by Sarah Swan
There was a surge of power from the crystals in the middle, and for a second I wavered. I lost my hold on the crystal. Reality went back to normal speed, and Chris moved. Panicking, I drew the power again. The light flashed out just in time. Chris was now a single step from Liz.
What was that? How did I lose control? I put those thoughts to one side. All that mattered was saving Liz. Anything else could wait.
Then I noticed Chris again. In the split second when I lost control, he had turned his head toward me. A savage, victorious grin now warped his face. Those eyes seemed to pierce right into me, sharper than the tip of his blade. I felt fear and didn’t know why.
But I had to focus on saving Liz. I reached out with the power again, feeling through the fissures and cracks. If I could just make one deep enough to separate him from her…
No, it wouldn’t work anymore. The instant I lost control he had gotten too close to her. I wouldn’t be able to drive the ground apart, not without one of them falling in. I had to do something else. I looked up. The roof. Yes, that was it! Jagged pieces of rock hung down from the top, shaped over the years by dripping water. If one of them fell in the right place… I didn’t want it to kill Chris, but it could slow him down.
I reached out with my mind, exploring the makeup of the roof. The balance there was more precarious than the floor. It was less rigid. It would take much less power to shift the balance. But I had to find the right piece. Too big a rock would kill Chris; too small, and it wouldn’t deter him. I also had to line up the fall to his trajectory. I couldn’t miss.
Luckily, the power of the crystal extended over everything, everyone, and I knew the exact dimensions of the place. And of everybody within it. I could tell, not consciously, but by feel, exactly where Chris was, and where he would be in the moments after I released my hold on the power. I could project his path to that of the falling rock, and line them up perfectly.
I reached out, examining the pieces in the roof. The power from the crystal, the light that linked me to everything around me, allowed me to do so. There! I found a piece, a jagged rock shaped like a wide carrot, right above him. If I could just shimmy the end off…
The power from the crystal wrapped itself around the rock, flowing into the molecular connections that held it together. A wisp formed and contracted tight around the piece. It yanked, and I knew that when I released the power the piece would come down, right onto Chris.
DANGER! DANGER! DANGER!
I had done what I wanted, and now the feeling that had been hammering away at the back of my mind came into full focus. DANGER, it screamed at me. DANGER! DANGER!
The danger had something to do with the crystals in the middle of the room. I knew I had to sever the flow of power. I released my mind’s hold on the crystal, as I had done a few times before.
Nothing happened. The flow of power still continued from me into the crystal and out. I tried again. Again, nothing happened.
DANGER!
The feeling was like a siren going off in my mind. I began to panic. Why couldn’t I release power?
DANGER!
It was like the crystal had a mind of its own. It refused to be cut off. I struggled against it, desperately willing myself to pull away.
DANGER!
The power kept flowing. I sensed the connections, and knew where the power was going. It was directed to the crystals in the middle. They were trying to pull me in!
DANGER!
The crystals in the middle flared again with a vibrant light that shortly died away.
DANGER!
I knew that if I didn’t get away now, I might never get the chance again. Forcing it with all my strength, I ripped myself away.
The connection to the crystal vanished.
Reality returned. Time sped up. The peak I worked on cracked loudly, and the rock piece broke away. It fell toward Chris. Just as his outstretched hand was about to reach Liz, it crashed heavily into his shoulders, crushing him underneath. I heard the unpleasant sound of breaking bone and winced. Chris let out a terrible cry of pain and went still. Liz was safe.
Relief swept over me. I had done it! I had saved Liz.
But nothing was ever that easy.
Before I could even move toward her, the crystals in the middle came to life on their own. I felt the surge of power that they commanded. It was being ripped through me. And I couldn’t control it.
A blinding light flared from the now-active crystals. It was immensely more powerful than anything I could have done. My mind and body strained from the torrent of power coursing through me. The light was so bright, and so thick, it overwhelmed all my senses. I couldn’t see. I couldn’t hear.
I could barely think.
Chapter Twenty-Eight – A Voliar
I was floating in a river of light. I could feel power flowing through me, but I was incapable of stopping it. I couldn’t control any of it, couldn’t sever the connection.
The river picked up speed. I was moving faster. Currents pushed me every which way, thrashing my body left and right until my senses numbed.
I opened my eyes, and for an instant I was back in the cave. The crystals in the middle flashed violently with light and power. The air started to shiver, and reality waxed and waned scarily.
The moment was over – I was again in the river. None of my senses worked. The light was overpowering, and the river was pushing me forward with alarming speed. Every second I was there I felt like I was becoming less and less. The light was stripping pieces of me away, until I feared I would lose myself forever.
For the briefest glimmer of a second, I returned to the cave. Fear was plain on the faces of all the girls around me. But I couldn’t focus on them. Somehow, I had gotten within mere inches of the crystals. They were calling me. They continued to flash the violent lights, vivid reds and blues and yellows. They were active, and they were drawing power through me.
