Dashing for the rod, I created fire globe after fire globe and hurled them at Conemar and the others. Nick dodged the exploding flames and charged after me. He collided into me, and we crashed into the metal wall.
I pushed him off me and threw a knee strike to his stomach. He stumbled back, and I snatched up the rod. A wind globe hit me, and I landed hard on the ground, the rod jarred from my hand and pain exploding across my back.
My head throbbed, and fear shook my body.
Get up. Don’t stop. I rolled onto my knees and grasped for the rod. Nick’s boot came down on my hand, and I shrieked. He picked up the rod.
“No, Nick,” I pleaded. “Don’t give it to him.”
Nick tossed the rod to Conemar.
“No!” It was as if the ceiling of the cave crashed on top of me and all hope punched out of my soul.
Conemar caught the rod, a sinister grin twisting his lips.
Royston tackled Nick and slammed a fist against his jaw, and then another. Nick lay motionless on the ground.
Nick. I couldn’t think about him right then. I had to get Royston out of there.
I repeatedly launched fire globes at Conemar and his Sentinels. The balls bursting into flames created a wall between them and us.
Conemar and his Sentinels backed out of the cave.
“Run!” I yelled.
I grabbed the canister and note and shoved them inside my boot. Royston took off for the trough, and I sprinted after him. I ignited another fireball and threw it at the entrance before jumping into the trough behind Royston. We rode it down like a slide, pebbles flying up, pelting my face. It went a long distance before I shot out of it and landed on top of Royston at the bottom.
Crawling over the rocks, Royston and I went out of an opening in the cave. The light blinded me for a few seconds before my eyes adjusted. We’d ended up at the base of the mountain. We needed Bastien’s and his guards’ help. I fumbled to get the window rod out of my pocket. It was broken in half. I tossed it to the ground.
“We have a head start,” I said. “They’re going take time releasing the Tetrad.” Saying that caused my stomach to drop. I’d failed. Because of me, both worlds were in danger. No telling what Conemar would do with his new weapon.
“How do we get out of this place?” he asked.
I hadn’t thought about that. “Let’s just go to where we entered. There has to be a way out.”
Screeches sounded above us. A half dozen Writhes, changed into menacing creatures by Conemar, slithered down the mountain heading in our direction. Their deformed bodies, contorting over boulders and through cracks, moved inhumanly fast.
“Go, go, go,” I yelled, and took off down the trail.
I sprinted behind Royston. My lungs burned with the cold air rushing fast and heavy into them. The place we had entered came into view—a floating image of the library. Royston slowed down, seemingly not knowing what to do.
“Keep going,” I shouted, passing him and jumping into the image. I dropped into the library and landed on my hands and knees.
Royston flew out and crashed into the bookcase to my right. A Writhe’s claw reached out of the book, but I kicked it shut and sat on it. The book bucked with so much force, I could hardly keep it closed. The Writhe’s wailing stung my ears.
“Sei zero sette periodo zero due DOR,” I spurted out the numbered charm to call the gateway book.
The Writhe kept knocking the book. It was like riding a bronco across the floor. The gateway book flew over and Royston caught it.
“Find the entry into Chetham’s Library,” I said, grasping the side of the book underneath me.
Royston flipped the page to the photograph. “Give me your hand,” he shouted over the siren-like screech coming from the Writhes.
I reached my hand out to him and he grasped it.
“Aprire la porta,” he spoke the charm and jumped into the page, pulling me in with him. I stretched to turn the page but Royston’s larger body yanked me too fast into the gateway and I missed it, my fingers brushing over the edges.
We flew out of the book, and my side smacked against the floorboards. Royston landed hard on his feet and stumbled forward.
“Gia!” Bastien ran over and helped me to my feet. “What happened?”
Arik, our Sentinels, and the Couve guards stood ready for a fight.
Two Writhes came sailing out of the book. One charged after Demos, and the other knocked me to the floor on my back. Royston backhanded the creature, and it flew off me. Another one jumped out. Bastien shot an electric charge at it, and it thudded to the floor, shaking and wailing on its back.
Demos and Jaran sliced one of the creatures down with their swords.
“How are they transporting through the book?” I shouted to whoever would listen.
Lei blasted a lightning bolt into a Writhe climbing a bookcase, missing by an inch. Books flew off the shelf, and burned paper floated down. “See that silver mark on the back of their hands? It’s a charm. Only the council knows how to create one of those.” She sent another strike at the beast and hit it this time. It fell back and thumped against the floorboards.
Several more Writhes shot out of the pages. I created an ice globe and threw it at one, freezing the beast. I landed a front kick to its body and it shattered, the pieces thumping to the floor. My stomach roiled at the bloodied flesh and rotting smell.
Arik had one of the Writhes caught in his fiery whip.
Bastien, with an electric charge dancing between his hands, faced off with another one. The gateway book shook on the floor behind him.
“Bastien, the book!” He didn’t hear me, so I barreled for it, landing my butt on the cover.
The book bucked. And bucked. On the third one, I flew off, hitting the floor hard on my side. A Writhe shot out and grabbed Bastien’s legs, pulling him into the book.
I scrambled for them and caught Bastien’s hands before he was pulled fully inside. “Don’t let go,” I said, tightening my grip. He was half out and half in the gateway.
Bastien cried out.
“Oh my God, what?” Panic fluttered in my stomach.
“Its claws are digging into my legs.” He clenched his jaw and groaned.
“Kick it,” I said, then yelled over my shoulder. “Help! Someone help me!” I slid forward as the beast tugged Bastien harder into the book.
“Let me go,” Bastien pleaded, pain twisting his face. “It’ll take you, as well.”
“I won’t,” I said, tears pouring from my eyes. “You didn’t let go for me. I won’t, either. You go, I go. We’ll fight them together.”
Bastien smiled before wincing in pain again.
His hand slipped a little inside my right one.
As he was yanked back again, I was yanked forward.
“That won’t do this time. The worlds need you.” He pulled one of his hands from my grip and formed a charge on his fingertips.
“What are you doing? Stop!” My voice cracked with the panic releasing from my chest.
He touched my hand with the charge, causing me to let go of his other hand.
The Writhe pulled him into the gateway, and just as I started to jump in after him, the pages caught on fire. Strong arms wrapped around me and dragged me back from the flaming book.
Chapter Twenty-Five