The chamber shuddered, stones skittering across the ground. Cold pressed against Bryony's skin, heavy with centuries of malice. Shadows slid down the stone walls like oil, gathering and rising into human shapes. Where eyes should have been, only void-dark pits stared back, tracking them with ancient hunger.

  The darkness split into five towering figures that moved with liquid grace, their limbs twisting unnaturally as they flowed like silk on the wind. Frost bloomed in their wake, trailing delicate white patterns across the ground.

  A bone-deep vibration shuddered through Bryony's chest as the nearest figure's face split open into a silent scream. Empty sockets locked onto her, and ancient power surged through her veins, every nerve alight with recognition. Her fingers cramped around her runeblade's hilt.

  "Void wraiths," she whispered. "Ancient ones." The realisation hit her like a blow, centuries-old teachings snapping into focus. "Veil and flame!…." Her throat constricted. She watched their fluid movements, recalling dusty texts. "Someone bound them here as guardians." Ice crawled up her spine. "And we just woke them up."

  She quickly raised her empty hand, power surging like molten lava through her veins as she drew more magic from the source in her chest. Her fingers danced, forming a blend of protective and barrier sigils as she channelled cinder-light from the source. Heat erupted from her hand as she released it. It spread around her and Ash like a dome.

  The wraiths shrieked in pain as the barrier pushed them away, but it was only temporary. Frost battled with the cinder-light as the wraiths repeatedly struck the barrier, attempting to break through.

  Ash shifted towards her, his boots ringing against stone. Moonlight caught the white streak in his hair as he smirked nervously. "Well," he drawled, eyes darting between the approaching shadows, "Any plans?"

  Bryony gritted her teeth as the wraiths continued their assault. The barrier thrummed as dark tendrils spread across its surface, probing and searching for a weakness.

  Ancient magic slammed into her defences as the wraiths struck the barrier in unison. Power hammered through the air as Bryony's lungs seized, raising gooseflesh along her skin. The runeblade's grip bit into her palm as her fingers clenched against its warm surface.

  "Stay close," she said, forcing steadiness into her voice while tracking the advancing shadows. "And whatever happens, follow my lead."

  "Wouldn't dream of wandering off now." Ash pressed his shoulder against hers, a warm anchor in the growing cold. The white streak above his eye pulsed with each flicker of her barrier's light.

  ****

  Writhing tendrils of darkness surged across the chamber like living ink. The runeblade's grip bit into Bryony's palm as she clutched it, each impact against her barrier sending sparks of pain through her jaw. Her vision blurred as another blast rocked her stance. The shadow-creatures before her contorted—stretching thin, then snapping taut, their movements predatory.

  The ancient stones groaned beneath her boots, resonating through her chest. Her eyes tracked the writhing forms as they slithered across her shield, their blank faces turning in unison to mirror her every move.

  "Boss!" Ash's voice cracked. A shadow pierced the barrier with a glass-like shatter, leaving frost in its wake.

  The air turned bitter cold as the wraiths slipped through the crack. Ash pressed against her spine, their breaths misting between them. Ice crystals formed on the cracks, edging, battling Bryony's magic, keeping the breach open. Each breath seizing in Bryony's lungs as the creatures wove closer, patient and predatory.

  Frost vapour curled from Bryony's lips as she traced new sigils with trembling fingers, overpowering the ancient magic as she sealed the breach. Azure light wove around her, pulsing with her breath.

  Dark magic continued to batter her defences as her eyes followed the Wraiths within her boundary, sweat beading at her temples. The air thickened with a metallic tang, like sun-warmed copper. Gripping the runeblade, she cycled through defensive spells, each failure stoking her urgency. More than defence alone would be required.

  "Stay behind within the boundary," she breathed, eyes fixed on the coiling darkness that set her magical senses thrumming. Her fingers traced glowing symbols that spiralled into the stonework with thunderous force. As the new ward blazed, the writhing shadows took solid form. Bryony's lips curled—finally, something they could fight.

  A tendril of darkness whistled past as she ducked with practised grace. Her runeblade sliced through the writhing shadow, its edge pulsing with stored magic. The phantom's piercing shriek filled the chamber. Drawing cinder-light, she shaped it into a spear of flame, fire dancing across her knuckles, and launched it at the shrieking shadow. The projectile struck true, piercing the shadow and hurling it, shrieking, into the barrier's interior wall.

  The impact reverberated through Bryony like a hammer as the creature was pinned to the barrier and exploded in a wave of dark power. She turned and saw an unnatural dark snake across the floor towards Ash.

  The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

  "Ash, behind you!" But Ash had already transformed, his body shimmering like a mirage before flowing into mercury-like motion. The wraith's touch left only frost trails where he'd stood moments before.

  His body reformed instantly, crunching like autumn leaves as bone realigned. Now he towered over the creature, the floorboards creaking beneath his mass. His fists crashed down, sending tremors through the stone. The wraith's face split into shadowy teeth.

  The barrier rippled as another wraith struck, desperately searching for a way through. Bryony surged the magic in her, power burning her tongue. Azure light burst from her fingers, channelling into the barrier and exploding outwards in a wave of energy. The Wraiths closest to the barrier dissolved with an otherworldly shriek, but more came in their place.

  Ice crystals frosted her lashes as she exhaled rapid clouds of breath. The ward flickered beneath each blow, while ancient, putrid magic pressed against her senses. Silver light flowed from her hand as she strengthened the barrier.

