by M. A. Roth
I try hard not to move a muscle as a guard walks past us. Tristan rises slowly and pulls the guard behind the bushes where he knocks him out. He has him disarmed before we can blink an eye. The man’s limp body lies on the dirt. I gawk at Tristan; he meets my stare with a fierce gaze as a muscle tenses in his jaw. Then he returns to scanning the area. I can hear low moans to the right as Kiar and Morrick pick off another guard. All ten are disarmed or dead within a few minutes.
It is frightening to think Tristan could remove someone within seconds. I shiver with this knowledge. We’re still twenty feet from the hut, but there is no growth around. If we move into the opening, we could be picked off one by one. Tristan moves towards me slowly, still on his haunches. We’re all behind a large cluster of bushes. Once he’s near he grabs my wrist roughly. “Listen to me. You stay here and don’t move.”
When I go to protest, he puts pressure on my wrist. The pain runs through me; it feels like my wrist will snap. I bite the inside of my mouth to stop from crying out; blood soaks my tongue.
“I mean it, Sarajane.” He meets my eyes. There is a wildness in his. He reduces the pressure and I pull my arm away. I swallow the blood in my mouth and then regret it as my stomach churns.
“You think inflicting pain on people is the only way to get them to do what you say.” It seems that way to me.
He grins, but it is unsettling. “It is the only way to control you.”
A door slams, drawing our attention to the hut as two guards are walking towards where we are hiding. “Where is Cura? He should have reported back fifteen minutes ago.” They walk past us.
“Stay here,” Tristan says and leaves soundlessly. Seconds feel like minutes. Neve hasn’t moved at all. Then I hear a small groan, then another. Tristan slides back in as if he never moved. That leaves three. We sit there, hoping someone else will leave and hopefully we can just walk in and get Jessica. No such luck. No one comes out. Tristan creeps on his belly over to Morrick and Kiar, leaving Neve and me. I grab Neve’s hand and we see in the hut, only three guards are left. I look around the room for another door or window, but there is only one way in and out. Jessica is freshly cut along her forehead. Blood runs into her swollen eye.
I want to kill them all.
Then I am just hovering above Neve and me. Why am I not going back to my body? I look around. Nothing? I can see leaves fall behind us. My eyes shoot up and my heart stops beating. There has to be thirty men in the trees, watching us. Then I am back beside Neve. He is pale. The only advantage we have is they don’t know we know they are there. We both crawl over to the rest.
Tristan turns to me. “What are you doing?”
I grab his arm, digging my nails in. He doesn’t even flinch. “In the trees. Men. Maybe thirty,” I whisper in his ear. He acts calm, which makes me wonder if he even heard me. I pull his arm again.
“Aim high,” he says. I’m unsure what he means and then it sinks in. Mirium told Tristan to aim high before we left for Eden Forest. Before I can say more, leaves and men rain from the trees, but they’ve lost the element of surprise. Neve, Kiar, Morrick and Tristan are on their feet and make a circle around me as they fight. I stand on shaky legs. Tristan, who is fighting two men, roars at me to get back down. I do just as an arrow cuts off a lock of my hair and whizzes past Neve’s shoulder. I stay low, taking deep breaths to try to calm myself. A man falls at Tristan’s feet, but he has no head. I close my eyes, blocking out the horror. This isn’t real, this isn’t real, I repeat to myself.
CHAPTER TWENTY
SARAJANE
Neve’s scream makes my eyes shoot open. An arrow is embedded in his shoulder, but it doesn’t slow him down, he keeps fighting.
“Get back into the forest,” Tristan commands while dragging me by the arm. They move in a full circle until the trees surround us thickly. Tristan grabs me and pulls me against a tree, saying nothing at first. I peep out. There are only three men left fighting Kiar and Morrick. So we’ve won.
Tristan draws my face back to him, making me meet his eyes. “Listen, this time I really need you to stay here.” His eyes are pleading with me, making me feel bad.
“Or else?” I ask boldly.
“I don’t want there to be an or else. Just do this for me.”
I hold my breath. I’m taken aback by the sincerity in his voice. “We’re winning, Tristan.”