The river returned. I was there, but I was in the cave at the same time. Danger pulsed from the main crystals, and light surrounded me on all sides. I could feel the energy lashing out. The crystals would destroy the entire cave if I didn’t stop them. The torrent pushed me forward. I knew where it led. To the crystals. If I got there, I would be helpless. I clawed back, desperately trying to get out of the river. It was futile. Nothing I could do would save me.
Reality flashed in front of me. One moment my entire being was struggling in the river, the next I was right there in the cave. Every second spent in the river brought me closer to my doom. I could not get out.
I strained against the power, trying to resist it – and then it hit me. Resisting. That was what made me vulnerable. I knew the crystals were straining with power, but maybe I could command more. The crystals were finite in what they could hold, but I was tapping a limitless resource. Maybe I could overwhelm them. Maybe that was what I had to do.
For an insane second, I felt all the power that was flowing through me, and opened myself up for more. Instead of resisting, I embraced the power, and fed it into the crystals, with as much strength as I could.
The power roared and burst into the crystals. In the cave, their lights flared stronger than before. I could feel the crystals’ strain. I fed more power into them, more and more, holding on by the skin of my teeth.
A great explosion knocked me back, and everything went black.
***
I opened my eyes to daylight. It took a few moments for them to adjust. I was somewhere warm. Somewhere relatively soft. I felt safe.
“It’s a wonder you survived.”
I was shocked at the voice. I didn’t think there was anybody around. I turned my head, and saw Liz sitting on a familiar chair in the corner. Immediately I realized I was in the clinic. Liz had deep bags under her eyes, like she hadn’t slept in days. But her face had mostly healed. How long must I have been out for?
“What you did for me was so brave,” she said. “I owe you. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.”
“What… happened back there?” I asked.
“A nightmare. Chris had a voliar. It traps the flow of power, takes it in. Like a battery.”
“A voliar? You mean the ruby?”
She nodded. “Yes. And then once it’s charged, anybody can use it.”
“Anybody?” I repeated slowly, not understanding.
“Anybody. Males, females, it doesn’t matter. If they have the voliar they can draw power just like we can. He knew about the crystals, and was trying to use their power.”
“How?”
“I don’t know. We were sure nobody knew about them other than us. A dangerous assumption, it turned out to be.”
“What happened to him? If you’re here, then…”
“He didn’t get to me,” Liz said. “But he did get away.”
“He got away?” I was shocked. “How?”
“Nobody knows. After you used the power to collapse the roof on him, the crystals in the cavern came to life.”
“I remember! They were drawing power through me, and I couldn’t stop it.”
“You went through an epic struggle down there. In the cave, the power we can access was magnified. I believe those crystals in the middle of the cavern are the original source. Enormous torrents of power flowed through you. It’s a wonder you survived.”
“How… did I?” I asked slowly. “All I remember was the crystals trying to wrestle control of the power from me…”
“Only you know that, Tracy. But we all watched as you went towards the crystals. You brought your hand out to them, and for a second the flow of power was magnified a thousand-fold. A great blast of light exploded from the crystals, blinding all of us. When we could see again, you were lying unconscious, thrown a few yards back, and the crystals… they were… shattered.”
“You’re saying I destroyed the crystals?” I asked, stupefied.
“It was either them or you.”
A knock on the door interrupted us.
“Ah, that’s for you. I should probably get going,” Liz said softly, but not before the door creaked open.
“I thought I heard voices…” a familiar voice on the other side said. My eyes widened with surprise and recognition.
“Mom!” I exclaimed as she entered the room.
“Oh, Tracy!” My mom ran up to me and embraced me in an enormous hug.
“When did you get here?” I asked when she finally let go.
“Yesterday. Liz told us all about what happened. You’re lucky to have such a great friend. She didn’t leave your side since you were admitted!”
Liz grinned sheepishly in the background, gave me a wink, and edged out the door.
“Mom, I’m so happy to see you.”
“And I you! Oh, your dad is going to be so happy!”
“Dad’s here?”
“The school flew us both in after what happened. Oh my god, Tracy, it’s such a relief to see you up! Look at you!” My mom put her hands on both my cheeks lovingly. “I can’t believe you’re alright. We were so worried. How do you feel?”
“I feel fine,” I answered truthfully. My mom lit up like a Christmas tree.
“Let me get your dad,” she said, turning around quickly. “He’s been so worried about you, I thought he might have a heart attack! Oh, he’ll be so relieved you’re doing better. I’ll be right back, okay?” And with that, she flew out of the room, giddy from excitement.
I stared after her. How serious had my condition been to have both parents here? I felt fine right now, much better than when I woke from the concussion or the after sickness. I wondered what had happened. There was a lot to take in. For one, Chris knew about the crystals somehow. And now he was gone. What did he want? Were the crystals what drove him to his madness? Why?
