Dark Mage (Avalon: Web of Magic, Book 11) (18 page)

T
HE DARK SORCERESS
stood on her balcony, overlooking the courtyard behind her lair. The night skies glittered with a thousand stars. Eyes closed, she tasted the air, sensing the shift in the magic. “Can you feel it?”

Henry Gardner stood beside her, pale and gaunt. The wizard had been drained to his limit. “We’re too late.”

The sorceress inhaled deeply, as if the new web gave her strength. “There was no way the old web could have survived. I realized that when I saw the tapestry for Silvan’s new design. So perfect in every detail. That’s when I decided to help the mages.”

“You knew that once she wove enough of her web, the Gates of Avalon would be revealed.” Gardener watched as, below, the sorceress’s minions moved hundreds of cages into the courtyard. Shrieks and howls of the shadow creatures filled the night. They too could feel the shifting web and were hungry for its magic.

“That’s why you collected the shadow creatures,” he continued, a tinge of admiration in his voice. “I am impressed by your foresight.”

“My creatures will take the magic from her web. So you see, dear friend, in the end, I will have it all. The power crystals, the magic, the new web, even Avalon.”

Her blood-red lips curved. “It will be quite amusing to devise a prison for the witch. Perhaps I’ll weave her into one of those horrible cocoons she seems to enjoy so much.”

She caught the faraway look in Gardener’s eyes.

“Oh, come now, Henry. Why so glum? From the ashes of our failure, I shall rise like a phoenix ascending!”

“I only wish I could have gotten to know the mages better,” Gardener said sadly.

Her animal eyes caught a fleeting glimpse of the past, at the friends she once loved. “You did the best you could, Henry. You tried to find the crystals for them. But the mages are going to complete their quest, even without your help. Rest assured, dear Henry. I will carry on your work. The dark mage will be an able apprentice.”

Gardener’s mouth twitched in a smile. “They are extraordinary girls. They may surprise you.”

The sorceress studied him closely. “I doubt it. The blazing star is on her way to Avalon. I knew the dark fairy would help her.”

“Since when do you trust dark fairies?”

“Trust? This is business. Where do you think I acquired these marvelous creatures?”

The sorceress circled the wizard like a cat. “Henry, dear, I fear our time together is at an end. I have enjoyed your company, but I must take what magic you have left.”

Gardner nodded. He knew exactly what happened when the Dark Sorceress no longer had need of someone.

“I know you’re as curious as I am to learn what lies behind the gates.” She paused to look in his eyes. “I don’t suppose you want to just
give
me your magic. For old time’s sake?”

His expression hardened.

She sighed. “Yes, I thought as much.”

The shadow creatures shifted along Gardener’s back, sinking tendrils deep into his flesh.

“You may live long enough to see me return and welcome the blazing star.” She stroked the dark smudges beneath his shirt. “But I doubt you’ll recognize me.”

Gardener cried out, collapsing as she extracted strands of glimmering energy.

The magic flew from her fingertips. Below, the cages cracked opened.

Black robes billowing behind her, the sorceress waved her hands and the shadow creatures took flight. The demons coursed across the sky in a wave of blackness as the Dark Sorceress’s animal eyes settled on Henry Gardner for the last time. “Goodbye, old friend.”

M
IST ROSE FROM
the glittering mosaic floor, lazily drifting over the ancient ring. Giant stone pillars surrounded the pattern of interlocking stones, their towering surfaces sparkling with colorful gems. In the distance, palms swayed in the breeze, but nothing in the outside world seemed to affect this place. The tiles were pristine, ageless, untouched by sand, undamaged by wind and sun. In the center of the ring, a heart-shaped crystal—the Heart of Avalon—floated, waiting, for this was the entrance to Avalon.

Simultaneously, two flashes of light flared on opposite sides of the ring. On one side, Adriane and Dreamer appeared back-to-back, alert for danger. On the other side, Kara and Drake materialized.

A power crystal shone in the palm of each mage’s hand. The warrior’s, dark and mysterious as the night. The blazing star’s, bright and brilliant as the midday sun. The mages eyed one another warily, crystals sparking with power waiting to be unleashed.

“
Help!”
Drake cried, lumbering toward Adriane. “
She’s going to take my magic!”

With a wave of her hand, Kara stopped him, trapping the red dragon in a gleaming forcefield.

“Let him go,” the warrior snarled.

The blazing star, confident as always, tossed her golden locks over her shoulder. “No can do. He’s going to help me finish my power crystal.”

Adriane took a step forward. “Doesn’t look like he wants to help you.”

“We need a replacement crystal,” Kara argued.

“Because you destroyed one.” Adriane’s wolf stone flashed darkly upon her wrist.

“Thank goodness I have you to remind me like every five seconds,” Kara sneered.

Adriane’s body stiffened. “Time and time again, you’ve proven you can’t control your magic. You care about one thing and one thing only: Miss Kara ‘best-mage-on-the-planet’ Davies.”

“That’s rich, coming from the lone wolf,” Kara shot back.

“This time you’ve gone too far.” Adriane pointed at the dazzling power crystal in Kara’s hand. “You’re using a dark crystal.”

