Scholomance 9 by Logan Jacobs (inspirational books to read txt) 📗

toll on their bodies, but no matter what, they had to cling to the dark, evil sensation and let it pierce their hearts and bones. They were as strong as hell, and the thought of that only made me love them more.

Then the air settled, and I looked at each woman and grinned.

We were nearly there.

“And now for the last part of the incantation,” I said. “Hold on to that power inside you, no matter how painful it might be. Don’t let go, and when you’re ready, say, ‘ut interficias eos, qui in virtute dei seniorem magicae!’”

The women screamed the last part of the spell, and their voices rang over the furious wind that threatened to knock us off our feet. I thought I could hear a chorus of voices inside my head as we were wrapped up in a cloud of pure, delicious evil, and the women grinned as immoral power flowed through their bodies until their eyes burned bright with supremacy and strength.

When everything settled once more, each woman took a sharp breath and looked down at their trembling hands.

“Unholy fuck,” Nyx whispered as she marveled at her sapphire palms. “I feel… something I’ve never felt before. It’s more delicious and addicting than any drug I’ve inhaled or eaten.”

“I feel like an entirely different person,” Morgana breathed as her breasts heaved up and down. “I-I didn’t know such power was possible.”

“And now it’s a part of you forever.” I grinned. “Bask in it… you’re more powerful than any other students back in Scholomance, and you should claim that notion with pride.”

“Cole speaks truly,” Vanessa remarked, and her eyes were as wide as dinner plates. “These incantations haven’t been used for years. Even before my time. The only other person who has felt this kind of power is Theodora.”

“Well… now what do we do?” Beatrix asked as she looked around the group. “Do we wait for the scouts and take them out?”

“No,” I answered. “We shouldn’t stay here any longer. We’ll continue to follow the compass until we meet our enemy.”

“Agreed.” Vanessa nodded. “Now, Cole, where does the compass say we should go?”

I inhaled sharply before I touched the relic around my neck, and when the tips of my fingers brushed against the rough wood, I could already feel the compass beating against my chest. I knew, even before I pried the lid open, I would see the silver arrow spinning out of control. Then I opened it, and I was right. The needle didn’t seem to know which way it wanted to point until suddenly it came to an abrupt stop. I gazed upon the direction and could only see miles of snow-white grains of sand, but I knew, deep in my bones, something vital was beyond my view. The more I thought about it, the more I felt a sense of urgency to reach wherever the compass was leading us.

“It says we need to head northeast,” I replied in a steady voice, even though a deep, nervous feeling nestled in the pit of my stomach. “Let’s go. We can’t waste any time.”

The women didn’t need me to repeat myself before they quickly followed behind me. Alex hovered just above my head as I stared down at the compass, and for some reason, I could feel myself going even faster. It was like my feet were moving for me, like they were silently warning and begging me to tread as quickly as possible.

Cole, Alex said in my head. Something ails you. I can feel your concern like it was my own. What’s wrong?

“I don’t know,” I responded in a quiet voice so the others wouldn’t hear. “I don’t want to alarm the women until I know for certain what I’m feeling… but I think it would be best if you flew ahead of us and kept a lookout.”

Of course, my loyal familiar responded before he shot higher into the sky and soared beyond us.

“Is something wrong, master?” Vesta purred from behind me. “I can feel your tension, and your movements are growing faster by the second.”

Before I could open my mouth to respond, I sensed a familiar presence somewhere in the back of my head. It was not an intrusive feeling, but it was something I certainly needed to investigate. I remained quiet as I dug deeper into my own mind, and there, in the darkness, I could see a pair of ocean eyes and a hunger for Wicca blood.

“Samara,” I whispered as I clutched tightly onto the compass. “I can see you.”

She couldn’t break into my thoughts anymore, but she still retained the power to hover along the edges, like someone knocking on a door or peeping in a window. Since she was already here, I decided to open the door just a bit, and a moment later her voice flowed into my mind.

I know, she replied without an ounce of concern. I’ve come to accept the fact that you can penetrate my mind whenever you desire, but I don’t even care. Do you know why?

“Why?” I asked, even though I hated to play along with her sick games.

Because soon you and your precious little bitches will be dead, she cackled, and that’s when I felt a shift in the ground. I will destroy the holy beach, and you will all drown in its grains. Then you can reunite with your precious Satan and be gone from this world.

Cole, I think I can see a mountain just ahead! Alex suddenly interrupted. It’s surrounded by clouds, and it’s not that far away. It’s northeast and about ten minutes away by foot… give or take.

“That’s good, because we need to run,” I said before I swiftly turned to look at the others. “Grab your familiars if you have to and then fucking run. Now!”

The women’s faces grew pale, but they