AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I turned toward her, my heart racing. “Begin what?”
She glanced at me, the flames illuminating her dark silhouette.
“Dismantling an empire.”
Four
Dianna. 182 Days
I swiped at the loose strands of hair that danced across my cheek as the ocean breeze passed, heralding in the night. Heels at the beach was a terrible idea, my feet sinking further into the sand. No birds or mortals murmured nearby. The only sound was the lapping of the waves. The sun, a fiery beast, cast the clouds in a pink and yellow glow as it set. I squinted behind the shades I wore, the sunlight already starting to give me a headache. Nightfall was on her way, the breeze growing a fraction cooler as I felt her call.
I closed my eyes, that voice whispering back to me as my grip tightened on the urn I carried.
What do you think about going back to Sandsun Isles? They have a secluded, unmarked part of the beach I found while I was in hiding. They have cliffs we can dive off of, and it’s so beautiful. We haven’t been to a beach together like that in at least thirty years. I won’t even invite Rick. It will just be a nice, relaxing, fun sister trip. Let’s make it our first vacation. Please, please, please.
My eyes snapped open as her voice faded, my fingers digging into the urn lid.
“Not the ideal vacation, but this is where you wanted to go. Better late than never,” I said, glancing at the black and gold urn in my hands. Camilla had found it, and I had scooped every bit of her ashes into it. The Ritual of Havlousin had to be done. It was what our father and mother had taught us. Our culture demanded it to ensure a final resting place beyond the stars, although now I didn’t know what I believed in. Paradise seemed like a joke, yet here I was, scattering her remains so every part could be reused. Our parents taught us that the body was just a vessel. Only a shell remained when the soul, the most essential part, left. Maybe that was why I felt what I did. Was I just a shell now? My chest felt as if a thousand rocks were crushing it. There was no movement, no life, not anymore. I knew I should cry and scream, but nothing came.
“You needed me, and I wasn’t even there. I was so distracted with…” My throat closed as I pictured his face. Samkiel. Another emotion hit me, making my gut turn. I shoved it down, another lock forming in my head, on my heart. “I should have just left with you. We could have hidden, let them fight each other over that stupid book. I’m so sorry, Gabs.”
I paused, searching for words. My fingers brushed the lid, the relentless waves lapping at the shore, the steady beat filling the quiet.
“You know, I thought about it. Maybe it would have been better if we had died in Eoria. I should have just stayed with you there instead of begging whatever god that would listen to save you. Then, Drake wouldn’t have found us, and we wouldn’t have ended up before Kaden.”
My lip curled, remembering that very day. Mer-Ka was my birth name. Ain was Gabby’s, and Eoria was the home where we knew peace so long ago.
Shattered.
“Follow me this way.” He tipped his head toward the flap of cloth that acted as our door. He carried her in his arms like she weighed nothing. How strong was this strange man? I swallowed and nodded, following along. As long as he had Ain, I would do whatever he said and follow him anywhere.
I exited our home, my feet barely a whisper behind him. He didn’t check to see if I followed, moving silently and quickly as if he were walking on air. We passed empty stone homes left and right. Half of our village had left the second the pieces of the sky fell. They knew something bad was coming, but my parents didn’t listen. They didn’t believe the danger existed. Now, watching Ain cough, I wished I would have pestered them more.
“W-where are you taking us?” I asked, my voice sounding every bit as scared as I felt.
He turned slightly, offering me a small smile over his shoulder. “I have a friend who may be able to help.”
I nodded again to avoid his eyes. They seemed to dance with molten fire, and the gold edges were unnatural. He was beyond gorgeous, with dark curls that framed his face. His skin was the same shade as Ain’s and mine. I had never seen another that looked like him. Maybe he was from another world, too. I had begged for a savior. Maybe he was mine. He did look like the pictures my mom had shown me of the winged angels she believed in. She’d told me stories about how strong and powerful they were, and this man certainly seemed to be. He carried my sister without effort. Not that either of us had much weight on our bodies at this point. We had run out of real food weeks ago and had been living off what rations I could find. I gave her the most, even when she fought me, but I had promised my mom and dad I would take care of her. She was my baby sister. I wouldn’t let her starve.
I watched the back of his dark curls as we walked, heading toward an abandoned part of the city. Unease shivered through me when he stopped before a broken and misshapen temple that was half collapsed. He started down a brown stone stairway, the statues on either side chipped and worn beyond recognition.
I swallowed the lump in my throat. “We can’t be here. These are closed off because they are unstable. They are not safe. We could get crushed.”
He turned, looking at me as if I were insane. “Wait here. I need to speak to them. I’ll return for you.”
I gasped. “Them? How many are here?”
“Just wait.” He smiled as if he could hear my thudding heartbeat and sought to calm my fears.
“You are not taking my sister, gods know where, without me.” I stepped closer, looking between him and the empty, dark hole in the ground. I would fight him if I had to, even knowing I wouldn’t win. His muscles were apparent through the thin garbs he wore. The unusual fabric crisscrossed over his entire frame, faithfully clinging to his physique. He must have read my expression because he smiled soothingly once more.
“Look, I appreciate you trying to help, but she,” I pointed toward my sister as she leaned on him and coughed once more, “can’t be alone in there. I don’t know who you are, but she barely breathes as is.”
“My name is Drake.” He smirked. “Now you know who I am. Please wait here.”
I started to protest, but his eyes shone a shade brighter. My mouth closed, and the anxiety left my body. Maybe it was a good idea. “Okay, I’ll wait here.”
He smiled once more, then turned, disappearing down the stone steps and out of my sight.