He rests his arm against the tree alongside my head. “That was only ten so there are still twenty left, and if you haven’t noticed, they have a distinct advantage.” He doesn’t say anything else, just stares at me intently, sending my heart rate into overdrive. My feelings towards Tristan are jumbled and confusing. He touches my cheek so gently, running his thumb down my face. “For me,” he whispers and then he’s gone and I’m left breathless. I look around the tree. He has withdrawn his bow and arrow, aiming into the trees. Men scream as they crash to the ground.
Neve and Kiar have taken to the trees while Morrick battles on the ground. My hands tighten around the dagger as I wait. The screams of men dying are starting to grind on me and then I hear a scream that I recognise. When I look out, Neve is on his knees, blood pouring out of a stub-all that is left of his arm. I can see his arm a foot from him. The guard raises his sword again, and I run with everything in me and jump on his back. He tries to throw me off, but I stick my dagger into his neck. He falls to his knees. I plunge the dagger three more times until he’s motionless. My hands and clothes are soaked in blood. Neve collapses on the ground. He’s losing too much blood. I tear my tunic along the bottom and wrap it tightly around his stub to slow down the bleeding. “Stay with me,” I say while tying it as tightly as I can.
A blade is placed at my throat. “Get up,” a guard orders and pulls me against him as he turns to the fighting scene before us. “Surrender or I kill her!” the guard roars.
The sounds of battle stop as Morrick and Kiar drop their weapons almost immediately. Kiar’s eyes go straight to Neve; a look of anguish crosses his face. Tristan drops from a tree. He is breathing heavy. He told me not to move, and I disobeyed him again, his eyes tell me.
“Drop your weapon, Tristan,” the guard says while pushing the blade harder against my skin. Tristan throws down his bow and arrow. “Move to the clearing.”
We nearly won; there are only five men left. Neve is left lying on the ground, but he’s unconscious. The door opens and the remaining guards leave the hut. One stands out from the rest. He has a bald head and is a large man, but there is a look of savagery and cruelty about him. He claps his hands as he walks towards us smiling. “You came, Sarajane.” He looks at the guard. “Release her.” The blade is taken from my throat. How does he know who I am? Then again, everybody seems to know me. “I will take great pleasure in killing you slowly.”
I swallow. “The queen said if I showed my face my sister would live.”
The bald-headed man smiles with pleasure. “Bring the girl out.”
A guard goes to the hut and carries Jessica in his arms. When he reaches us, he lays her at my feet. I fall to my knees and run my fingers along her neck, checking for a heartbeat. It flutters under my fingers; she is alive.
“No one said anything about you living.” The bald man looks down at me. He is really enjoying this.
“Taurus, Bellona gave her word that you or any of her men would not harm Sarajane. Or maybe you are willing to disobey your queen,” Morrick says in a king’s voice.
Taurus laughs cruelly and looks at Morrick with hate. “She is not my queen. But I do enjoy her body every night.”
Morrick’s face remains impassive at this comment. “This is your last warning, Taurus. Call these men off now or you will feel my full wrath.” Morrick’s voice is as hard as steel. I would be afraid if his threat was towards me, but it just seems to anger Taurus.
He grabs me by my hair, dragging me off my knees. My scalp burns with pain. I let out a screech. He looks at Tristan then, smirking. “Maybe I will have her body before I kill her.
” He runs a rough hand across my chest. Fear rolls through me. I feel repulsed by the motion. Tristan’s jaw clenches, his hands balled into fists at his side. I look down at Jessica. At least I’ve saved her. Her eyes open and she looks up at me. She reaches her hand towards Taurus’s foot. What is she doing? Before she touches him, she smiles at me through bloody lips. Taurus screams and wheels back, but it only lasts for a second. Then he looks at Jessica and kicks her in the stomach so hard her body moves a foot away. I scream with anger and run for Taurus. When I touch him, his body is flung into the hut. I can’t stop. Only one thought runs through me. Kill him.