  She ducked, breaking the connection with the barrier as a shadowed tendril flew past her head. Spinning, she crossed her arms, forming a flaming shield over her forearms. A wraith's shadowed face slammed into her, knocking her off her feet as it landed on her. Snapping, snarling teeth threatened to pierce the shield as it pinned her down.

  She stabbed upward with her blade, using its magic to pierce the creature, and sent a stream of flame into its body. The beast was hurled into the air, slamming against the ancient roof. As it dissolved, Bryony felt the pull of dark magic, already dragging the creature back from the veil.

  She rolled onto her front, raising to her knees when something caught her eye. A faintly glowing glyph etched into the floor beneath her. It hummed with faint magic pulsing as the Wraiths fought against her barrier.

  "Ash!" Her voice cracked, teeth chattering in the cold. "These things are bound to something—I need time to trace the connection." She braced her palm against the floor. "Keep them off me, or we're both dead!"

  Ash nodded in answer, transforming into the lithe body of a gymnast. He danced between the dark tendrils; each time, he allowed the dark whips to come within moments of hitting him, and then he was gone. The power of his magic caught the wraith's attention. Like a moth to a flame, they turned their joint attention on him as she continued to duck and dodge the creature's attacks. Almost frustratingly, the tendrils continued searching, hacking and slashing for him. Each time catching only empty air.

  Bryony used the moment. She dove into the source within her, pulling magic up and containing it within her body until she regained the wraith's attention. Her muscles pulsed with the power, becoming truly alive the way only a mage could.

  She directed a stream of power towards the Wraiths, thin, almost undetectable. Not to hurt or kill but to trace. The power that locked the Wraiths to the church appeared like smokey leashes anchoring the tormented spirits. And they all led to one thing. The Obsidian box.

  Emil's voice broke through the noise, his usually steady voice uneven in her ear. "Bryony? The pouch I gave you!" He paused. "It should disrupt them…. briefly."

  She rammed her fingers into the inner pocket of her jacket. Her fingers closed, finding the small pouch, its contents squirming under her touch like living sand. The ward's light sputtered, while beyond its fading shield, more figures emerged from the darkness—pale masks rising from bottomless depths. Each one brought a deeper chill, her breath misting as the stench of dark magic made her stomach turn.

  "Now or never," she whispered. Her fingers trembled as she released the ward. The barrier shattered like glass, letting arctic cold rush in. Wraiths surged forward, their hollow faces locked onto her as the pouch writhed in her grip.

  She scattered the powder in a glittering arc, channelling her power and pushing it into the powder. The air crackled with ozone as silver stars blazed around them. Radiance flooded the chamber, turning stone into molten silver. The wraiths dissolved like ink in water, their silent screams fading to whispers as the alchemical light consumed them.

  "Bit bright, isn't it?" Ash called out, his voice changing with each shift of form. He dropped feline-quick as shadowy talons whistled overhead, then sprang up in his boxer's shape. His fist struck the wraith's core with thunderous force, shattering it into wisps that vanished in Emil's shimmering powder.

  "Less commentary!" Bryony shouted, as she twisted, narrowly avoiding a coil of dark magic. She watched the silver mist pierce the creature's head and continue onward. Weaving through shadows with predatory intent.

  Ash's boots rang against the flagstones in rhythmic challenge to the wraiths as he darted between patches of darkness. A ghostly claw shrieked through the air—but he was already rolling across the cold stone. His dark hair fell back as he caught Bryony's gaze across the chamber, Emil's silver powder illuminating the white streak above his eye.

  Ash flashed a crooked grin, his chest heaving. "Think they'll take a hint now?" His voice held a playful lilt despite his ragged breathing. He rose from his crouch, muscles trembling as the final wraith dissolved into Emil's silver mist.

  "That won't keep them down for long. "Bryony followed the glowing runes along the chamber walls to her prize. Silver mist swirled around her boots as she approached the pedestal. She traced the obsidian box's weathered surface before lifting the lid, revealing the small pendant hidden within.

  The pendant's crimson core pulsed as she touched it, sending ice through her veins. She closed her fist around, weaving containment sigils around it in her mind. The shadows of the church screamed with frustration as her power sliced the wraith's tethers with the pendant. Its glow flared brilliantly before dimming to an ember. Hopefully, that'll keep those things away; she thought as she secured it in her satchel with a sharp click.

  "That's our cue," she said, turning to leave. She traced her and Ash's path back into the Nave, careful to step on safe stones.

  Mara's tense voice crackled through Bryony's comm. "There's something in the stonework ahead, a nasty piece of work."

  Bryony froze mid-stride, her boots scraping stone as she spotted it, a gossamer thread of wraith-magic woven through the stonework, shifting like sunlight on water. Her heart jumped at the lethal pattern. She caught Ash's sleeve.

  "There." She traced the trap's outline, her movements precise. "Like oil on water, see? It must have triggered with the Wraiths." She examined it admiringly. Only a few would bother to retrap the way in. Whoever put this pendant here really wanted to make sure it stayed.

  Ash shifted beside her, his transformation fluid as ever as he shifted back into his natural form. The white streak above his eye caught the light as he smirked. "Thank the veil for Mara." He swept into a theatrical bow. "Ladies first?"

  "Such a gentleman," Bryony drawled, beginning to edge around the ward with measured steps.