The Culling Trials 3 (Shadowspell Academy #3)(36)

“Wait, the Sandman? What do you mean?” Memories fluttered my awareness, so close, I could practically grab them. Darkness lining a face. Sweat dripping from sideburns. A twinkle of light on something metallic. The missing day was right there on the edge of my mind.

A sudden ground-shaking roar blotted out my thoughts. My feet nearly started dancing, ready to run without my body attached if need be. The scene around us dissolved, replaced with a big open area, a cave to one side, a cropping of rocks to the other, and an enormous beast out of the past directly in front of us. Green and black mottled skin, flesh hanging from its jagged bottom teeth, and too-small eyes zeroing in on us.

A freaking T-Rex, so big that our heads wouldn’t even touch the bottom of its belly.

“We’re gonna die.”





Chapter 14





Wally’s voice drifted into my mind from the first day of the trials, which felt so damn long ago.

“To date, in this century, there has never been a death by mauling as pertains to the T-Rex.”

Regardless of the strongholds in place, and there didn’t look to be any, a real T-Rex was liable to kill people.

…in this century…

…never been a death…

“It’s an illusion,” I said, clutching Ethan’s sleeve as he stared up at the monster, slack mouthed. “It has to be an illusion. It’s magic, like everything else. Wally said no one’s died from one of these in this century.”

“It is magic, yes. We’re in the House of Wonder.” Ethan shook himself into movement and straightened the sheet of paper he’d fearfully clutched in his hand moments before. “Of course, it’s magic. We might not die, but we’ll fail.”

“I’m less concerned with failing than dying, though that first challenge might’ve amounted to the same thing.”

“Failing is not an option. We have to make it through. That’s the plan, right?” Ethan turned and ran for the cave while stuffing the sheet of paper into his pocket.

“I’m sensing daddy issues.” I ran right beside him, holding the uncomfortably vibrating wand in a shaking hand. Another roar rumbled through the space, squashing all other sound and making my heart flutter.

“I’ve prepared for this.” Ethan was muttering, and I got the distinct impression he was trying to bolster his confidence. “I’ve studied. I’ve practiced.”

“There is no preparing for the size of this beast,” I said, my heart stopping dead when the huge head swung our way. The T-Rex regarded us from its small eyes, before bending forward and slamming us with a blood-freezing roar. “Its teeth are the size of a human foot.”

“Yeah. I learned that in grade school.” He put on a burst of speed.

I ran faster still, passing him, and made a beeline for that cave. “There’s a difference…between learning it…and living it.”

The ground shook with the imprint of one massive foot carrying a whole lot of tonnage.

“A big…difference.” Another foot. The beast was coming after us. “Every man…for himself!”

I slid into the cave, feet first, as another footfall shook the ground, this one faster than the previous two. The fourth thud was faster still, the beast chasing its prey.

I rolled, finishing the slide on my belly. The T-Rex swung its head down, faster than a creature that size should have been capable of moving, and chomped at Ethan. The enormous teeth just missed him. Screaming, Ethan ducked into the cave so fast, he slammed his head against the rock roof. He staggered and fell into me.

He clutched his head and curled up, but I was already pulling him farther back into the recesses, a space too small for the huge reptile to reach. Frantic breathing filled the hollow silence left by the dinosaur.

“Failing is not an option,” I said, replaying the memory of those huge teeth stained with blood and bits of flesh, snapping shut. “We might not die, but it’ll hurt like hell. Failing is definitely not an option. How do we bring it down?”

“My head is pounding. You’ll have to do it.”

“Nice try, gorgeous. My head has been pounding since this morning. How do we bring it down?”

He fumbled for his pocket, whatever he’d read before running to the cave clearly forgotten.

“I got it.” I dug my hand into his pocket and pulled out the piece of paper. Organized, typed directions filled the sheet, ending with “Notes.” In that space, various spells and details had been added in a surprisingly delicate hand. “Did your sister help you with this?”

“I am literate,” he said dryly. “The best spells to use are at the bottom.”

I was literate, too, but my handwriting looked like it had been scrawled out by a five-year-old with an attention problem.

I muttered a few of the handwritten words—some foreign, like “Olumpah,” and some I understood, like “Levitate.” The wand spat sparks of blue, and I pointed it toward the wall.

“So spells can just be common words?” A monstrous foot slammed down outside the cave, followed by a roar that filled our small space to bursting.

Both of us grabbed our heads.

“It’s not just anything. The words, intention, and wand movement work together, driven by your inner strength and power.” He pushed up a little and touched the bump forming on the side of his head. He looked at his fingertips, didn’t see blood, and glanced out of the cave. “Countless hours are spent learning spell work, and only the best can ever master it. Most people are merely proficient.”