Arrows are fired at me, but seem to bounce off an invisible shield. I don’t look left or right but move straight into the hut and grab Taurus. He looks afraid. It is my time to smile. I feel as if my hands are on fire. I push them against Taurus’s chest. He screams in pain as the smell of burnt flesh rises. I don’t care. I just want to destroy this man who has hurt my sister. The hut is vibrating around us. I let my hands sink farther into his chest. The roof rips off in a gale-force wind and the walls are being torn apart around us. Taurus is roaring, but I can only see his mouth moving. His face is twisted with pain as tears flow from his eyes. I don’t stop. I look at him through hair that is being whipped across my face by the wind. I can see something purple shine under my hand. I pull it. I know it’s his soul and I want nothing more than to crush it.
“Don’t, Sarajane. You are not like him. Let it go,” Morrick says so softly beside me it knocks me out of my zone. The wind reduces and I open my hand, releasing Taurus’s soul. I sit there on top of Taurus, shaking. Someone pulls me off.
Then I’m in Tristan’s arms, he rocks me as my mind scrambles to make sense of what I was about to do.
“You scared me. I thought I was going to lose you.” Tristan’s confession is said softly in my ear. White lights burst behind my eyelids and all the energy is zapped from me.
I open my eyes slowly, feeling weak, and my head throbs. Jessica is beside me. I sit up quickly. Blood rushes to my head.
“Not so fast. She will be alright.” Morrick reassures me.
I look at Jessica’s battered body. Oh God, what did she endure?
“We heal quickly, Sarajane. She is partially like us.”
I look around for Tristan and Kiar, but I can’t see them. “Where is Neve?”
Morrick’s face saddens. “He won’t make it, but he has been asking for you.”
“Take me to him.” Morrick nods and lifts Jessica, taking her with us. Tristan and Kiar are on either side of Neve. I can see by his coloring that he hasn’t much time left. He forces a smile when he sees me. “Sarajane.” Tristan moves so I can sit with him.
“Oh, Neve, I’m so sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry. You brightened up my life when you walked into it.” A lump rises in my throat. I’m the cause of his death and we both know it. His hand squeezes mine. “Promise me you will look out for Kiar.”
I look at Kiar, who is crying.
Tears slide down my own face. “I promise.” The words tumble from my lips as Neve takes his final breath.
The warmth of Tristan’s hand has me glancing at him. “You were a good friend, Sarajane.”
“Don’t. I got him killed.”
Kiar looks at me with anger. “He died in battle, the way we will all go.”
I start to cry harder. Tristan pulls me into his chest. I let my body give in to the horrors of today and silently beg Neve and Kiar to forgive me. I caused so much. Morrick carries Jessica and Tristan insists on carrying me, but I refuse. I deserve the throbbing in my feet. It’s my fault Neve has died. Kiar won’t leave Neve’s body behind. He slings him over his shoulder and carries him as silent tears run down his face. Nobody speaks after walking for what feels like days. I stumble and fall; my feet are too badly cut. Tristan scoops me up. I don’t object, and he carries me the rest of the way. We reach the edge of the forest an hour later. It’s easier leaving. We don’t have to be quiet. When we reach the horses, Kiar removes a bedroll and wraps Neve in it. He ties it at both ends and slings him over the horse. We take off.
The next two days, we ride towards Aquaterra. The silence isn’t uncomfortable, as everyone is lost in their own thoughts. For me, Neve’s death takes the most. No matter what he said, I still feel responsible. I’m feeling responsible for a lot lately. My sister would never have been taken if not for me. My dad is in danger. It feels like everyone was hurt because of me. Morrick killing his son to save me. It makes no sense.
My powers—that’s something I push to the back of my mind. I can’t comprehend it. I need to focus on getting to Aquaterra and speaking to Mirium to see if my dad is alright. We stop for food and rest and nobody speaks, not even Jessica, even though she’s healing fast. On day two, we reach Aquaterra.
CHAPTER TWENTY ONE
SARAJANE
Once we arrive at Aquaterra, I go straight to my hut without speaking to anyone. I just need time to myself. Everything is too much right now. I lie down on my bed. My tunic is crusted in dry blood from the guard I killed. A knock sounds at my door. I take my face out of the pillow.
