The Legacy Series, #1
Rain of Shadows and Endings
by Melissa K. Roehrich
Contents
15. Tessa
Overview
Tessa’s enforced training is interrupted when Legacy agents Metias and Pavil attempt to extract her to a meeting. Warned by Axel, Tessa escapes and, under duress, unleashes a shocking earth-rending power that summons golden spectral warriors. She evades capture with aid from Theon’s wolf and hides in the stables, exposing new threats within Arius House and her latent abilities.
Summary
Before dawn, Theon forces Tessa into a second day of running; Axel helps her stretch and gifts earbuds, planning to set up music on her phone. When two Legacy men, Metias and Pavil, arrive claiming Theon and Valter want Tessa at a meeting, Axel’s demeanor turns deadly as he stalls them and quietly texts Tessa to run when Theon does not answer.
Tessa escapes barefoot via the balcony trellis, cutting her hands and wrenching an ankle as Metias and Pavil give chase. The bond to Theon tightens painfully as she flees through the gardens. Cornered on the path, the men threaten to “correct her manners” under Valter’s authority and grab her, but Tessa fights back, then, in panic, slams her palms to the ground.
The earth cracks open with gold-lit mist, and identical pale, translucent warriors glide up, drawing golden swords and crossing the rift toward the Legacy men. Seizing the moment, Tessa runs, the storm rising around her and the bond constricting her chest. A black Arius wolf confronts her, then deliberately guides her toward the stables.
The wolf forces open a rear door, howls, and departs as Metias and Pavil close in. Tessa hides inside a stall with a massive black horse that unexpectedly shields her from view. The men, unnerved by the summoned beings and the hound, decide to report to Valter and leave.
Alone, shaking and in pain, Tessa is comforted by the horse as she processes that she manifested a devastating, unknown power and that enemies within Arius House were ready to take her without Theon’s consent.
Who Appears
- Tessa (Tessalyn Ausra)Flees an attempted seizure, instinctively rips the earth open, summoning golden specters; hides in the stables, injured and terrified.
- Axel AriusAssists Tessa’s training; gifts earbuds; confronts Metias and Pavil and covertly warns Tessa to run.
- MetiasLegacy agent who tries to retrieve Tessa under Valter’s authority; chases and threatens her before retreating.
- PavilLegacy agent accompanying Metias; presses Axel and pursues Tessa; rattled by summoned specters and the wolf.
- Theon AriusAbsent at a meeting; his bond’s pain pressures Tessa during escape; his protective reputation deters the agents.
- Theon’s wolfBlack hound that intercepts Tessa, then guides her safely to the stables and buys her time.
- Black stallionMassive horse in the stall that shields and calms Tessa as she hides.
- Valter AriusReferenced power behind the order; allegedly sanctioned the agents to ‘correct’ Tessa’s manners.