Portal Slayer: Beneath the Shadows by S.L. Dooley

Author:S.L. Dooley [Dooley, S.L.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Torn Parchment
Published: 2022-12-01T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Sixteen

“I’m afraid you got what you asked for.” Cosyn’s deep voice dripped with sarcasm, mocking Raelyn with overstated reason.

She looked up at him through wet, tangled hair, her hands and knees sinking into the wet sand. Lima stood next to her. The Guardian seemed powerless to battle Cosyn.

His smooth pale face held a wide “I-told-you-so” smile of snow-white teeth. His furrowed brow might have been evidence of concern, but for the glee in his dark eyes. Tendrils of black smoke rose from his head. The sickly smell of rotten fruit and decaying leaves draped over Raelyn.

“Lima,” she croaked, sitting back on her heels.

Lima glanced at her without a trace of fear. If she wasn’t afraid, maybe she had a plan. She had to know these shores. She knew what Cosyn was capable of.

Lima stepped around Raelyn. “As did you, fool.”

Cosyn’s face shifted in an instant. Not fear. Not anger.

Comradery.

“Lima,” he chuckled. “Who is the fool? The one actively destroying Earth Apparent, or the one waiting like a spider in her web.”

Raelyn’s lungs stopped working. She hiccuped and managed a shallow breath. She struggled to stand, but her legs were lead, refusing to move. Lima had tricked her. Flashes from the last four days ran across her mind. In the cabin, basking in Lima’s encouragement . . . saying goodbye to Joshua and Jinny . . .

Raelyn choked out another sob.

. . . Traveling through the forest . . . resting in the cave . . . climbing down the cliff . . .

Lima had counseled her. Consoled her.

And told her it was Peter who should have been here. She’d lied about everything. Had she lied about that?

Lima strode to Cosyn, her lilac light turning dark purple and then black, void of light.

“No . . .” Raelyn emitted a strangled gasp. Neither Lima nor Cosyn paid her any attention.

Lima tossed her black hair. “You are pitiful.” But her words were coy, not angry. “So much effort to thwart Arkonai, when with a single pluck of my silk”—she crooked her finger—“I draw in the temporals and drain them dry. You could not even control one of your own.”

Cosyn scoffed and strolled past her to stand over Raelyn. “Ditimer? He was Ryla’s pet, and she remains loyal.”

“But he certainly thwarted your plans to send the Cord back—”

“Do not use that term,” Cosyn hissed. “They are a company of fools. Deluded. Doomed. Ditimer chose Kade’s way. Arkonai’s way. He will suffer the temporals’ fate.”

Raelyn’s head spun. Lady Ryla had betrayed them. Betrayed Kade. And Ditimer, just as Jinny had discerned. But he had chosen good over evil in the end.

A dark fog nibbled at the edge of Raelyn’s vision. She clenched her hands, digging her fingernails into her palms. She couldn’t fade now, with no hope of returning. No one to administer the seripyn. Completely vulnerable to two enemies. She groped for her water-logged bag, fumbling with the opening.

“You are confident of Ryla’s loyalty?” Lima continued, narrowing her jet-black eyes. “You struggle to determine your true followers.

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