The Drowned Gods, #2
Stranger Skies
by Pascale Lacelle
Contents
Chapter 13: Romie
Overview
As Emory channels ley-line power, Romie weakens and realizes Emory is siphoning her magic—a tidethief. Mrs. Amberyl forcibly severs Emory’s connection, halting a potential Collapse. The demon’s hold on Bryony breaks, but Bryony falls with clear yet unseeing eyes, leaving the coven shaken and trust strained.
Summary
In the aftermath of Emory seizing ley-line power, Romie staggers, overcome by dizziness, nausea, and a draining weakness that feels like her blood—and magic—are being pulled from her. The coven’s chaos mounts around them: witches scream and the demon within Bryony cries out in pain.
Romie tries to call to Emory but can barely speak. Silver lines ripple through Emory’s veins as her power swells without triggering a Collapse. As Romie fades, she understands the cause: Emory is leeching magic from her—proof that Emory is a tidethief.
Before the surge can continue, Mrs. Amberyl wrenches Emory off the ley line. The silver fades from Emory’s skin, the magic quiets, and Romie’s draining sensation ends, leaving her exhausted but conscious and reeling from the realization about Emory.
In the same moment, Aspen screams as Bryony drops to the ground. Bryony’s eyes are their normal color again—suggesting the demon’s hold has broken—but they stare blankly, unseeing. The immediate threat recedes, yet the cost is stark: Emory’s forbidden siphoning is exposed, and Bryony lies senseless, her fate uncertain.
Who Appears
- Romie (Emory)Point-of-view; nearly faints as Emory siphons her magic; realizes Emory is a tidethief.
- EmoryChannels ley-line power; unknowingly drains Romie’s magic; exposed as a tidethief; halted by Mrs. Amberyl.
- Mrs. AmberylIntervenes decisively, pulling Emory off the ley line and stopping the siphoning.
- AspenWitnesses the aftermath and screams as Bryony collapses, signaling the break in possession.
- BryonyFormerly possessed; the demon’s hold breaks; collapses with clear but unseeing eyes.
- Demon possessing BryonyEmits pained cries as Emory’s surge peaks; presence appears to lift when Bryony falls.