“It hasn’t affected me. I’m totally fine,” Kara retorted.

“Then where’s Lyra?”

Kara stopped short. A spark of red flared from the unicorn jewel on her necklace.

Adriane continued. “How can you possibly stand there and tell me you’re fine when who knows what you did with your own bonded?”

“You did the same thing!” Kara was furious. “You left Drake!”

“I had no choice. At the time, the jewel had me trapped.”

“Oh, you mean that dark crystal?” She pointed at Adriane’s shadow crystal. “You are such a hypocrite!”

Adriane’s hand twitched, sending a silent signal to Dreamer. The mistwolf moved slowly toward Kara.

The blazing star’s fingers closed tightly around the wishing crystal. “When
you
use a power crystal, it’s fine ’cause you’re Adriane, the ‘do-everything-right-all-the-time’ warrior. But when
I
use one, I must be evil. After all this time, you still don’t trust me.”

“Give me a reason to trust you.” Adriane took another step forward, wolf stone raised. “Let Drake go.”

Kara stepped back, forcing Drake to follow. “We’re here to put the jewels in place,” she said calmly. “
All
the jewels.”

Warrior and blazing star circled the ring. Fueled by the power crystals, wolf stone and unicorn jewel pulsated with light.

“What did you do with the crystals from the vault?” Adriane demanded.

“Oh, right.” Kara tapped her chin and held up the wishing crystal. “You know, I really
wish
those power crystals were here.”

Instantly, three power crystals sparkled into sight, floating in the center of the ring. Three dazzling jewels retrieved by the mages early on in their quest, kept safe until all nine could be gathered and used to open the Gates of Avalon.

“Well, look at that,” Kara gloated. “Cool, huh?”

Adriane stepped back. “How did you do that?”

“I have the perfect crystal to make all my dreams come true. A wishing crystal.” Kara’s grin was wide, and triumphant.

“That’s ridiculous.”

“Oh, really? What’s yours?”

“A shadow crystal.” Adriane raised the dark jewel.

“Ooooo, I’m shaking in my Manolos.”

“Oh yeah?” Adriane taunted. “Try it on for size.”

Instantly, a bolt fired from the shadow crystal, covering Kara in shimmering purple smoke. With a
pop
, the blazing star vanished.

“Hey!” Kara’s voice called from where she had been standing. “Where’d I go?”

“Probably the mall, as usual.” Adriane smirked.

“I wish to come back,” Kara exclaimed forcefully.

Kara popped back wearing an entirely new outfit. She smoothed her designer jeans and pink top. “Ah. Much more suitable for kicking your butt.”

“You’ll have to do better than that if you want to take over the web.”

Kara thought for a moment. “I wish I had a horrible monster to fight Adriane!”

A geyser of smoke and fire shot from the ground. Kara leaped away as molten hands reached from the earth, heaving up a hulking body of solid stone.

“Rock on!” Kara cheered.

“Hi, everyone.” In a flash of light, Ozzie and Lyra magically joined the mages. “We’re he—GaH!

Ozzie scrambled out of the way as the stone creature tore from the ground and charged Adriane, its huge feet crunching the ancient tiles.

Adriane was not intimidated. She whipped a cord of silver wolf fire around the thing’s big feet and pulled hard. The monster toppled over in a spray of flying rocks and dirt.

“Well, that’s a fine how do you do!” Ozzie huffed, arms crossed over his ferret chest.

Lyra’s eyes flickered between her bonded and the warrior.
“Kara, what are you doing?”

“What does it look like I’m doing?”

“How should I know, you wished me away!”
the cat snarled.

“That was the lamest zombie I’ve ever seen!” Adriane exulted in her easy take-down.

“Shows what you know. It was a golem.”

“Hey,” Ozzie called out, refusing to be ignored. “Look what I found.”

He raised his power crystal. In a blaze of light, the crystal flew from his hands, whooshing into the center of the ring with the other jewels.

“It’s one of those in there.” Ozzie gulped as black smoke seeped from his crystal, bleeding dark magic into the four pure crystals. “Uh oh.”

Lyra growled at Adriane and Kara’s jewels. “
Those are dark crystals. Can’t you feel it?”

“Yeah, and maybe you’re a dark mage!” Kara challenged Adriane.

“I am not. You are!”

“Where’s Emily?” Ozzie interrupted their bickering.

Kara ignored the ferret and kept needling her ex-friend. “You’re the one who came in and started accusing me when I didn’t do anything.”

“Typical,” Adriane groused, “you never admit you’re wrong.”

“Maybe because you think I do
everything
wrong!”

“You got that right.”

“Enough!” Ozzie shouted, paws over his ears. “Listen to me! These jewels are driving both of you crazy with dark magic. I just saw it happen to the animals back at Ravenswood. We don’t know what kind of magic we’re going to set loose from Avalon, but I’m pretty sure it’s not good. So just calm down.”

“I released magic from the crystals before and it was good,” Kara reasoned. “I can do it again.”

“That was before you turned dark,” Adriane countered.

“And you turned into a loser. Oh wait, you already were a loser.”

“Keep it together,” Ozzie pleaded. “We’re still missing Emily and her jewel. Then we’ll have all nine.”

