ENCHANTED WORLD SERIES BOOK 4: MOON CHILD'S WAR

Alli stood in the front gate of the Ghost Runners’ hideout surprised that she and Corleen made it through the first and second line of security without being struck down.

That morning Alli went to Corleen to tell her that she had just received terrible news about Quentin and she needed to go and see Tessa and Jake.

Corleen outright refused for her to go back there and Alli had to do a lot of begging and sulking eventually threatening Corleen not to take part in the Debut Night that evening. That caught Corleen’s attention.

Alli couldn’t take California with her so Corleen had to be her personal bodyguard for the day.

“I can’t believe you wish to drag me back here,” Corleen growled as they drove up the dirt path leading to the middle of the woods. “How did Quentin die?” She asked quietly.

“The human hunters killed him,” Alli said as her heart broke into a thousand pieces all over again. Quentin never harmed anyone so he didn’t deserve to die like that.

“Who told you about it?” Corleen asked as they got closer to the first line of security and the oppressing feeling started to engulf them like a blanket of uncertainty.

Alli didn’t expect Zach to still be that strong because before she left, he looked so tired and worn out. “Ruvin--uh....called me this morning to tell me.” She almost blurted out that Ruvin came over and spent the night with her. The memory of what Ruvin did to her body made heat rise to her cheeks.

“I don’t like you hanging out with him, Alli. He is dangerous.” Corleen reprimanded.

He's my mate. Alli wanted to counter but merely clamped her mouth shut. “He’s not all that bad.”

Corleen glowered at her but didn’t say anything more until they arrived at the gates.

As Alli stood in front of the gates, the heavy wrought-iron gates groaned open and allowed her to enter. Corleen eased the car behind Alli and went to park it a little away from the entrance.

Alli tucked her hands in the pockets of her jacket and felt butterflies take flight in her stomach. She was anxious to see Ruvin again and so was Ylva. As she approached the entrance, Briar came out to greet her.

“Hello, Alli.” She said and before Alli could react, Briar came pulled her into a hug.

Alli removed her hands from her pockets and hugged the woman back.

When Briar moved back, her eyes were glassy. “I am so glad to see you here. Come on inside-- Corleen.” Briar suddenly turned to Corleen who approached them quietly. “You look well.”

“I am much better, thank you.” Corleen gave a little nod.

A sad smile appeared on Briar’s lips. “Better come on in.”

The house was awfully quiet. Lukas and Izzy were not on each other’s throats and Raul was not there to tease her. Vixen wasn’t there to keep a suspicious eye on her and nothing mouthwatering was wafting from the kitchen. It was just so gloomy.

Briar took them to what looked like a sitting room, a room that was that new even to Alli. The curtains were pulled against the windows and it awfully too quiet even though there were people inside. Tessa sat between Vixen and Raul with silent tears running down her cheeks. Raul had his lips on her temple and his hand in her hair, while Vixen muttered encouraging words to her.

Jake was sitting near one window with his leg in a cast resting on a stool. Lukas stood beside him with his hands in his pockets looking down at his feet. He too had several white bandages on his body.

“Tessa?” Alli swallowed back a lump on her throat as she approached the grieving woman.

Tessa’s eyes snapped to hers and more tears began to fall as she got up and jumped into Alli’s arms.

“Oh, Alli it’s terrible!” Loud sobs wracked her body as she cried on her shoulder.

Alli was so surprised at Tessa’s sudden reaction. She had not been there that long to bond with Tessa in such a manner. Alli hugged the woman back, feeling her own tears brimming in her eyes.

“Hush now, Tessa. You’ll be alright.” Alli whispered to her softly.

“Why did it have to be him? What did he do to deserve this?” Tessa asked as she cried even harder.

Alli held her tightly. “He was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. The hunters paid for what they did to him.”

Tessa cried silently on Alli’s shoulder until finally she exhausted herself and Raul carried her away to rest. All this time, Jake didn’t even react to what had happened.

Where are you? Alli needed Ruvin’s presence there or she was going to break down too.

Behind you. The words shimmered into her head.

Alli whipped around and true enough Ruvin was standing behind her, his eyes grave and his mouth taut. When he made his way inside, Alli saw Corleen react from the corner of her eye. She suddenly tensed and moved forward as if wanting to stand in between her and Ruvin.

