The void didn't care about the age of its prey. It only cared about the heat of the blood and the fire of the soul.
As I channeled the gray, translucent wave of anti-magic toward the burning ceiling to choke out the fire, the vacuum demanded an anchor. I felt the cold, oily tethers of my power lash out and latch onto the nearest source of pure, vibrant life.
It was the little boy standing just outside the tent flap.
I felt the connection click in my chest like a lock falling into place. Instantly, the little boy's high-pitched coughing stopped. A sound of pure, choked agony replaced it.
I watched, paralyzed by the horrific efficiency of my own power, as the child’s small chest seized. His skin didn't just turn gray; it began to wither, tightening over his small ribs as his life force w
