“Ending you.” Lucien says it so haughty, so arrogant, it boils my blood.
Quietly, I move closer.
“But I’m still standing here, so obviously you’ve done something wrong. Wouldn’t you say?” Malik mocks, a nasty smirk on his face.
Lucien growls. “There are-” He doesn’t get to finish his sentence.
My boiling hot blade strikes home.
I slide the blade jammed in his back free. Eyes wide, I shuffle back. Waiting. Ever so slowly Lucien turns. My hands shake and my heart pounds.
I’m scared.
No. I’m terrified.
“Well, that wasn’t very nice little bhria. After all I’ve done for you,” He tuts, looking put out. “Looks like you have been brainwashed by them after all. Father was right.” Lucien tilts his head. “Your lesson starts now.”
Without warning, I fly back.
I smash into the stone walls and drop in a heap.
“Alanna!”
“Get up!”
Their voices melt together. It’s too much. I can’t tell who spoke, nor do I care. My back screams in agony at the contact. My mouth wordlessly screams from the abuse. Distant footsteps taunt me. I shake uncontrollably. I’m sure tears run down my face.
I need to get up.
I’m as good as dead otherwise.
Come on! Get up Alanna. You’re stronger than this!
I push to my feet and cry out. It hurts. The pain is too much. Still, I don’t give in. I’ve survived worse. I can do this.
I manage to get to my feet at last. I wobble, calling up my Firvo without thought. Silver flames wrap around me protectively. I stare wide eyed at the monster creeping closer.
I flinch. I can’t help it. I still don’t know what his affinity is. The panic bubbles. My heart races. My palms sweat. My back bleeds.
Damn it!
My shield of silver flames changes. I startle, eyes wide. Now silver bolts dance off my protective layer. Fire and electricity dance together, protecting me from the madman. As Lucien nears, my shield attacks. It reaches for him in vengeance. Every bolt misses. He creeps closer still.
He lunges.
I dodge. My back screams in pain at the sudden movement. Something drips down my back. My head spins.
“Stay still for your punishment, little bhria,” He snarls nastily.
No matter what I hit him with, He isn’t fazed. A knife wound doesn’t even slow him down.
What the fuck? This isn’t happening. I need to think of something else. But what?
I dodge another attack, just barely this time. My breathing is labored. My head foggy. I won’t last long at this rate. I need to think.
“Remember the weak points!” Malik yells. I glance up, startled. I’d forgotten they were there. My panicked eyes reach his concerned one. “Duck!”
I do.
That was too close. My back drips more.
Lucien whips around. “Shut up, bastard King! I’ll get to you soon.”
I use that moment to blast him with a bomb. This one is mixed with Firvo and Elestal. It slams into his back. He hits the wall a jarring thud. The cavern shakes. Stones and dust settle. Lucien climbs to his feet, unfazed once more.
A bolt grazes my head and I flinch.
Elestal.
“Again, Alanna!”
I duck.
“No, not that!”
Lucien charges once again. I scrape by unharmed. I send another blast his way. It misses. This isn’t working. The panic climbs higher. I fight the hysteria bubbling up.
“Don’t be subtle!”
What the fuck is he talking about? It makes me want to scream. But that takes time. Time I don’t fucking have. I duck as flames come my way.
Shit. Elestal and Firvo.
“I don’t want to hurt you, little bhria. Calm down.” I snarl at his words. “Any more and you’ll get damaged. Someone already tore your wing. You’re bleeding too. Sit and calm down. No need to be angry.” He shuffles closer.
I shuffle back.
He’s crazy. Insane. Mental.
I wince as my back sings.
“Don’t be subtle!” Malik yells for the second time. I don’t spare him a glance. I focus my attention of the madman in front of me.
“Shut up! Shut up! I’ll kill you!” Lucien whips around and screams.
What Malik said hits. Don’t be subtle? The only subtle anything I think of is Mindula. But what use is that in a fight like this. It’s not as if I can melt Lucien’s brain with it.