Just seeing him there, his broad body powerful, his movements precise and the power pouring out of him was enough to shake Alli’s world on its foundations. Her hands itched to touch him, to feel his warm skin against her fingertips. She wanted to run her hands in his hair and feel his lips against hers once more.

All in due time.....the drawl shimmered in her head.

Colour stained her cheeks as she remembered that he could read her thoughts.

“What happened?” Corleen asked him softly.

“Quentin was ambushed last night during a perimeter scouting. Human hunters managed to disable some of the cameras before the attack. They wounded the rest and killed Quentin.”

Alli was positive the men were buried somewhere in the woods because she couldn’t see those guys letting them go. “Did you find out who sent them?”

“Not yet. We have two down in the cells.” Ruvin answered quietly, his eyes churning intensely as he stared at Alli.

Alli felt her entire body heat up and melt into a pool of desire.

“Well, why not?” Corleen snapped.

Alli knew Quentin’s death touched Corleen as well....or she wouldn’t have been there. Corleen had a very peculiar way of showing her feelings but she did have them.

Vixen hissed as she turned to Corleen. “Because we all just want to kill them. I don’t know why we are wasting time on them. They need to die!”

“Calm down, Vixen,” Ruvin muttered.

“Let me do it then. We need to get answers now before this happens to someone else.” Corleen volunteered.

“I’ll help her.” Briar quickly added.

“And why would you want to do that?” It was the first time Jake actually said something as his dead eyes turned to Corleen. They made Alli shiver in her feet.

“So that Quentin’s death is not in vain,” Corleen stated. “Quentin was human but he died protecting Ruvin and his team--I have never seen such a selfless act before.”

Alli watched as Lukas finally lifted his head up and stared at Corleen with confused eyes. The whole room was suddenly quiet as they all looked at Corleen until Briar cleared her throat.

“Follow me.” She told Corleen.

“I will come with you.” Alli started forward but Ruvin’s arm around her waist stopped her short.

Heat curled from the point of contact all the way to her toes. She had to bite the inner part of her cheek to keep from moaning out loudly. “You are not going anywhere near those two.” He growled.

Corleen hesitated for just a second before nodding her head. “Stay here. I’ll be back.”

Alli’s shoulders slumped as Corleen walked out with Briar.

“I’m going for the interrogation too.” Lukas suddenly pushed himself from the wall and followed Briar and Corleen behind.

“Don’t you want to take part too?” Alli quirked her eyebrow at Ruvin.

“I am too pissed off to do so.” He grunted as his fingers laced themselves with hers. “Come, I want you to meet someone.” He led her out, leaving Jake and Vixen alone in the sitting room.

Alli loved feeling Ruvin’s fingers against hers. She couldn’t believe how she fought him off when she had not yet made her change but now, all she could think of was him and being with him in every intimate way possible.

Ruvin stopped abruptly when they were in one of the hallways and he nudged her back until her back was pressed on the cool wall. He crushed his body against hers, his knee parting her legs and settling cozily just under her hot core. He tilted her head up and kissed her roughly.

“With thoughts like that, how can I resist? I can’t wait until you are fully mine tonight.” He growled against her lips. “All I can think about right now is having you naked under me, having myself inside you--feeling your heat surrounding me.” The last words emerged with a purr that traveled down Alli’s spine and caused her skin to heat up even more. She stood on her tippy toes to try and kiss him again but Ruvin moved back with a wicked smile on his lips, adding even more frustration to her already disturbing state.

She grabbed his t-shirt, trying to get him to bend down and when he didn’t comply she growled at him, Ylva emerging slightly from her mind.

“Your wolf is powerful.” Ruvin touched her cheek lightly with a grin.

“I can talk to her. Her name is Ylva. She is not happy with you right now.” Alli scowled.

Ruvin smiled smugly and Alli felt the butterfly caresses in her mind as Ruvin sought out Ylva. As shameless as she was, Ylva sprang out at the very first touch making Ruvin chuckle. “She likes me more than you do.”

“She has a hard time following orders. I think I need to start from the basics; sit, sleep, roll over, play dead.” Alli teased but Ylva was not amused.

Ruvin pressed his body closer to Alli and she felt the hardness that had formed in front of his sweatpants. She bit her lower lip to keep her moans at bay. Ruvin’s fingers tightened on her waist.

“I don’t know if I can control myself any longer. I need you right now. I need to be in you, thrusting so hard inside you that by the time I am done, you wouldn’t be walking for the next few days. He pushed her hair from her neck and nuzzled it. “I need to mark you so that Tyson, Louise, and Titus get the clear picture.”

