Chapter Three: Encircled by Barghests
Guardians of the Twilight Lands--The Sixth Book of Unexpected Enlightenment
Chapter Three: Encircled by Barghests
Rachel’s heart beat so violently that her ribcage shook, but she refused to let fear paralyze her. The creatures moved rapidly, but no more rapidly than Ethan Warhol with his quickstep cantrip. She had beaten Ethan in a duel more than once.
She cast two paralysis hexes. Blue sparkles swooshed from her lips and from the diamond tip of her silver wand. They swirled around both attacking barghests, freezing both the one targeting her and the one leaping for her father. Rachel drew a shaky breath, breathing in the fresh scent of evergreen that accompanied her hex. Her father shot her a rapid glance; Agent Standish grunted in approval. Rachel was beginning to feel quite pleased with herself when the first barghest slipped free of her hex. It turned tail and ran.
“Oh, it got away!” she cried.
The second also slipped free. She whistled again. The shadow dog dodged the blue sparkles, its ears perking up. It cocked its head and stared at her face. Then It let out a short howl and lunged. Its shadowy jaws closed on her arm. The creature seemed insubstantial, but its teeth sank into her right forearm. It felt like jagged needles.
Rachel screamed, a high, ear-piercing shriek of sheer pain.
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