My eyes widen.
That’s exactly it. Malik told me that pushing through causes unbearable pain to the individual. Unimaginable pain.
I draw up all the energy I have. I don’t worry about being gentle. No. I shove the energy with all my might. I aim for Lucien’s head. For the longest three seconds of my life, nothing happens. Then Lucien turns. Blood oozes from his nose as he stares at me with horror. The sight is haunting. A thing of nightmares because now his eyes bleed. Quick to follow are his ears and mouth.
I scream.
“Why?” Blood splatters from his mouth. His voice is broken. Soft. Confused.
Lost.
Despite it all, my heart clenches.
He collapses and I scream again. Panic controls me. I fling my hands out to protect myself. Silver fire and electricity set his body alight. The smell of burnt flesh is nauseating. I gag. Tears rolling down my cheeks.
A hand grips me from behind. My scream is piercing. Deafening. But still the hand holds firm. The energy I once felt fades away. I’m once again left with that same hollow feeling.
Panic surges and I flail.
“Calm down, Alanna.” The deep voice is slow to register. “It’s me. It’s over. You did it.”
Malik.
He holds me, murmuring incomprehensible words in my ears.
I bury my face in his chest and finally break.
The story will continue in Broken Pieces: A Talnarin Novel Series Book Three. Continue reading for a sneak peek at Chapter 1!
Thank you to all my readers, if you enjoyed this book, please consider leaving an honest review on Amazon and/or Goodreads. Your opinion is important to me and it helps others decide if they want to read this book too!
Broken Pieces
A Talnarin Novel Series Book Three
D.E. Chapman
Chapter 1
Nothing but dark wood greets my eyes.
After everything that happened in that cavern, the group rushed me back to Craforian as quickly as possible.
The rich colors of the guest room are soothing, nothing at all like the sterile feeling of the infirmary. Maybe that’s why they moved me here instead.
It’s funny, I thought I’d feel… differently.
I had expected an overwhelming sense of relief. I’d thought I’d feel… something else.
I don’t even know what I’d expected to feel, really. All I could focus on was ending Lucien. To me, that was all that mattered. That overwhelming need to avenge the ones I love most was my only mission. And somewhere along the line, that mission became more.
It wasn’t just about Lucien anymore. It was about ending all those who followed his ways to protect others from my fate and my family’s fate. It gave me another purpose to reach for in this fractured life I now call mine.
The emotions raging through me the past two days have been so conflicting. Peace rages with fury. Sorrow mingles with elation. Despite completing my mission of killing him, I don’t feel any better. In fact, I feel worse.
There’s no joy in killing.
Even when it’s a madman like Lucien.
All lives hold weight. All lives are their own. Who am I to judge if someone should live or die? It’s highhanded, arrogant.
Playing god is wrong.
It scarred me in a way I didn’t think possible. There’s a mark on my soul forever. I will have to carry this burden with me to the afterlife.
The same question has been on repeat in my head: di
d he need to die?
I’m never going to know that answer, either. A part of me believes it was necessary. Another part pities the life lost.
His look of utter betrayal will haunt me until my dying day. The sight of all that blood… it dug deep. That memory has me in its grip, refusing to let go. Every time I close my eyes, it’s all I see. It unnerves me. Especially when I think about what the future might hold for me.
How many more lives will I take until this chaos ends?
How many more nightmares will I earn?
My memories take me back to two days prior.
I cry as I purge. Purging what, I don’t know. All the while, Malik holds me gently. His arms are like a lifeline around me, safe and comforting.
I don’t know how long we stand there. I’m overly conscience of the stiffening body behind me, overly conscience of the corpse in this cavern.
I’m not sure how that makes me feel.
Malik gently pulls me off and wipes my tears. I stare at nothing, hearing only murmurs. I let myself fall away into beautiful numbness. I allow myself to forget. I’m distantly aware the tears have stopped. My body sags, limbs heavy. My heart and head pound in tandem.
