Gabriella Poole - Blood Ties (Darke Academy)

with a shudder, the gouged earth folded on itself, knitting together like a scar. Both Brigitte and Katerina were hunched on the ground,

aghast.

For Cassie, however, it was as if a plug had been pulled. The power was gushing out of her. Suddenly, inexplicably weak, she fell forward

on to her knees.

The Soil!

‘Estelle …?’ Cassie murmured, barely able to speak. ‘What’s … happening?’

You’ve ruined it, my dear. It cannot hold one of the Few without such disastrous results. It’s gone. The Soil and its energy are gone.

Bad timing.

As one, the mother-and-daughter team turned and flung themselves towards Cassie, screaming with fury, pale platinum hair bristling with

the static of the storm.

How weak you are. Dear, darling Cassandra . . .

‘God, Estelle. Help me.’

Oh Cassandra. You do have another option, of course. If only you’d allow it …

‘I can’t move,’ she gasped. ‘Estelle …’

How much do you want it, darling? To live, how much? Will you allow it? I’d so love it if you did … I don’t want us to die …

Hot tears coursed down Cassie’s cheeks, trickling into her mouth. She tried to stand but she didn’t have the energy. She could only

crouch, waiting for them to tear her apart. She didn’t have the strength to do this on her own.

‘Please, Estelle! HELP ME!’

It’s so simple, darling. It always has been. Just let it in. The rest of me. LET IT IN!

It was louder than it had ever been, that voice. It reverberated inside her skull.

And it was right. What else could she do? What else?

IN! IN! IN! IN!

Cassie’s answer was less than a whisper.

‘Yes …’

It was as if her whole body was slammed by a gigantic force that didn’t stop when it hit her but went straight through her skin, straight

through bone and flesh. She heard Estelle’s scream of triumph. Then silence – deafening silence.

The spirit was inside her.

Cassie was sealed in a bubble. For what felt like long, long moments, there was only peace and awe. She felt the muscles of her face

move, change. Her features twisted, exaggerated. But she felt no fear.

This is it, then?

This is it. I like it …

This power?

Yes …

Dreamlike, in slow motion, Cassie reached into her jacket and closed her hand around the knife. It was alive: just like her. Beneath her

fingers the creatures squirmed, ecstatic. Power poured out of them, swirled in her blood, streamed back into the knife and out again in a

vibrant, electric circuit. She didn’t laugh, had no urge to gloat – just to fight. She felt her muscles tense as Brigitte and Katerina flung

themselves towards her, but she hardly registered their bloodcurdling cries of attack. Everything seemed to be moving at half-speed.

Cassie was filled with power, drowning in it. Her and the spirit. All power, all one.

She sprang into the air, leaping effortlessly at her adversaries, and her body was more a force of nature than a human being. Her fist was

lightning, slashing at Katerina, sending her somersaulting backwards. Her other hand a thunderclap, snapping towards Brigitte’s chest, and

the woman staggered away, staring mesmerised at the knife in Cassie’s clenched fingers.

Lightly she leaped at Brigitte again. The knife was alive, the creatures on the hilt singing for her. There was a pattern to their squirming

movements, she realised: it all made sense. It was a dance. The creatures were in harmony. Marvelling at their elegant movements, she

slashed at the blonde monster.

But this time, Brigitte was ready. She dodged Cassie’s blow and whipped around her, quick as a flash, her fist connecting a hammering

blow against the back of Cassie’s skull. Cassie lurched forward, shaking her head vigorously as her vision blurred with the impact.

‘Did you think it would be that easy, scholarship?’ Katerina spat, springing in at her. ‘Hah!’

Cassie blocked the demon girl’s foot before it connected with her chin. Grabbing Katerina’s leg, she launched her metres into the air with

a tremendous roar. Before she could press home the attack, though, Brigitte was on her back, her arms locked around Cassie’s neck,

choking her.

Cassie flung herself back on to the ground, and heard the wind burst out of Brigitte’s lungs. Her arms went limp, and Cassie leaped up

and flipped over, smashed her fist into Brigitte’s face and dug the knife deep into her shoulder. Brigitte howled in agony.

‘Mother!’ screamed Katerina.

Springing up to face the daughter’s attack, Cassie struck out with knife, and slammed the hilt against Katerina’s head. Squealing with