The Pariah Child- Sarafina's Return

by Natasha D Lane

  Along the edge of the monstrous rock was a split in the stone. Almost like a jagged smile.

  Sarah held her fear in her stomach and sat up right as they came in for the landing. Without a pause, Ree placed Beaker gently on the ground while the others followed behind.

  Klara still had her eyes closed when she landed. She had gripped the elf in front of her so tightly a strain had started in his neck. He looked to Sarah. She gave him a small smile before stepping from Beaker and tapping the dwarf’s shoulder.

  Klara parted her eyes ever so slightly.

  “We’re here. You can, uh, release him now.”

  “Huh?” She glanced up, then immediately unlocked her arms from around her rider. The veins in his neck relaxed.

  Klara sent him an apologetic grin. “Sorry. I forget my own strength sometimes.”

  Jacob and Skuntz’s birds arrived next. Soon, the four of them stood on the beach with their rucksacks piled high and wearing their winter clothes.

  Sarah flexed her shoulders. Because the pain was still there, Jacob still carried some of her load. But she felt much better than she had when they first moved north. Kerem was definitely a miracle worker.

  Beaker and the other birds shivered. Their chests puffed in and out as they tapped their talons in the sand.

  Ree sighed. “I think it’s time to say farewell. They’re getting restless. We’ll return in one day.”

  “Thank you, Ree,” Sarah replied. “You all have been very kind to us.”

  “Of course! It’s not every day a sky elf comes across a forest elf, a dwarf, an angel, and a human traveling together, now is it?”

  “Not at all,” Jacob replied. “Thank you for not feeding me to Beaker.”

  “You’re welcome,” she said before turning to Skuntz. “Take care, cousin. Panu will be very upset if you die.”

  “I’ll try not to. Let’s head out.”

  They said their final farewells, the elves took to the sky, and the group turned toward Esmer. Sarah could feel the shared moment as they all took a collective breath, then followed Skuntz deeper into the island.

  With no map or hint of how the island was laid out, it was up to Skuntz and Klara to do the tracking. Jacob had wanted to take to the sky for a better view but the island’s chill kept his wings tucked away.

  Standing on the sand, Sarah hadn’t felt too much of the cold. Yet, as they made their way around, the temperature dropped quickly. Her breath began to form mist and her exposed fingers would have gone numb if she hadn’t placed them beneath her cloak.

  The others around her panted, leaving their own ringlets of breath in the air. Aside from the large rocks at the island’s center and a few hills, most of Esmer was flat. Leafless trees with grey bark surrounded them along with stiff patches of grass. There were no flowers, fruits, or vegetables. The sun’s light waned as they traveled.

  “I don’t think there are any signs of Ellen or Emma,” Jacob whispered, walking beside Sarah.

  She turned to respond but realized he wasn’t speaking to her. Jacob’s gaze lay ahead on Skuntz.

  The elf looked upward and to the left, not meeting Jacob’s stare. “None that I’ve seen,” Skuntz replied. “Klara?”

  She shook her head. “If they are here, they haven’t arrived recently. Any tracks they may have left are likely gone.”

  “Could you try reaching out with your magic, Sarah?”

  She shrugged. “I doubt I can cover the entire island but I’ll see.”

  Sarah came to a halt before placing her rucksack on the ground. She wiggled her arms and legs while her friends waited. Taking a deep breath, Sarah cleared her mind. She allowed that clarity to move through her muscles and relax them. As the stress eased, her magic pooled out from her.

  Sarah urged it forward, dispatching her energy in every direction.

  Where are you two?

  She could feel the island, feel the trees and rocks pulsing with their unique vibrations. But there was nothing else.

  Opening her eyes, she groaned.

  “Anything?” Skuntz asked. His stare was hopeful.

  “I’m sorry,” she replied. “It seems to be only us on this island.”

  There was a collective droop in everyone’s shoulders.

  Without looking, Sarah grabbed her rucksack and placed it on her back. Immediately, her supplies tumbled to the ground. She had picked the sack up by the wrong end.