There were so many unanswered questions. I had no idea what was going to happen next, but one thing was for sure: for better or for worse, I would not run from the crystals anymore.
~~
Epilogue
After the disaster in the caves, Chris fled.
Things didn’t quite go according to plan, but he still got what he came for. The ruby, the voliar, was fully charged, thanks to the enormous flare of power that Tracy manufactured. It would stay charged for a very long time. Enough to set his father’s plans into motion.
Yet they still needed somebody on their side. They would use this new person, no doubt. He had once thought the honor would belong to Tracy, but she had proved herself unworthy of it. A shame too, since he had started to like her. And she was the strongest he’d encountered thus far. But, there would be many more who would happily take her place. He was sure of it. And, with a little bit of luck, they would be even stronger than Tracy.
But he had to get back at her for what she had done to him. She had maimed him. He did not know how she did it, but he was sure she was at fault. The way the rock fell from the roof just as he was about to get to Liz… it was no coincidence. And he was lucky to have survived.
But survive it he did, though the weight of impact had snapped his collarbone in two. It would heal, in time, but it would leave a horrible disfigurement. His back would be permanently hunched.
Revenge was what drove him now. Revenge, and that insatiable thirst for power.
He leaned against the window of his father’s private jet. They were flying just below the clouds, and he could see civilization for miles around. Soon, it would all belong to him.
The End.
Chosen
Book 1, The Seeker Saga
Other Books by Sarah Swan:
Dream Realms Trilogy (Writing as Sophia Sharp)
Book 1: Shattered (Published June 2011)
Description:
Laura Cubus was perfectly content with her life. A junior in high school, she felt perfectly normal. She had good friends, a great family, and did well in school. Nothing particularly exciting ever happened where she lived, and everything was stable.
But that all drastically changes when a new student arrives at Laura's school. Wild rumors swirl about his past, and Laura becomes determined to find out the truth.
As she gets to know the mysterious student, he shares with her an ancient secret... one that may yet put both of them in grave danger.
And for the first time in her life, Laura is exposed to a completely unfamiliar world. She is swept away on an exhilarating journey that takes to a place where great destiny may yet await... and where supernatural powers run rampant.
Shattered is approximately 40,000 words or 160 paperback pages.
Book 2: Destined (Published July 2011)
Description:
Laura has survived the dark caves, and emerged with Logan by her side. But her escape is quickly tainted as she realizes the biggest danger still lies ahead...
She has been transformed, and powers she has never known begin to manifest themselves within her body. As she struggles to gain control, how long will she be able to restrain herself - and her new bloodlust - from taking over?
As she journeys onward, doubts begin to creep into her mind. Doubts about leaving home, about the decisions she's made. But with the Vassiz still behind her, there is no turning back, now.
And she has questions that need to be answered. Just who are the elders, and why have they taken such a keen interest in her? As she starts the unravel the cloak that shrouds their existence, she begins to understand that she may have stumbled into something much larger than herself... and starts to understand her destiny for the first time.
Destined is approximately 65,000 words or 260 paperback pages.
Book 3, Part 1: Graced (Published September 2011)
Description:
There is a prophecy that speaks of a time of great turmoil, a time when the rule of power will be overturned by the hammer of fate. That time has come, and one girl stands in the middle of it all...
Laura has been reunited with Logan, and together they must face the elders. But this time, they have the angels on their side. It is a precious adv
antage, but only if used properly...
She has learned of the prophecy of her fate, and learned of her destiny. But while others are certain, she is less sure. And as she moves forward, she learns that absolutely nothing can ever be guaranteed.
Graced is approximately 60,000 words or 240 paperback pages.
Book 3, Part 2: Ascension (Published January 2012)
Table of Contents
Book Description:
Chapter One – A New Life
Chapter Two – A Rocky Start
Chapter Three – Traven Island
Chapter Four – A Bit of History
Chapter Five – Exploration
Chapter Six – An Unexpected Welcome
Chapter Seven – A New Meeting
Chapter Eight – An Invitation
Chapter Nine – A Blue Light
Chapter Ten – Behind the Door
Chapter Eleven – A Watcher
Chapter Twelve – A Long Night
Chapter Thirteen – An Unexpected Journey
Chapter Fourteen – A Meeting
Chapter Fifteen – The Seekers
Chapter Sixteen – Oblivion
Chapter Seventeen – A Latent Ability
Chapter Eighteen – Connections
Chapter Nineteen – An Unexpected Visitor
Chapter Twenty – An Uncanny Pull
Chapter Twenty-One – A Visible Aura
Chapter Twenty-Two – Triangulation
Chapter Twenty-Three – Rob
Chapter Twenty-Four – Twists in the Pattern
