“What is it?” Seraphia asked.
“When the spell on the tower is threatened by the return of the guild members, Councilor Rasla will rise one last time to protect it.”
“Guild members?” Mac said. “That has to be us.”
Carrow nodded. “It says they will be led by one with strange and deadly magic. It is her arrival that instigates it all.”
“That’s you,” Mac said. “It has to be.”
Carrow frowned, her eyes still racing over the page. “The disturbed magic will reinvigorate him for a short time. He will be powerful, so powerful that he can ensure his agenda once again.”
“Killing all of us,” Mac said. “Because I’m pretty sure that’s his goal.”
“And hiding the Shadow Guild once more,” Seraphia said.
“We won’t let him.” Carrow snapped the book shut.
We reached the alley. I led the way, sprinting through the narrow space. It had become a wind tunnel. I forced my way through, pushing against the gale.
The courtyard in front of the Shadow Guild tower was chaos. Lightning struck overhead, thunder booming every few seconds. The ferocious wind roared and whipped the dead leaves in a cyclone.
Magic pulsed, oily and evil. It came from the statue at the center of the courtyard.
The others joined me, and Eve landed at our side.
As if it had been waiting for us, the magic pulsed once more, so hard that it popped my ears like we’d changed elevation.
“What’s happening?” Mac shouted. “The magic is changing!”
The statue of Councilor Rasla exploded with a deafening boom. Shards of stone bombarded us, and we ducked against the wall to protect our faces. I wrapped myself around Carrow and Mac, who stood closest. The stone sliced through my back and arms, and Carrow hissed in pain.
As soon as it stopped, we whirled around.
The statue was gone. In its place stood a man formed of thick smoke instead of muscle and bone. Power radiated from him, chilling me to my core.
17
Carrow
Fear shivered through me when I saw the man. If black holes were human-shaped, they would look like him. When he moved, it was with a sinuous, snakelike motion.
Though he had no eyes, I could feel his gaze upon me. His voice was cold and smooth, evil incarnate. “So, you are the cause of all this trouble.”
I drew in a deep breath. “You’ll never succeed, Rasla.”
His laughter made the hair stand up on my arms.
He turned his attention to Grey. “Ah, Devil. You live yet, in your fashion. Did you like what I did with your memory?”
“It was a delight.” The ice in Grey’s voice rivaled that of Rasla's.
My mind raced as I watched the two of them. Rasla’s personal diary had crowed about his plans and accomplishments, but it had provided no clues about his weaknesses or how to beat him.
I touched my comms charm and whispered into it, hoping to reach Quinn.
“Yes?” His voice was quiet.
“Come around from the side, along the wall. Not through the alley. We’ll surround him.”