  Gnashing her teeth together, she fought back another groan.

  “Here, let me help you.”

  “No, it’s fine. I just wasn’t thinking…”

  Skuntz had already kneeled down and was scooping items into his arms. He slanted his brows as Sarah stopped mid-sentence.

  “What is it?”

  She shot to her feet and met their bewildered stares. “We’re not thinking.”

  Their only response was to blink.

  “We’re not thinking,” she repeated. “Not how Ellen and Emma would. Even if they arrived yesterday, they would never be foolish enough to leave a trail for someone to follow them.”

  “And if they did leave a trail, it would lead to a trap.” Skuntz pinched his eyes. “How could I have been so stupid?”

  Klara hmphed. “Don’t be too hard on yourself. If these twins are anything like what the other dwarves told me, they’re not exactly predictable.”

  Thrusting her palms outward, eyes wide and round, Sarah shouted, “Yes! If we’re going to find Ellen and Emma, we have to think like them. We can’t be logical.”

  Jacob tapped his chin. He moved his gaze to the mountain.

  “So, if I were a traveler here looking for shelter, where would I go?” He pointed to the curved rock. “There’s likely to be caves there where I could rest.”

  “Meaning they aren’t at the island’s center,” Skuntz replied. “That still leaves an entire island for us to search.”

  Sarah shook her head. “Not if we think about the worst option. Where would a traveler never go to seek shelter here?”

  The elf shrugged. “The shore? There’s nothing except rocks, sand, and saltwater. And when the tide comes in any shelter would be destroyed.”

  “Bo and Kwe said witches are supposed to be challenged during these quests,” said Sarah. “They’d stay on the rockiest part of the shore where there’s nothing to help them.”

  “When we were flying in, it looked like the eastern shore was covered in pebbles.” Skuntz turned to the others.

  They all nodded.

  “East we go then.” Klara grinned.

  Chapter 21

  “Well, if they’re here, they’re doing a great job at hiding.”

  Klara kicked at a small rock. It was one among many that rested across the shore.

  Skuntz stood opposite her, staring at the land in front of him. He kneeled down, picked up a pebble, then tossed it into the woods. “Ellen and Emma aren’t always logical. That doesn’t mean they’re foolish.” Sighing, he placed his palm where the pebble had been. “They would find a way to survive.”

  “But where?” Jacob asked.

  Sarah stood beside the elf. “I agree with Skuntz. I think here is our best option. If they’re not here, maybe they’ve left a hint of where they’ve gone.”

  Klara scratched her head. “I have an idea but I’m not sure it will work.”

  “Anything is worth a shot at this point,” Skuntz said, rising to his full height. “What are you thinking?”

  “Hm. I’ve never done it with pieces of stone this small. I could try humming and see how the sound echoes.”

  “How will that help?”

  “If the sound comes back flat, that means the stones are weighed down,” Klara replied. “Maybe these two are lying somewhere along the shore we can’t see. Or there’s a marker we’re missing.”

  Skuntz looked at Sarah.

  She nodded. “Like he said, it’s a worth a try. How can we help?”

  “You can’t,” said Klara. “Give me some space, please. And time
.”

  Klara bent down. She placed one hand on the stone and the other on her chest. Unlike before, the humming did not start low with a gradual build. No, instead Klara began from a higher pitch, expanding the volume as the song continued.

  The pebbles around them trembled. Sarah held her breath, and Skuntz leaned toward her. She looked up at him.

  “She can do it,” he whispered.

  Sarah nodded and tried to force those words into her heart. She doubted anything else would calm it.

  Skuntz grabbed her hand and squeezed. His own hand dwarfed hers, and as quickly as he had taken hold of hers, he released it. Trails of warmth along Sarah’s palm followed his departure.

  The idea of calm became foreign. Her heart thumped in her chest so hard, for a moment she worried it would disturb Klara.

  Her eyes were locked on Skuntz though she knew he was purposefully looking away.

