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

each stone was at least the size of a large pine tree. We had no idea what lurked on the other side, and I wasn’t picking up any sensations, either.

Cole, Alexander said as he hovered above me. Do you want me to check it out for you?

“I think that would be wise,” I replied aloud before I turned to look at the others. “Alex is going to see what lies over the rocks.”

“Trixie, go with him,” Nyx ordered as her red falcon beat its massive wings and flew after Alexander. “Good boy!”

We watched as the pair of winged familiars gracefully flew over the tower of stones, and it only took a couple of seconds before I heard my familiar’s voice in my head again.

Cole, I think I see a kingdom… he said. It’s guarded by a pale sea-stone wall and sits upon a sandy red hill, just beyond a rainbow-colored forest.

“Trixie says he sees a kingdom, just a few leagues ahead beyond a colorful woodland,” the blue-skinned witch said as she turned to me.

“Alexander said the same thing,” I replied, but then a feeling of dread settled in my stomach. I couldn’t put my finger on it exactly, but I knew better than to question my intuition. “I don’t think the forest will be easy to cross--”

“It won’t be,” Vanessa interrupted as Isobel nudged at her hands. “If it’s a colorful forest, it must be the Critique Arcus Silvis, and beyond that, it’s the realm of Mari Hominum.”

“The what?” Marina asked with a raised purple eyebrow.

“The woodland of colors,” Morgana answered in a sure voice, “and the kingdom of sea-people. It’s deemed one of the most perilous lands for Wiccas to cross.”

“Isn’t every holy realm like that?” Akira chuckled without a trace of fear in her voice. “What makes this one any different?”

“Yes, that may be true, Miss Akira, but as we draw closer to the elder heavens,” Vanessa began in a sharp tone, “the more danger we will find ourselves in.”

“Yeah, well, I’m not afraid,” Penelope said as she turned to look at me with her chin raised, and for a moment, I was lost in her deep, mahogany-brown eyes. “Not with our master leading the way.”

“Oh, for hell’s sake,” Vanessa snapped before she whipped around to look at each woman. “You do realize if Cole perishes, so will the rest of you.”

“But, Professor,” Vesta purred in a gentle voice. “He’s not failed us yet… we have all of Satan’s faith in him. As should you.”

For a moment, I thought Vanessa would reprimand the elvish witch for her bold remark, but instead the professor clenched her jaw, turned back around, and said nothing.

We stood in silence for several tense moments until Trixie and Alexander returned to us, and then we all sighed as we stared up at the tower of ebony stones.

“Well, let’s climb over these fucking rocks, shall we?” I said, even though I knew we were all dreading the climb. “I’d rather not shadow port unless we have to.”

“Agreed,” Vanessa replied in a firm voice. “Shadow teleporting is one of the easiest ways for Samara to catch us.”

The other women nodded in agreement, and their familiars either held onto their mistress, climbed, or flew over the black mountain, and by the time we reached the very top of the peak, we saw exactly what Alexander and Trixie described. Before us laid a vast, various-colored woodland, and just beyond that was a realm made of pale sea-stone. The sight was astonishing, even if it was composed of holy land. The trees were every color imaginable, and giant birds flew across our heads as we stared past the woodland and at the sand-stone kingdom just on the horizon.

“I’ve never seen such a brightly-colored forest before,” Faye breathed in awe. “There must be dozens of creatures lurking within the trees.”

“Which is exactly why we must tread carefully,” Vanessa ordered. “Now, let’s stick close together and make sure the familiars lead the way, in case they sense or smell something we cannot.”

“Yes, Professor,” we replied simultaneously.

“Satan, I’ve never been in such warm weather before,” Revna remarked after we carefully climbed down the rocks and planted our feet on the raven-black soil. “I’ve also never heard birds chirping like this.”

“What, this is warm to you?” Akira snorted as a fierce wind blew across our faces. “You should feel what it’s like to cross a desert… now that’s fucking hot.”

“A what?” Revna asked in a curious voice.

“A desert,” Morgana repeated. “It’s a vast land composed of sand… like the grains of the red beach we just crossed.”

“And you’re saying there are realms that consist entirely of sand?” the wild Wicca asked with wide, bright blue eyes.

“Precisely,” Vesta cooed in her soft and soothing voice. “Sometimes the sand can be made of unusual colors as well. Varying from the deepest blue like Nyx’s skin, or even as purple as Marina’s hair.”

“It sounds wondrous,” Revna replied as she brushed back her long, dark-blonde hair. “I’d like to see those things someday.”

“Perhaps you will,” Vanessa commented as we reached the border of the vibrant forest. “Once this debacle with Samara is over, you will be able to travel to whatever realm you desire… once you achieve that power, of course.”

“I can’t wait,” the wild woman responded with a wide smile. “I’d love to sit in a classroom and learn everything there is to know about black sorcery… just like Morgana.”

“Oh, I don’t know everything.” The brunette blushed, but we all knew she was being modest.

“But you do!” Revna laughed. “You all have your gifts and talents--”

“As do you,” Akira said as she stared long and hard at the wild woman. “I’ve never seen anyone wield a bow like you.”

“Well, you were just as extraordinary when I gave you the chance--”