Immortal Stonekeeper (2022) Chapter 18: Chapter 18: Unstoppable Force

Read chapter 18 of Immortal Stonekeeper (2022) by Mercynarie on NovelPedia.

The moon took the form of a bulbous, silver circle against a dark canvas as a thick haze muffled its glow. Dim yellow specks of light from the street lamps took over its role and illuminated the empty road leading up to a large building. Three figures materialised from the shadows in the middle of the road. “Why do we always have to do this at night?” Jonathan grumbled while Lucy literally pulled a cloak out of thin air. She covered a shivering Anya and supported her as they walked along the pavement. “It amplifies my powers,” Lucy replied simply as Anya opened the inviting gates of First Baptist Church. Jonathan followed her, walking into the chapel. “Hey, what’s wrong? Come in, Lucy.” He turned back to Lucy, who was still standing outside the building with a nervous look on her face. “‘I… Alright.” She closed her eyes and placed her foot testily on the chapel floor. The black tattoos on her arm glowed slightly in response as she let out a loud exhale of relief. “Not dead yet.” Her footsteps echoed around loudly. “Glad to see Gelfant’s work is as good as his father’s.” “Oh dear, I sure hope we’re not too late.” Anya looked around the empty church with a worried look. “No, we’re not.” Lucy’s eyes were glowing red again. “No blood has been spilled in this place yet. But I sense faint traces of lingering magic. Search the place for anything out of the ordinary.” “On it,” Jonathan said as the world slowed down around him and his companions turned into statues. He darted around the amphitheatre, checking under every chair and pillar. It was not like he had ever been to church before, but this place had as many people as a typical modern church after Sunday service. The speedster gave up searching two seconds later and returned to his companions. “I can’t find anything,” Jonathan shook his head. “Is there anything in particular we should look out for?” “Pardon me, but is that statue supposed to be shining like that?” Anya asked curiously, pointing at the podium. Lucy and Jonathan turned to the direction she was pointing at. Moonlight poured in from the painted glass windows, and the wings of a marble Seraphim shimmered in return. A look of realisation crossed Lucy’s face. “Magic revealed by moonlight… Duncan created a waypoint!” Lucy said excitedly as they rushed to the statue mounted on the speaker’s podium. “Well done, girl! All we need to do now is feed it a spark of magic to reopen the gateway.” “Can I try?” Jonathan asked eagerly as a small spark of electricity left his fingers. It connected with the Seraphim’s wings and danced around the statue. He stared in awe as the wings began to move and spread themselves open as if the statue were alive. A small circle of light from its back exploded violently, and the trio scrambled backwards. It expanded into a man-sized rectangular portal, yawning into darkness. “No time to waste. Let’s go.” Lucy stepped into Duncan’s portal. ~ ~ ~ “Motus Prohibere!” The man froze in mid-air, struck by a yellow beam of light. A fist swung down on his face as his body tumbled and crashed back onto the ground. He groaned, slowly getting to his knees and clasped his wrinkled hands together. “Too late to say your prayers, Paul!” Duncan snarled and kicked the side of his head. The old man fell to the ground, groaning loudly in pain. The vengeful man lifted him and slammed him onto a wooden table. “You think your soul is saved just because you repented your sins?” Duncan bellowed, spit flying onto the pastor’s bruised face. “You think I’ll just let you go ?” He shoved him back onto the table and reached into his coat. Duncan’s eyes glinted with gleeful madness as he twirled a purplish black pill in his fingers. “Do you know what this is? Of course, you don’t, mortal. This is an elixir of life that will only keep you alive, no matter what happens to your body.” The witch doctor laughed sadistically. “You are going to suffer. For eternity. Your soul is going to decay painfully forever.” He gritted his teeth