  Why did he grab her hand? And, more importantly, why did Sarah enjoy it?

  The humming stopped. Klara rubbed her throat and cleared it a few times before speaking.

  “Follow me.” Her voice was raspy. She reached into her sack for some water, then made her way west along the shore.

  They had only walked for a few yards when Klara dropped to her knees and began rummaging through the small stones.

  “The sound reflected from here was odd. I’m not sure what it is.”

  Jacob turned all around them. “Where’s here exactly?”

  She sighed, and tossed her orange hair back. “This portion of the beach. Start from where I am and keep moving outward. Any questions?”

  Obeying her instructions, they began grabbing at any rock they could. Sarah had only gone a few feet when the sound of sliding stone pulled her attention. She looked behind her and gawked as she took in the scene.

  Jacob was on his knees, arms spread wide open. The surprise on his face was the equivalent of Sarah’s. A perfectly square hole and its top lay in front of him.

  Klara rushed over. “This was the odd sound. This is why these rocks didn’t echo like the others.”

  The dwarf continued examining the tunnel while Sarah broke from her spell and found her footing. Three stones were in the shape of a triangle and had been attached to a slab on the land. This slab opened up into the tunnel that Sarah found herself staring down.

  Jacob sat back on his knees. “Well, I think we’ve found them.”

  A breeze blew in from the tunnel and chilled Sarah’s face. She balled her fists.

  “We don’t have time to waste.” Sarah turned her palm upward and a small flame appeared. She lowered the flame into the darkness until the space was illuminated. There was no ladder or rope but small holds had been carved out. Sarah only needed to make the trip a little easier.

  She slammed her free hand and called to the earth.

  Nothing happened.

  Sarah tried again, hoping to form steps for them to walk down. The earth remained stagnant and the flame vanished from her hands.

  “What’s happening?” she asked, staring at her palms. Her hands shook and her heart raced while she tried to comprehend the element’s response.

  I can’t use my magic. I can’t…no, no, no!

  Spinning on her knees, Sarah shot her hand out and called to the stones surrounding them. Instantaneously, they began zooming through the air.

  She shook her head. “What?”

  “Sarah.”

  She looked behind her at Skuntz, who was staring at her straight in the face. His own face held no emotion aside from his brows being slightly raised.

  “You still have magic. Ellen and Emma must have cast a spell to prevent magic usage,” he replied. His gaze fell on her still raised arm. “You can lower that now, you know.”

  Humiliation slapped her on the cheek and Sarah knew a rosy red was showing. She took in a sharp breath, then got to her feet.

  “Where are you going?” Jacob called after her.

  She didn’t respond. Instead, she snapped several branches from the nearest tree and started making a fire. Her father had shown her how to do it once and she prayed she remembered his instructions. The only other option was to stumble around the tunnel blind. That didn’t seem smart on a mysterious island.

  Sarah intently focused on her task. Once the first spark caught and the flame was large enough, she used her cloak to grab the largest branch. Still averting her gaze and after dousing the flame in water, Sarah marched toward the tunnel again and began making her way down.

  The others rose from where they had been sitting while waiting for her to finish. They climbed behind her with Klara bringing up the rear. Skuntz was just behind Sarah.

  She tightened her hold on the branch. The thought of not having her magic, even for a moment, frightened her. She had panicked.

  Skuntz walked next to her. “I wasn’t trying to embarass you, Sarah,” he whispered.

  She released a slow breath. “I know. That doesn’t make my reaction any less embarrassing.”

  “If I woke up one day and forgot how to shoot an arrow, I would react the same way.”

  “But it’s different…with me.” She sighed. “Please, pretend it didn’t happen, that we even had this conversation.”

  He was quiet. Sarah was certain he was rolling his eyes.

  Finally, lowering his voice, Skuntz said, “ We’re all here with you. You’re not alone is all I wanted to tell you.”

  Slowing down, the elf found his way behind Sarah once more.