Alli felt his elongated canines graze softly on her sensitive skin and her eyes fluttered close. She was supposed to run the other way with all the words Ruvin told her. She was supposed to be terrified but instead, she felt her core clenched viciously and she wanted to clasp her thighs together but Ruvin had his knee there, kneading her sex through her jeans and causing her to see stars. “Ruvin.....” She breathed hard but her words were swallowed as Ruvin kissed her again.

Alli could taste the urgency in him. She could taste his need for her and it was nothing like what she experienced with Tyson. This was stronger and the hunger so intense it was closely bordering with insanity. All Alli wanted to do was to rip Ruvin’s t-shirt away and just crawl on his skin. Their bodies ground against each other but Alli felt that she needed to get much closer than that.

This was insane! She was always in control of what she felt and what she did but at that moment she couldn’t even remember what the word control even meant.

She felt a growl rumbling in Ruvin’s stomach and it made its way up to his lips as he managed to yank himself away from her. She stared at him breathless with her eyes wide and her skin flushed. She was trembling with the need for him that she wondered if she was ever going to make it through the night without being with him.

“Indigo is waiting.” He took two cautious steps away from her and waited for her to compose herself before she followed him down the hallway.

“Who is Indigo?” Alli asked when she managed to catch her breath.

“An elder or historian to you,” Ruvin answered.

“Oh! She is Miss Know-it-all?” Alli suddenly blurted making Ruvin wince.

“Don’t say that in front of her. She just might turn you into a toad.” He warned.

Alli swallowed hard. Indigo was a Mage like Zach. And speaking of the man... “I haven’t seen Zach anywhere--”

Ruvin suddenly grabbed her arm and he pinned her body against his. Alli yelped in surprise. “Why would you be asking about Zach? Do you like him?”

“Ruvin, you need to control yourself. I asked about him because he was quite angry with me on the day I left. I wanted to apologize for my irrational behavior.” Alli scowled at him twisting her hand from his grip.

His fingers loosened and he stared at her for a long time before answering. “Zach has gone back to the enchanted world.”

“Oh.” Alli felt a little disappointed.

Zach had only tried to be nice to her but she acted like a spoilt child most of the time.

“If you write him a letter today, it will probably reach him by next year.” He smirked.

Alli smacked his chest as they resumed walking down the hallway. “You are so mean.”

“If it comes to my mate, yes, I will be as mean as I can get.” Ruvin snapped his teeth at her.

A shiver went down her spine. Somehow those words made her a little happy....just a little.

Indigo was buried nose-deep in her books by the time Ruvin and Alli made it to the library that Ruvin had let Indigo use.

Her violet locks fell around her face as she concentrated on what she was reading but Ruvin could tell the female was not alright because suddenly the room felt quite cold. Just to prove the point, Alli shivered and wrapped her arms around her.

When the Mage were upset, they managed to lower the temperature around them. The Lord Mage was the worst because frost developed around him when it happened.

“Indigo?” Ruvin approached her.

Her dark eyes snapped up and she had her lower lip between her teeth. She blinked several times to get rid of the tears that were lingering around her eyes and sat up straight.

“Yes?” She cleared her throat and answered.

“I want you to meet Alli. I talked to you about her.” Ruvin reminded her.

Suddenly Indigo’s eyes brightened and she jumped out of her chair. “The Death Walker! Do you know just how many Death walkers the enchanted world has? Three! You are the third. Just imagine the possibilities of your abilities.”

Alli took a step back and shook her head. “Oh no, I am not an enchanted beast. I am just a normal wolf.”

Indigo rolled her eyes. “You are an enchanted beast, darling. I doubt if you were a weakblood that you would have become a Death Walker much less made a moonless transformation.”

Just how much did you tell her? Alli snapped at Ruvin in his mind.

Ruvin entertained a smile. Enough to spike her interest.

“That transformation was triggered by a very powerful and evil man--”

“Torin, I know. The commander told me. Come and I tell you a story. Maybe it will help you understand things better.” Indigo moved from around her table and placed a hand on Alli’s shoulder but Alli quickly bucked under her.

“Please don’t touch me.” Alli moved behind Ruvin. “I see these terrible things when people touch me.”

Indigo smiled almost motherly. “Yet not when you touch your mate. I can teach you how to control your visions. Now, come here-- I won’t bite....not you at least.”

Alli’s face blanched as she looked up at Ruvin.

