Page 3 of The Bonds of Indigo

“It seems death isn’t enough of a paragon for your kind.” It’s a female’s voice this time, but I don’t open my eyes to see her. “Tonight, we should make an example of her and the Yldarwrights.”

I shake my head. “Just… kill me.”

The woman laughs. “No, I don’t think so.” Footsteps approach, and I can sense a body before me. “Vendra may favor you, but Mundane laws do not.”

A sharp jerk of my mangled arm sends pain shooting through every inch of my body I can still feel. It rips my eyes open, forcing me to stare at the woman before me. She wears a hooded cloak and a mask pulled up across her nose, hiding everything but her eyes, ones that burn like fire. Not just red, but a fierce blend of orange and yellow.

She’s a Witch.

But not my kind. A Hexborn: A mixed breed, often called a modern Witch. Whereas me and my family are known as Yldarwrights: taught in the old, forgotten magic that bows to no law but Vendra’s.

We hate each other.

The moment she begins speaking again, I feel fear for the first time since the night started. “Hexes of Blight⁠—”

“No!” A blanketing darkness shrouds over my vision. “No! No! Don’t!” I shout through the burning fire in my throat.

“By the strength granted by our Mothers.”

My palm ignites in a flame so fierce it’s almost unbearable, and I scream. It’s not ordinary fire. No, this is something otherworldly. The pain digs deep, burrowing past flesh and muscle, straight into the bone.

“Roots and thorns bind her.”

“You son of a bitch!” I reach for Vendra through any thread of energy I can find.

Please, please, don’t let her do this!

“I’m here, but if I interfere, it will kill you.”

Let me die, Vendra, let it end!!

“I cannot lose you. I am sorry.”

“May death always escape her, and life torment her.”

The cursing enchantment ends, and instead of black, I see flecks of violet and flames of lilac. I feel the sensation of the rune in my palm disappear, but it’s replaced with the needle-like scratches crossing my eyes.

I’ve been hexed.

As my vision slowly returns, I stare up at the sky that no longer has color, and a world of grays greet me. The hues will return, but it’s a telltale sign of what she’s done to me.

“Lock her up and let her stew over the crimes she has committed,” the Hexborn says in a mocking tone. “She’ll be…”

Her voice fades, but as it does, the agony of what has happened wrenches my very soul.

“I’ll always be here, Amarah.” I’ve never hated a lie more than I do now. “Don’t give up.”

As if giving up was an option now, Vendra…

They’ve cursed me to not be capable of death. Which after what I’ve done, that is all I want.

Gods be damned.

Why has this happened to me?

Chapter 1

Seven Years Later