The Breaker (The Secret of Spellshadow Manor #2)(76)

“Get out of the way, old man!” shouted Renmark.

“I will not!” Lintz sent another blockade to dispose of the fiery eagles trying to dive-bomb him.

Forging vast spears and swirling balls of raw power, Renmark hurled his weapons in Lintz’s direction. Lintz, in turn, ducked and flicked the attacks away, a spear narrowly missing his face, singing the tip of his moustache. A low growl emitted from the back of Lintz’s throat as he retaliated with a wave of thinly made arrows that sliced through the atmosphere, slipping quickly toward his aggressors. One hit Renmark in the shoulder, eliciting a shrill howl as it made his arm shake uncontrollably. Esmerelda gently touched Renmark’s elbow, her magic flowing into his skin and sucking away the hex as his arm ceased to shudder.

Enraged, Renmark fired a flat disc of amber light that spun through the air between them, skimming over the top of Lintz’s head as he ducked, his old knees cracking.

So far, the two men looked almost evenly matched, but the added power of Esmerelda seemed to put a strain on Lintz. Alex wondered if he should step in, but hung back with the other students as they watched the fight continue. They all shouted encouragements to Lintz as he rallied his strength and sent a shimmering dragon toward his two opponents, the golden mouth opening wide as a stream of hot, white fire erupted from between the glinting fangs.

Esmerelda combatted the dragon with a rush of amber mist. The whole corridor was glittering with the sheen of building magic, the air growing hot and stifling. Beads of sweat had appeared on Lintz’s brow, and Alex could feel the chill within him intensifying as he watched the battle.

Renmark’s hands twisted and turned with violent speed as his mouth moved silently. His eyes seemed to glow with an unearthly radiance as Alex observed his unorthodox conjuring, wondering what he was doing. A sliver of a shimmering, navy substance rippled between the mist of the golden magic, snaking toward Lintz. Alex tried to call out, to warn Lintz, but the professor could not hear him above the din of the fight. The substance creeped down into Lintz’s skin.

Lintz froze, his hands grasping at his chest as if trying to remove something, his body doubling over in pain.

“Don’t you dare!” a voice called from behind the gathered students.

Gaze pushed through the small crowd and stepped into place beside Lintz, her hands moving quickly to remove the bluish-tinged magic Renmark had slipped beneath Lintz’s skin. She flung it away like it was a poisonous creature, compressing it until it exploded into harmless vapor.

“You coward, Renmark! Who uses dark magic in a battle?” she crowed.

Gaze sent small, delicately made balls of fire toward Renmark and Esmerelda. The miniscule projectiles seemed feeble but held a dangerous secret—as they neared their target, they exploded in a wide, savage burst. They went off in a series, flashing in the air with a blinding white light and sending out a pulse of violent energy that surprised the others as they staggered back.

Gaze didn’t give her opponents a moment to catch their breaths. She sent a stream of gold toward Esmerelda, creating a barrier around her that seemed to drag her back into the corridor. The younger professor flailed against the strength of Gaze’s magic. Professor Gaze smirked and shot another barrier toward Renmark, but he managed to fend it off. It kept him busy, though, as Lintz regained his strength from whatever had been sent creeping into his body.

“All of you, run! Go to the front lawn!” yelled Gaze, turning momentarily with a fierce expression on her face. She wasn’t even looking at Renmark, but managed to flick his magic away easily. The students didn’t need telling twice—they sprinted off down the halls.

Alex lingered around the corner, knowing he could help.

The two pairs were evenly matched as they faced off in the corridor, magic billowing and spiraling and sparking. Gaze had created a latticed barrier around herself and Lintz, keeping away the dark magic Renmark was using while allowing them to release magic of their own. A two-way shield.

Alex was mesmerized as he watched Gaze work. Her magic was flawless. Twisting her hands gracefully, she managed to weave a loop of magic around Esmerelda and Renmark, reducing the impact of their attacks. But Renmark’s dark magic was strong. Alex could see that each rebuff and blow from the viscous streams of navy liquid drained Gaze. It took a lot to protect the hallway, but it had given the students time to get away safely. The corridor behind Alex was empty; everyone had made it out.

Lintz reached into the leather satchel around his body and pulled out two mechanical bombs. He threw them wildly at the opposing pair, just as Gaze forced a moving blockade of strong, fierce magic in their direction. The dual hit sent their opponents flying backward onto the flagstones as Lintz and Gaze turned and ran, following the direction the students had taken.

Gaze reached out a claw-like hand and grasped Alex’s arm.

“Run, boy!” she shrieked, dragging him along with her as they headed toward the front lawn. At least, Alex mused, glancing at Gaze and Lintz, they now had two powerful allies to help with the stand they were about to make.





Chapter 29





Alex’s lungs burned as he sprinted out of the manor, other students spilling out behind him after hearing the ruckus inside. It wasn’t safe in there, with Renmark and Esmerelda on the loose. Gaze and Lintz followed wearily, Gaze stooping for breath as she leaned against the manor’s vast doorframe. Lintz patted her gently on the back, though a sheen of sweat glistened across his own forehead and his chest heaved with the exertion of the battle and their swift escape.