“Go away.”
“Sarajane, it’s me,” Jessica’s voice penetrates the door.
I sit up straight. She hadn’t spoken one word the whole way from Eden Forest.
Dread curls in my stomach. “Come in.” There was no point avoiding this conversation.
Jessica stands in the doorway, her face nearly fully healed, but she is scarred on the inside. I can see it. I open my arms not sure how she will respond but she races into them. I pull the quilt over the two of us and we curl up as she cries in my arms. I rub her hair. I’m waiting for the accusation. I’m waiting for her anger but it doesn’t come. Instead, she holds me like I’m an anchor and I let her.
We must have fallen asleep because when I wake, it’s dark. I sit up and rub my eyes. Jessica lies fast asleep and I stare at my sister’s face a little longer before deciding to get up but I pause. A shadow in the corner stirs. I sit up straighter and look to my mother who sits with her legs pulled up to her chest. Her eyes are raw from crying, deep circles tell the story that she hasn’t gotten much sleep.
“Mum.” I say and I’m not sure what else to say to her. At my voice she gets up and comes and sits on the bed.
There is a brief window of silence before she speaks. “Thank you, sweetheart, for bringing her back safely.”
Jessica stirs then and Mum rubs her arm. “How do you feel, love?”
Jessica gives a big stretch and smiles at me. “Better now that I’m here,” she says.
Mum’s smile slips when she looks at me. It’s there in her eyes, and the way she holds her shoulders, that she isn’t just here for us. She has something to tell us.
“Mirium wants to see the three of us in the main barn.”
My stomach tightens and twists. This is about dad. The topic we have all been avoiding. The topic I don’t want to face but have to. Jessica slips out of the bed with a heaviness around her. We leave my hut and make our way to the barn. Jessica looks so small beside me and I take her hand in mine. When she looks up at me she wears the fear of what we are about to hear. John is her real dad. I give her hand a little squeeze before we enter the barn hoping to give her some strength.
Mirium sits alone at the head of the table and gives each of us a kind smile as we sit down around him.
“Hi, Jessica, it is lovely to meet you.” Mirium reaches out his hand, causing Jessica to flinch in her seat. Her reaction startles us all. Then she straightens and takes his hand in hers. “You have unique talents, my child,” Mirium says while still holding her hand.
“They’ve helped me when I got myself in sticky situations.” Jessica sounds so much older than sixteen.
Mirium gives her another smile before returning his attention to us all. “Sarajane, Marta.”
I swallow. This is it. Dread skitters up my spine.
“I went to the mortal world
and indeed, they had John held in the house by two guardians belonging to the queen.” He pauses briefly. “I am so sorry.”
My mother lets out a strangled cry but I can’t seem to move.
“He was dead by the time we reached him.”
My mother sobs into her hands and Jessica just looks frozen in her chair. My chest tightens.
Mirium stands. “I will give you time alone.” He squeezes my shoulder as he passes me before leaving the barn.
This is all too much. My heart squeezes as I reach across the table and take Jessica’s hand. “Jessica.”
She looks up at me and tears start to stream down her face. “They killed Dad.”
A hand seems to reach in and tightens across my chest. I nod. Words lodge in my throat but I’m terrified of the dam breaking. So I try to feel nothing as I continue to hold Jessica’s hand as she cries.
Mum takes her head out of her hands. “My baby girls, I am so sorry.”
Jessica curls into Mum, letting my hand go. “It’s not your fault, Mum.”
I feel so numb as I watch them cry together. I feel so numb as they talk about him.
“I think I will stay with mum tonight.”
I’d been lost in a stream of a million memories. Looking up at mum and Jessica I see that this wasn’t the first time they had spoken to me.
“Love, are you okay?” Mum reaches for my hand but I stand so she can’t touch me.
“I will be.” I swallow the lump in my throat.
“Do you want to stay with us?” Jessica’s voice is so small in the large barn. Or maybe it feels that way because of the weight of the loss on my shoulders.
“I have a few things to take care of first.”
She nods in disappointment but I can’t be with them right now. The guilt is chewing through me.