“She is half Nymph, a terrible little creature with lots of sharp teeth and claws,” Ruvin muttered with a shrug.

“Well, no one was asking you. Now, get out of here before the Nymph in me takes you out.” Indigo crossed her arms on her chest and humphed angrily.

Ruvin grinned and raised his hands up taking a step back. He had seen a Nymph during a battle and it wasn’t a pretty sight. Not only were they very fast but they were strong and vicious. They clawed and ripped through an enemy like they were made of low-quality clothing material.

“I will be down in the labs if you need me.” He said and though Alli’s eyes begged for him not to leave her there alone with Indigo, Ruvin still had so much to do.

“You are quite young to be an Elder.” Alli eyed the purple-haired woman in front of her curiously. Although she knew enchanted beings to live up to several thousands of years, Indigo was still young.

“I am not yet an Elder but I will be one day. I am a Historian now. Being a Historian is a calling. It was inscribed into me before I was even born. I am a Mage of Truth.” She said excitedly.

Alli wished she knew what that was so that she could be as excited as Indigo but she just managed a confused smile. “What’s that?”

“Every Mage is born with an affinity for something. There are Mage with the affinity for life like the Royal Mage Lyrah who is the mate to the Dark King. Some have an affinity for the purity in people like the Lord Mage who is the Mage of Light. Then there are Mage of Cure who become healers because they have an affinity for the arts of healing and cures. I have the affinity of knowledge and truth.”

“So, you don’t need to study at all for an exam, huh?” Alli wished she had that instead.

Indigo giggled. “You could say that. We are always hungry for knowledge and we are good at understanding things--riddles, prophecies, and puzzles. We also seek for truths about everything.”

“Awesome.” Alli breathed in hard. “You must be exceptional to be in the king’s favor.”

Indigo grinned. “I made quite a fuss to get to where I am now. The Lord Mage had no choice!”

Alli laughed. “I wish I had something as awesome as that instead of this--this curse.”

“You think of it that way because you don’t know how to control it. Many would kill to have your ability. You can save so many lives with it and in time, you will be able to go back as much as you like, not only a few minutes after the person dies but for years. You will also be able to stay there longer and you will be able to read the pasts of instruments of death.” Indigo said.

“But what if I don’t want it?” Alli asked feeling something clog her throat. “That terrible man will not leave me alone as long as I have it.”

Indigo’s hands moved forward and clasped Alli’s making her stiffen, ready for whatever appeared in front of her but nothing happened. “The Heavens never make a mistake in whatever they do. You were meant to be here, like this. Nothing is random in this world and in mine. And that man--Torin--can never get it from you if you know how to control it.”

Alli didn’t feel exceptionally convinced because she kept on remembering that oppressing feeling she got every time this Torin guy was close. “He can find me whenever my ability spikes. He can enter my head and whisper dark words to me. I don’t want to live like this.”

“What?” Indigo’s eyes bulged out. “That is not possible unless he has done a blood-bond with you.”

“Well, he does communicate with me like that--just like his daughter, Asari.” Alli explained.

Indigo frowned slightly as she scratched her forehead. “How is that possible unless--unless!” She suddenly sprang up from her chair as color leached from her face. “I need to do a blood map for you.”

“What is that?” Alli was nervous suddenly because of the word blood.

“It gives me a clear picture of your bloodlines.” She said but she looked a little nervous as if she wasn’t telling her the entire story.

“Why?” Alli asked

“So that I don’t suspect you of being Torin’s offspring,” Indigo answered softly.

“What?” Alli exclaimed. “It’s not possible! My father was a wolf, like me and my mother! How could even think of such a possibility! Are you crazy?”

“Calm down, Alli,” Indigo said cautiously. “You are growling at me and that is impolite.”

Alli took a deep breath to try and control Ylva. She couldn’t believe Indigo could even think of such a thing. Though she never remembered her father, she was very sure he was a nice and decent man who wouldn’t want to harm his own daughter. Her skin crept just thinking about Torin. “I had a father, a normal one!” Alli yelled.

“Do you even know what Torin is capable of? Do you think it would matter to him that you are his daughter--”

“I’m not his daughter!” Alli exclaimed in bewilderment.

“It doesn’t matter whether you are or not! Torin is something that no one ever thought was possible, Alli. He was created by one of the three fathers of the Nosferatu species. Back then, before even my time, before the Nosferatus were forced to flee the enchanted world and live as nightwalkers in this realm, they were considered minor gods because their powers and abilities surpassed every other species. Their powers were staggering...they still are!”

