We talk in the sunlight.""Yeah," I said, watching Suon and Anissa head for the Temple's entrance. Hunter hovered over John like a nursemaid. J
JOHNI felt odd, electrified in my own skin. Hurrying up the stairs of the Temple, I disappeared down a hallway that led deeper into the cave system. I didn't have a destination in mind, I only knew I wanted to be alone. I needed space. I didn't want to hurt anyone else before I could figure out what hell I'd invited into myself.This power wasn't at all what I expected. When Poe said it would be different, I thought it would be different like daffodils to daisies, not daffodils to zombies.The memory of the cold energy flashing through me and into the warrior, the feeling as his life drained away, stopped me in my tracks. I stumbled and stopped, leaning against the smooth carved earthen wall of the hallway, and wished I could feel its cool and steady power once more."John?"Hunter's voice echoed through the hall, pulling me up straighter and forcing me back into my 'I'm okay' mask. I wasn't okay, and I knew Hunter knew
EZRASleep did not come easily. I tossed and turned all night, only to give up altogether when Avery grumbled at me in the early morning. I walked the temple halls instead, passing the monks on the stairs, heading for the top of the Temple, near the tiny shrine where I'd reconnected with Poe. I paused at the chest-high wall that protected the stairs from the steep drop down the cliff face. The sky was starting to brighten in the east and the birds were coming alive with song and chatter. The jungle was peaceful.Soon, I would need to take everyone through to the other world, but after that? We needed to find the last Reinhardt necromancer. We needed to figure out what the hell Nathan was up to and stop him before he killed us all.Overwhelmed didn't even begin to cover how I was feeling."I thought I would find you here."I turned to find Poe climbing the last few stairs behind me. He'd changed into robes the same cut as
JOHNI glanced over our group as the lights from Ezra's power flashed with the opening of the portal. Hunter took my hand and I looked into his worried eyes. Even though we'd spoken most of the night about my power and what it would mean about my future, we were both still unsure about what we both wanted out of life and relationships. We weren't perfect. We weren't a match made in heaven, but we had come to one solid agreement. That whatever we faced, we'd face together as long as we were both willing to work this spark that burned between us."Come on," Hunter said. "It's our turn."He tugged on my hand, and together we followed Anissa and Tessa through the portal.The trip was the same rush, twist, and quick turn of vertigo I was starting to have a love-hate relationship with. But a mere moment later, I stepped free of the other side, and into the slightly cooler, dry heat of the Texas air. Avery's family had sold their hors
EZRAIt was a breath of relief to be back, but I felt the need to get moving, to figure out what exactly Nathan was up to. I didn't have any clue, and it felt wrong to be sitting here with my family, safe, while the last summoner was still out there alone, still in danger.I stepped into the living room to find a quiet seat from everyone gathered in the kitchen. There was talk of heading out to a grocery store to pick up enough food to feed everyone a proper meal if I had heard Mom right.Reaching into my power, I traveled out along the lines that tied me to all the other Reinhardts, and I was relieved to find that the last was still far to the north, in New York. Of course, I'd have been happier if he were here with us. It would be safer by far."Ezra?"Pulling myself out of my light trance, I found Dad standing nearby, worry etched in his aging face. "I've a favor to ask, and I hate to do so now right after you've gott
EZRAAfter a shower and change of clothes, I stood to one side of the backyard with Avery and Dad, leaving Benji plenty of room to build his portal. He'd begun the sequence, the circles twisting in the air, throwing off a red hue to tint the dark landscape."We'll keep you updated," Hunter said, as he and John came up to us. They'd taken the time to change as well, though I could see how anxious Hunter was to get moving.With a flash, Benji's portal connected. On the other side of the threshold I could see a brilliant display of orchids and Cameron, looking at us wide-eyed, though the shock quickly turned into a smile as he caught sight of Hunter and John."Be safe, I'll let you know what we find at Lyssa's." I waved them off, silently praying to the higher powers that everything would go well.Avery's hand wrapped around my waist, squeezing me in a little half hug. She'd insisted on joining us once she'd learned what we
JOHN"Dad!"Hunter ran to his father as soon as we cleared the threshold of the portal. I stepped to the side and looked around while they hugged and spoke quietly. Benji had opened the portal right in the middle of the Orchid Hall, where I'd first met Hunter's dad.The Arboretum was quieter than last time Hunter and I were here, which made sense being that it was the middle of the night. I glanced around, nervously looking for anything that might've been out of place, but everything seemed fine. Benji came through next to me and closed the portal."It is good to see you," Cameron said, turning to me. "I was afraid that your family wouldn't let you go once they got you back.""They didn't want to, but I managed," I said, shaking his hand. I could feel the undercurrent of his power. Cameron frowned."Dad, this is Benji," Hunter said, taking the chance to introduce his father to Benji. I was glad for the distraction