Movement to the side draws my attention. A warm hand clasps my shoulder reassuringly. With a gentle push, my body sags to the ground. I absently grip my legs and press my body against Zeke’s warmth. A second body drops to my other side. Elaine presses close, offering silent comfort.
Kelog silently comes up behind Malik. “I need to look at her wounds.”
Malik doesn’t bother turning around. “No. I’ll do it.” Kelog’s eyes widen but he doesn’t argue. He moves back to stand with the others by the entrance. Malik moves closer and crouches before me. “Alanna, I’m going to look at your back now, alright?”
I don’t respond. I simply stare blankly into his soft golden eyes. Malik takes it as permission. He gets up and moves around me slowly, as if to not frighten me. Zeke and Elaine press in close, offering more of their silent comfort.
From behind me Malik says, “Are you in pain?”
Robotically, I shake my head. I don’t feel the pain anymore. I don’t know if that’s good or bad. I know I should feel something. After all, I am missing a wing. But my body is numb. Just like my thoughts.
Distantly, I hear Malik murmur. “I’m going to numb the pain as best as I can. This will hurt.”
That should terrify me. Scare me. But it doesn’t. His words don’t hit. I feel my body jerk and a faint humming noise fills the air.
Still, I don’t move.
Time passes. I don’t know how much. Eventually, Malik moves in front of me. He crouches there, eyes a soft golden hue.
He’s beautiful. Hauntingly handsome. My heart squeezes painfully at the sight. His eyes are so much like His.
What did I do?
I killed Him.
I hear murmuring once more. I focus harder. “… anna… Alanna.”
My eyes snap back up, when they fell, I don’t know. Malik looks so concerned. I feel like that should concern me.
But it doesn’t.
“Alanna. We’re going to go home now.”
The words are slow to absorb. Home? Where is home? My home is abandoned. Everyone is gone. There is nothing left of my home.
“Do you wish to keep your wing?” My eyes focus once more.
Wing? Which one? Gently Malik cradles a broken silver wing. It’s crumbled and bloody. It looks familiar. I want it. It’s mine now. Absently, I reach for the thing. Expecting to fight for it, my eyes widen slightly when its gently placed in my hand. I grip it tight.
Malik gives me one last long lingering look before moving off. He toes the lump of burnt flesh with open hostility. The sight is surprising. The other four males step forward. “Search the area. Capture any rogues you come across. If there are any survivors, secure them.”
I hear the words, but nothing processes. I have this sense that there’s something important I need to tell them. To warn them about. I just can’t remember what it was.
Then it hits.
I slowly grip Zeke’s arm. Glancing up, I see him look down at me with concern too. Somehow, I manage to find the strength to speak. My voice is low. “They’re waiting outside.”
His brows furrow as he leans closer. “What?”
I mumble the same words again. “They’re waiting outside.”
Zeke’s eyes widen marginally. He keeps his eyes on me and he says, “Malik. There are others waiting for us outside. Ambush.”
I look away as movement from the corner of my eye draws my attention. Three males move quickly, leaving the cave. Only Mikhail remains. He leans over the burnt mass on the stone floor. I hear his words echo, as if I’m in a tunnel.
“He’s dead. His brain essentially exploded.” Mikhail’s voice is filled with awe, like that’s some great accomplishment.
Maybe it is.
“Any personal items on the body?”
Mikhail shakes his head. “No. I’ll check the rest of the cavern to be sure nothing gets left behind.”
“Good. And distinguishing marks on the body?” Malik crosses his arms, face fierce.
“Not that I can tell. If there were, they’re gone now. The body is completely black.” Mikhail rubs his face. “There’s no way to tell anymore.”
“Very well. Go help the others. When you’re done, send word to Craforian. I want the guest room ready upon our return.”
Mikhail leaves quickly.
Malik crouches in front of me once more. I don’t remember him moving closer. How odd. He’s talking. I don’t know what he says but his voice is soft. Kind.
It’s soothing.