That caught Alli’s attention. “Why did they leave the enchanted world?”

“Because they were hunted down like animals for their blood. You see, their abilities were a result of their unique blood makeup. Back then, they enslaved different species to do their dirty jobs like working in the mines or building their fortresses. The other beasts such as the dragons, the Phoenix, the cats, and centaurs all were hard control but the Lycans proved easier to deal with.” Indigo said distastefully.

Alli watched enough movies to know that as well as she had seen the way the bloodsuckers reacted every time she and Donny gate-crashed their parties. She didn’t know the animosity went so far back in the past!

“To keep the Lycans loyal to their masters, the Nosferatu gave them small doses of their blood but what they didn’t know was that the blood’s effects were like a drug. The high was only for a short period of time and it was addictive. Many of the Lycans became addicts in a short period and they became unpredictable and uncontrollable. So the three fathers decided to try and breed the perfect slave by mating a royal blood Nosferatu and a royal blood Lycan. Torin was the result together with nine others but they didn’t turn up the way the fathers expected.

“Unfortunately both species were dominant in them and their Nosferatu side couldn’t survive by feeding only on blood, it thrived by feeding on life essence. They were far more dangerous than anything. They could take their Lycan forms as well as had the godly powers of the Nosferatu. The three fathers had created the ultimate predator and this predator was chopping down the Nosferatu and Lycan numbers like crazy. They said the crown princess was killed by her Lycan lover but the truth was that one of their own Frankenstein-like creations fed on her life essence. The three fathers wanted to cover up what they did so they put blame on the Lycans who were already unstable from their blood addiction and went on a rampage to execute all the affected Lycans which was every single one under their rule. During this time, they managed to destroy eight of their abominations but Torin and one other managed to escape.

“The three fathers went to ground since then, taking all their secrets with them. Many Nosferatu escaped to this realm after several Lycans managed to escape and reveal the secret behind the Nosferatu blood.” Indigo’s eyes were grave. “Torin’s hunger could never be sate by normal life essence. He needed exceptional ones and once he did, he went into ground for several decades before rising to feed again. Asari was born in one of his many adventures. Her mother was an ancient Mage of Cure. She was powerful but right after she gave birth to Asari, Torin feed off her and went into ground. Asari was raised in an orphanage and was exceptional from a young age. She had three very strong bloodlines running through her veins; a royal Lycan blood, one of the fathers of the Nosferatu, and an ancient Mage. She is Mage of Spirit and can communicate with dead ancient Mage. She communicated with her Mother’s spirit and discovered what her father was so when he rose again she was ready for him, wanting to kill him. Everyone thought she succeeded because they both vanished from the enchanted world many years ago....but they are both alive today with Torin still feeding off exceptional individuals once again.” Indigo muttered softly.

Alli swallowed hard. She didn’t like where her mind was taking her. Her mother had died when she was five years old. “But my mother was killed by a Varga, not Torin.”

“Torin can take the beast form as he can take the human form. The two sides of him are too dominant and too powerful that they have made him unstable and insane. He is the offspring of one of the fathers of the Nosferatu species and a royal blood Lycan.” Indigo explained.

“What about the other hybrid?” Alli asked.

“Everyone said he died out.” Indigo shrugged her shoulders then frowned. “Can you see how dire this situation is?”

Alli nodded. “But how do you know all this? It’s like you were there.”

“I am Mage of Truth. It is in my blood to know all this. I get visions too sometimes. I get nightmares of events that happened to want my attention. See all these books?” She pointed to the crudely covered books as old as time itself. “All these have been written by Mage like me through dreams and visions. Only we know the truth and we sometimes have the challenge to decide whether what we know should be made public on not.”

Alli suddenly saw Indigo in a new light. Somehow, she understood the woman’s struggles. “You are brave to go through all that.”

“Not as brave as you are. Alli, you could actually be the answer to the destruction of Torin. You are a Death Walker. You have so much power than you can comprehend.”

“The night he found me in the graveyard, I heard Asari say he was immortal because of some sorcerer,” Alli recalled.

“Then the sorcerer needs to be destroyed in order to make Torin mortal again--you can find the sorcerer, Alli.” Indigo encouraged but Alli was skeptical.

“How?”

“You can trace his print on Torin thus knowing exactly how to find him.” Indigo said excitedly.