  “You’re not alone.”

  No, she wasn’t, which was both a problem and a solution.

  Shadows crossed over one another in the space ahead. The tunnel ended and instead they were all standing in a circular room. In its center was what looked to be a well. Beyond that, there were two large rectangular tombs made of stone. Torches lined the wall.

  Sarah gulped.

  Skuntz moved first, making his way to the right container and pushing the top off. He gasped.

  “Ellen?”

  Sarah’s heart skipped a beat. She raced to where he stood and came face-to-face with one half of her old friend. She didn’t have the braids from years before. Her hair was shorter and had grown outward, looming over her head like a crown.

  “How do you know which one she is?” Klara asked.

  Skuntz pulled the twin into his arms and raised her up.

  “Her hair,” he replied. “She had cut it into this style last I saw her.”

  Beautiful colored flowers were strewn through her hair. She wore a long black dress, which glistened with water droplets from her container.

  Sarah cupped Ellen’s cheek.

  “She’s warm.”

  “Why aren’t they waking up?” Skuntz stared around for an answer.

  Sarah moved to the other tomb and, with Jacob’s help, lifted the lid. Like Ellen, Emma rested inside. They were exactly identical aside from their hairstyles. Where Ellen had her hair growing out, Emma had cut hers short, so there was little hair on top.

  But their skin was still the same beautiful brown. They were taller. Their faces and frames had thinned since Sarah last saw them.

  She shook Emma. Her friend did not respond.

  “Something’s moving beneath us,” Klara said. She looked at the ground.

  “Is it the water hitting the island?” Jacob asked.

  Klara shook her head. “No. It’s only in this one room. Wait, I think I—”

  “I hear it, too.” Skuntz placed Ellen back in the water. He stepped away from his friends and peered around them.

  “A hissing?” asked Klara.

  He nodded. Cupping his ear, Skuntz followed the sound until he stood in the middle of the room by the well. The hissing grew louder. The water in the well sloshed.

  Sarah gripped the rim. She could feel them coming, two of whatever they were. But they were moving slowly, like something was holding them back.

  The dark water illuminated. The grey, worn faces of two sirens appeared.

>   The creatures hissed under the water, but when they touched its surface they suddenly pulled their hands back, shrinking away.

  The sirens turned to one another, their heads dropping as one nursed her injured hand. Then, they looked up again, before gaping their mouths open toward the surface. The hissing ceased, replaced by a low, dreary tune.

  Sarah and the others covered their ears, hoping to avoid the sirens’ spell. But nothing happened.

  Jacob glanced at Sarah. She shook her head.

  “Their song isn’t affecting us, “ Klara said, staring into the well. “It’s changing the water.”

  Splashes of what looked like black ink appeared on the water’s surface. The splotches of ink danced around one another, twisting and turning until they formed words.

  Two Lies,

  One Truth,

  You Decide,

  Drink the Water and Face Them.

  “They’re testing us.” Skuntz shot the unconscious twins a glare. He huffed and turned back to the well. “They must have set the spells up as a precaution, then put themselves to sleep.”

  “Do you think this is the only way to wake them?” Jacob added.

  Skuntz bobbed his head with a sigh. “They never make anything easy.”

  “But who should drink?”

  “All of us,” stated Klara. “We don’t know if they want all of us to drink or just one, so better not to chance it.”

  Sarah gulped. “Fine then.”

  She scooped up the water and slurped it into her mouth. A salty, bitter taste coated her tongue. Her throat felt tight. She coughed in an attempt to clear it but it only grew tighter. Then, the room became fuzzy. Her friends were frozen in place. A blackness creeped along the edges of her vision, expanding outward, slowly blinding her. Slowly erasing her friends from her sight until she saw nothing.

  Sarah’s heart was pounding as she closed her eyes and balled her fists at her sides. Had she been fooled? Had she lost her vision forever?

  Panic made her take several rapid breaths. Her chest moved like ocean waves with the effort.

  She wouldn’t know unless she looked.