Achiku shot him a deathly glare, and he faltered in his step. Not bothering with him anymore, she resumed her incantations.
As though nothing had happened.
Her voice dropped into a low, rhythmic chant, ancient words rolling off her tongue, unbridled and raw.
Each syllable carried a strange weight, heavy with power. It was clear she had done this countless times before, centuries perhaps.
It all depended on what she wanted to do it for.
The light from her palm shone brighter, illuminating Stella's face until it glowed beneath its force.
The unnatural radiance painted sharp shadows across her features.
Her face glistened with beads of sweat.
James stood frozen, confusion battling uneasiness in his chest. A strange pressure weighed down on him, making it difficult to breathe.
The feeling that things had spiraled out of his control tugged at his heartstrings.
Watching Stella's countenance beneath Achiku's palm, his thoughts raced wildly between expectation and doubt.
