Free My Merlin Awakening by Priya Ardis Page A

his back.
    “I saw that .” He stepped out into the hallway.
    A fireball flew straight at him.
    “Matt!” I cried and threw myself in front of him. There was barely enough room for the two of us in the tight space. Matt let out a stream of blue magic to deflect it, but part of the fireball slammed into my side. My skin burned. I let out a scream and dropped Excalibur.
    “Ryan!” Matt caught me as I fell backwards.
    Another fireball whizzed down the hallway at us. Matt deflected this one back to whoever shot it. Three shadowy figures stood at the end of the hallway, just past the door leading out of it. They sidestepped the fireball and let it hit a wall behind them. The whole house shook from the impact. Flames spread, greedily devouring the delicate, hundred-year old paneling. One of the figures let loose a wave of purple magic that hit the fire-laden wall and the flames doused. Two figures ran forward. One stayed behind at the door, protecting their back.
    Matt raised his hand with a spinning fireball in it.
    “You’ll set this whole tinderbox on fire and bring it down on us,” one of figures said. He stepped into the light.
    “Oliver,” Matt said grimly.
    “Merlin.” Oliver glanced at me. His lips curled with cruel satisfaction. “If nothing else, it will be worth my while to see her suffer.”
    Pain threatened to blind me, but I forced my eyes to focus. Matt held me close to him. Excalibur lay between the gargoyles and us.
    “What will you choose, Merlin?” Oliver taunted. “Save the girl or save the sword?”
    The other gargoyle took a step toward the sword. Matt tried to grab Excalibur, floating it in the air. Oliver held up an amulet and battled him for it. The sword zigzagged back and forth between us. The burn at my side intensified and I gasped. Matt’s hold on the sword slipped.
    The other gargoyle beside Oliver grabbed Excalibur. “We got it!”
    In a blink, Matt put me on the ground and stepped over me. I barely felt it. I barely felt anything. The burning pain on my side obliterated any other sensation. He raised both hands at the gargoyle. A brilliant blue light emanated from Matt and focused like a laser at the gargoyle. The gargoyle exploded into a million little bits.
    Excalibur flew back into Matt’s hands. With a drained sigh, Matt sank to his knees.
    Oliver’s face transformed. His beast came out. Forehead and fangs extended. He held up a sword and pulled back to take a swing. “Your turn, Merlin.”
    A gurgle came from the other gargoyle further down the hallway. Oliver turned his head to see a sword go through the other gargoyle’s stomach. Matt waved his palm. Oliver’s sword flew out of his hand. Matt sank down further until he sat on the ground. Oliver cursed.
    “Looking for some help, gargoyle? Because I’m afraid it has been delayed… permanently.” Vane’s voice traveled down the tight hallway. He whispered a word and low lights flared on inside the hallway. Even partially hidden behind Matt, I could see Vane’s sword dripping with blood. “I believe I counted six. No seven, including this one.” With his foot, he shoved the third gargoyle, now lying headless on the floor, into a corner of the hallway.
    Oliver made a sound of frustration. With a final look at Excalibur, he ran into the kitchen right past us. Vane started to run after him.
    “Vane!” Matt said. “Ryan’s hurt.”
    Through bleary eyes, I saw his face peer over Matt. He said, “Dammit, Merlin, you were supposed to take care of her.”
    From beyond the kitchen, we heard a blast somewhere in the shop. The other guardians burst into the hallway.
    “Go after the gargoyle,” Vane yelled at the guardians, pointing at the kitchen. The guardians thundered past him. Vane crossed Matt to kneel beside me. In the dim light, the grave lines of his face deepened. His fingers shook as he checked my pulse. “Still strong. Let’s see what kind of trouble you’ve gotten into, Dorothy.”
    “It’s just a