“Assuming Kara’s new one works,” Adriane muttered.

Lyra growled at Kara. “
Don’t ever wish me away again!”

“What is the big deal? You wouldn’t let me make the replacement crystal so I sent you home.”

“Put that wishing crystal with the others,” Adriane ordered.

“I need it to finish this one.” Kara reached into her pocket and withdrew the shell she and Logan had made.

“You’re just trying to keep it for yourself!” Adriane accused.

“Here we are at the Gates of Avalon, and you two are fighting like five-year-olds. Just finish your crystal and let’s get on with it!” Ozzie ordered Kara.

“I can’t do it until Emily gets here with hers.”

“What did you do, wish her away, too?” Adriane snapped.

“I’m right here.”

Emily stood on the opposite side of the ring, red power crystal gleaming in her hands.

Ozzie charged over, skidding to a stop at the healer’s feet.

“Emily, are you okay?” He studied his friend carefully.

“I… don’t know,” she said sluggishly. “I need to heal the web.”

“Emily!” Adriane called out. “Kara won’t give up her crystal.”

“Emily, tell Adriane to put hers in first!” Kara commanded.

“Please don’t fight,” the healer said in a strangely quiet voice. “We don’t have much time.”

The healer released her crystal. It floated into the center of the ring with the others. Now there were six: the Heart of Avalon, three from The Garden’s vault, one from Emily, and one from Ozzie. Power radiated from the jewels, streaking the sky with deep purple. The air felt heavy as the magic built.

“What do we do?” Ozzie asked anxiously, his ferret face creased with worry. “These crystals are all dark.”

“We have to open the Gates of Avalon,” Emily whispered. “Adriane, let go of your power crystal.”

“Not until she does.” The warrior glared at Kara.

“Do as she says!” Ozzie ordered. Something was very wrong with Emily. It seemed as if she were struggling against a powerful force, something other than the dark crystals.

“We have one chance to fix everything.” Emily’s limp curls hung in her face. “We can do it together, but I need all of you. Now.”

“Emily, we’re here for you,” Ozzie said soothingly. “Everything’s going to be okay.”

Adriane glowered at Kara. “I’m warning you, Kara, if you hurt Drake...”

Reluctantly, the warrior released her crystal into the ring. Purple shadow magic joined the swirling lights of the other crystals. Now there were seven.

Angry clouds roiled overhead, reflected by the eerily glowing crystals.

“Kara, hurry,” Emily pleaded.

“Do it, Kara!” Ozzie cried.

Kara held up the shell of the power crystal she’d created with Logan. “Drake, give me your magic.”

“No,”
the dragon refused.

Exasperated, Kara yelled, “We have to open the gates, come on!”

“He must have a good reason for refusing you,” the warrior growled, her body tense.

“If he doesn’t give it to me, then I’ll have to take it.” Kara was obstinate.

“Just like you stole Zach’s?” Silver fire sparked from Adriane’s wrist.

“I made another power crystal, figured everything out, and you’re
still
not satisfied.”

“And just how are you supposed to get Drake’s magic in there?” Adriane challenged.

That was a good question. Kara had never thought that far ahead. “Geez, I wish I knew.”

All the air seemed to drain from the ring. For a split second, no one could breathe.

Then the warrior was in a fighting stance, magic crackling around her like lightning. Her eyes burned with fury. “I
knew
it.”

Ozzie leaped back, gaping at Kara.

Lyra and Dreamer snarled, turning on the blazing star.

Confused, Kara followed their gaze. The crystal she and Logan had made had transformed into a gleaming black dagger.

“How did that happen?” Kara stuttered, horrified.

“Get away from him.” Adriane hissed, rings of silver fire swirling dangerously from her raised fists.

Kara looked at the dagger, then at Drake. The dragon’s eyes locked on hers, deep and menacing. Ice clamped around her heart like a vise as fear lanced up her spine. She needed powerful magic to finish the final power crystal. Everything she wanted was almost hers. Thanks to the wishing jewel, she finally understood what she had to do.

She raised the dagger, magic glinting along the curved blade.

“You wouldn’t kill an innocent dragon, would you?”
Drake asked.

Kara looked him straight in the eyes. “No, I wouldn’t.”

In a single swift motion, the blazing star plunged the dagger deep into the dragon’s heart.

Drake collapsed, writhing as black smoke poured from his wound.

Howling, Adriane attacked Kara with the full force of her magic.

Kara flew backwards, careening across the floor, crashing hard into a stone pillar. Arms flailing, she desperately tried to raise a protective shield as wolf fire exploded around her.

Lyra charged Adriane, teeth bared, roaring in rage.

“Lyra!” Kara screamed, struggling to her feet. “No!

Dreamer lunged at the cat, his sharp teeth sinking into Lyra’s neck, ripping her away from the warrior. Lyra thrashed and yowled as blood splattered her orange fur.

Diamond fire blasted from Kara’s outstretched hands and smashed into the mistwolf.

The mages were locked in battle, just like so many times before.

“Stop it!” Ozzie screamed as Adriane steadily advanced on Kara, firing bolt after bolt of wolf fire.