“I don’t even know where he is for me to do that.” Alli settled back feeling defeated.

“That’s easy. Let’s go to the graveyard.” She stood up.

“It’s been like a week since I was there! That trail is long gone.” Alli sighed.

Indigo frowned. “Weren’t you paying attention to what I was telling you? You can go back as far as you want with control. I will teach you. Come on!” Indigo pulled Alli to her feet and started for the door.

“My sister is here with me. She will not allow me to go alone.” Alli followed Indigo behind.

“She will understand,” Indigo answered simply. “Besides, this is for the good of everyone.”

But Corleen couldn’t just understand things like that.

Indigo walked towards the front entrance, pausing for a moment in front of the sitting room where Jake was still sitting looking out the window. Indigo hesitated for a moment then dropped her eyes and walked out with Alli.

At The Graveyard.....

“What am I looking for exactly?” Alli walked slowly between the graves with a frown on her face. She couldn’t pick up anything, not even a shiver or raising of the hairs on her skin.

“You’ll know when you find it.” Indigo followed her behind, her eyes trained on Alli to catch any reaction she might had.

Alli had a reaction alright. Fear and panic! The last time she was there Torin almost carried her off! She was supposed to be getting ready for the Debut Night for crying out loud. Instead she was looking for a mass murderer in the graveyard.

Alli sighed after a few minutes and turned to Indigo. “This is not working. I am not picking up anything.”

“It’s because you are not concentrating hard enough.” Indigo pointed out.

Alli rolled her eyes as she tucked her hands deeper in her jacket. She was glad the rains had stopped for a little while but there was still that Autumn chill she didn’t like much. “This is not working--”

That was when she felt it.....a subtle pool of tainted energy just under her feet. With a frown she looked down at the freshly mowed grass. The energy made her skin crawl from her feet all the way up to the rest of her body.

“What is it?” Indigo asked her warily.

Alli looked up at her. “It was here. I can feel his print here.”

Indigo nodded vigorously as a smile appeared on her face. “That’s good! Now, I want you to envision the print as it is exactly. You will be able to tell if there is a foreign strand on it. That foreign strand must be from the sorcerer. Our energies are like fingerprints. Everyone’s is unique.”

But Alli couldn’t hear the last words because suddenly the color leached away plunging Alli into that cold and dark world she had come to know. Her heartbeat accelerated but she told herself to keep and calm and see what was happening.

She began thinking of that terrible night when she was there with Corleen and suddenly everything was going back in time. People walked backwards, wilted flowers on the graves gradually became fresh then disappeared, the sun sailed the opposite direction. Alli found herself watching everything with immense fascination. She never thought she could do this. She had always been terrified when it started.

Suddenly her surroundings became darker and she was standing on the night Torin came for her. Her breath hitched when her eyes caught his enthralling face. That face hid a hideous monster that preyed on others’ souls. His head was dangling from Zach’s hands and just a few feet away, Ruvin was arguing with Corleen while she nestled in his arms.

She watched as Zach replaced Torin’s head back on his shoulders, the slash he made on Torin’s neck disappeared. That was when Alli saw the three strands of energy entwined around Torin’s body; one was as bright as the sun. It swirled around Torin’s chest like a lock. It was warm and pure and when Alli looked at it she felt happy and calm. It must have been Asari’s energy strand. The other one was a slimy copper color and it brought her dread and panic just looking at her. That was a definitely Torin’s. Finally there was a grey one that look similar to the one on Tonny’s body. Not only was it on Torin but it was also threaded with Torin's on the dead monster wolves.

That was the sorcerer’s strand. Alli could tell that it was very ancient and powerful. It was also tempered because it was dusty-like which meant it was disintegrating.

Color bloomed in front of her and suddenly Indigo was standing beside her staring at her like she was seeing her for the first time.

“What is it?” Alli asked her.

“I have never seen a Death Walker at work before. Your eyes were completely white, and your body was glowing in this white light and the chill that came with it...oh man! I felt your power. It’s incredible!” She breathed in hard.

“I feel weird....but I saw the print. I can find the sorcerer--” something warm dripped from Alli’s nose.

“Oh no.” Indigo bit her lower lip as Alli rubbed her nose and her hand came away with blood. “Your body can’t handle the immense power.”

Alli turned to her in alert. “So, what does it mean?”

Indigo looked sorry. “It means--it means if you don’t watch out on how you use your abilities, they could kill you.”