My eyes close. I lean forward, head against a warm chest. Arms wrap around me. A hand soothes the hair from my face. I don’t want to move.
I feel safe.
I shake free from the memory. Breathing deep, I push the remnants away, not wanting to delve deeper.
That was the last I remember. I must have passed out or fallen asleep. When I awoke, I was lying in the guest room alone. I had a feeling there were people nearby, but they were giving me space.
I was thankful. It gave me a chance to purge without an audience.
I cried until exhaustion swept me up once more.
There’s more to come. I feel it in my gut that I’ve only tipped the scales in this conflict. Whatever’s coming will be huge. I’ve got more hybrids to find. He claimed I was the first, but I’m by no means the last.
That I believe.
If I drew the right conclusion, then I’m more closely tied to Lucien than I first thought too.
“I made her. She’s perfect because of me. I altered her DNA with mine.” He stares hard at Malik, unflinching. “She belongs to me. No one can take her from me. Not even Father.”
No. It wasn’t his DNA that altered me. There’s no way. I’m nothing like that monster. Nothing like that madman. I refuse to believe it. It’s too much to think about.
I shake it off.
Who is this Father? I just need to find this Father, whoever he is. From the sounds of it, he’s an important figure, one with a key role in this game. Why was Lucien so insistent Malik knew him?
The more I uncover, the more questions I have. Lucien mentioned something about a cousin too.
Whoever’s running this show isn’t going to stop anytime soon. This leader has a plan. I just need to find out what it is. And if Lucien’s insane babbling can be taken seriously, then I have yet another matter to resolve now.
The King.
Looks like Malik and I need to have another talk.
I huff out an angry breath.
It’s too much. I’m sick of thinking. Tired of analyzing. I’m done. I need a distraction. Staring the walls for two days is slowly driving me to insanity. Not to mention, lying on my side for those two days is aggravating.
My back is still numb. Whatever pain medication they gave me is strong.
A little too strong.
/>
My limbs still feel heavy, making it hard to move. But at the offset of the searing pain I could be feeling instead, I’ll take the heavy limbs any day.
A knock on the door draws me from my thoughts. I ignore it. I don’t want to talk or see anyone. I just want to be left alone until I can come to grips with everything that happened. I have no idea how long that will take but I need it regardless.
Whoever is out in the hallway is persistent. The knocking continues. It grates of my last nerve.
I’ve gotten lucky the last two days. I haven’t had to see many people since I’ve been back. Food is always on the end table waiting for me when I wake up. Although Freya has been in and out periodically, checking my wounds, she’s quiet. Even though she talks to me at times, asking questions of my heath and such, I remain silent. Only nodding or shaking my head in response to a direct question.
Freya said my wing will grow back. That’s good. At least I won’t have to worry about exploding from too much energy inside me. She said they’ll grow back before I know it. When that will be, who knows.
The knock disturbs my thoughts again. I nearly growl in irritation. I’m determined to ignore it. Eventually the person outside will get the hint.
I can only hope.
The door creaks open behind me. I scowl deeply, hoping they’ll drop the food and leave quickly. I don’t bother to turn. Instead I lay still, pretending to sleep.
Weight sinks at the foot of the bed.
“The first kill is always hard to bear.” The familiar voice is quiet, thoughtful.
I huff, the only outwardly sign I heard him.
“It takes a toll on you. Sleepless nights. Flashes of the past. The constant doubts in your head. Even when you do fall asleep, all you see is nightmares. There’s no sense of peace for what you did.” Malik’s voice is low and soft. Understanding.
It grates of my nerves. I snap out, “It’s not my first and it’s certainly not my last.” Still I don’t turn.
“I never said it was your first. I just said it’s hard to take.” I huff out an irritated breath. “There’s the assumption that the first kill is the hardest to bear. But the second is just as bad, if not worse.” I find myself listening intently despite it all. “As the tally of dead pile up behind you, the nightmares occur more frequently. The sleepless nights consume you.”
Spilt Secrets (A Talnarin Novel Book 2) Page 21
