From the Ashes

Read From the Ashes Storyline:

THE THIRD BOOK IN THE GRAEME STONE SAGA:Betrayed by the very dark powers that he had spent two centuries unwittingly serving, Stone is now part of the rebel army.Time is running out; Those Beyond the Veil are close to opening the portal that will allow them to unleash their demonic hordes upon Stone's homeworld, the Earth.How can this ragtag bunch of warriors defeat the slavering army before them? Can Stone once more call upon the power of the elements, after so many years of being corrupted by darkness?Join Stone, Gwenna, Alann the woodsman and more in this final, epic conclusion to the Fall to Power trilogy!==Stone was larger, heavier and possibly stronger, though he wasn’t sure. But the Water Nymph was faster, more flexible, leaping around him with balletic grace and striking out with those razor claws that pierced even his marble flesh. Neither of them stayed down for long when struck; his enhanced frame healing wounds in seconds; her elemental form refreshing itself on demand, rendering her good as new with but a thought.                           A skittering of feet on rocks and Stone turned, seeing her sprinting towards him in a blur of speed. In an instant she was before him, lashing out with her wickedly sharp fingers. He dodged left, avoiding the worst of the attack, the nails scoring shallow lines across his chest, then ducked, avoiding another sweep aimed for his eyes, before rising, lunging forwards with a mighty right-hand punch, even as the Nymph span to deliver a backwards kick.The blows connected at the same time, his fist hitting the side of her head with a thunderous crack that echoed about the cavern, her foot driving hard into his stomach, winding him despite the braced and rocklike abdominals. A booming report, a cloud of spray, and the immortal combatants were sent flying apart by the force of their blows, to land with a splash, ten yards apart in the water.                           They both lay there for a moment, allowing themselves an instant to recover, a brief respite, before rising to their feet. Stone stood, the ache in his midsection fading, his breathing growing steadier by the second, watching with a mental sigh as Nagini noted the thin rivulet of black blood that trickled down from her temple. She took a drop on one razor fingernail, licking it teasingly, before smiling, the cut to the side of her head vanishing in an instant as though it were never there.                           Stone snarled at the invincibility of his foe.                           “You do realise,don’t you, that by delaying me you interfere with the plans of your very masters? The Avatars need me to fight their battles for them; by holding me up you’re going against them…”                           The spirit grinned, soft, feminine lips parting to show those sharp teeth.                           “Indeed. But we’re not in the domain of my mistress, yet, are we? And how else am I supposed to find my distractions?” She let out a melodious laugh. “It gets boring, at times, living forever. Don’t you agree?”                           He growled.                           “Then let me end your boredom for you, right now.”