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When she reached him, the unmistakable expression of horror filled his features.They were too late. This was the work of Elemental soldiers, and they both knew it. They are the epitome of destruction, leaving nothing but fire and ash in their wake.
Thessa’s focus shifted to the horses that remained in his paddocks, whinnying with despair—-being eaten by flames.
This was her fault. Had she not broken down, Soren would’ve been back there, he could’ve helped. She could’ve helped. Instead, she’d been a distraction.
Thessa couldn’t allow anymore suffering at the hands of those fire-brewing monsters.She wouldn’t. With no warning to Soren, she dismounted, sprinting toward the fire-struck land with her black fingers spread wide.
You’ve protected me, now help me protect them.
Willing the magic away from her fingertips, it danced around her.
More, she demanded with a fierce breath, and magic poured from her fingertips, encircling her body like a capsule.
And without another thought, Thessa ran directly into the flames.
28
LECTURE NOTES FROM THEOLOGY, OUR GODS AND GODDESSES I:
Hades may be the god of the underworld, governing over the dead, but Thanatos is the god of death itself, carrying souls to the underworld.
Flames smothered under her every footstep.
Cinder from burning wood flew, and what landed atop her sphere of shadow-magic, fizzled into ash. Her magic hated fire, that's all she knew.
Bolting toward Soren’s home, she searched for a clearing. Nothing remained, only flame and collapsing, burning wood.Snapping in the distance stole her attention as his barn crumpled next.
This land is fit for the god of the underworld himself.
She sprinted for the paddocks and burst through the burning fence. One grassy patch remained, and within it only three horses were left. Sparks flew across the clearing, startling them, while the fire reflected the panic in their big, round eyes.
Thessa called her magic to bloom around her, larger—wider. She had to learn how to control the flow of energy.The current within her felt endless, like a sea. She just needed to anchor down and pull. And she’d need a strong anchor, like something made of steel.
Closing her eyes she breathed her plan into action. Visualizing herself as the anchor, and unfaltering like her final dagger, she plunged into the sea. It was dark and soft, like satin.
A heartbeat later, her magic shot from her fingertips. The dark sphere she’d created grew large enough to add one horse.
Catching her breath, she stepped toward the one nearest and begged, “Let’s go.”
Gripping it by the halter, she sprinted toward the property line.Soren was waiting there with Hades in tow; his face was frozen. It had to be a combination of shock and grief.
Breath staggered, she could only manage to say, “I’m so sorry,” before turning back.
The clearing in the pasture was smaller now. The two horses were rearing in fear, and she’d only conjured enough magic for one. They held doom in their eyes—a feeling she knew well, and one she refused to let another innocent soul feel.
Thessa roared, like her freedom call atop Hades, digging into her sea of magic. She pulled from its darkest depths, expelling enough energy to cover a dozen horses.
Flames died where her shadows bloomed.
Running between the two horses, she led them out to safety.
Soren’s face had shifted to a ghostly expression as she drew her magic back in. She wouldn’t ask if his family had fled, died, or been taken. She couldn’t.
“I need your help,” was all Soren said, his tone was weak.
She nodded once in agreement.
Curling Ares around, Soren galloped back across the field.