Chapter 34: Helpless

The front door to the house and the back door to the kitchen both flew off their hinges, and Silvana tried to stand, but the conflagration of pain in her abdomen kept her on the ground.

She winced and coughed as smoke and ash crept near her from both sides of the house, and she was attacked by two recognizable voices, one belonging to a man, and the other to a woman.

"Get down!" Amelia and Bruce both shouted at one another from across the house.

By the kitchen door and through the plumes of smoke from the fires outside, Bruce dove to the floor and beside Silvana, wrapping her up in his arms. A bolt of green energy flew above them and to where Bruce had been and collided into a frightening figure entering the house. The spirit of a man made from crimson lightning and holding a huge axe stumbled backwards a few steps, shaking off the green magical blast that had hit him.

He regained his strength, then stepped through the hole and into the kitchen with lethal intent.

Silvana's ey