Page 23 of The Awakening of Essensia

She wanted to sleep. To sleep and wake to find this all a terrible nightmare, like those she used to have as a child, filled with shadows and monsters trying to pull her from the sheets and into their awaiting jaws.

She would wake and it would be daybreak. Jon would be asleep by the fire, snoring like an ox, his hair a rumpled mess of thick brown locks, dark circles ringing his eyes.

No black veins.

No blood.

Anhaven was in chaos.

Vaelira sat at the kitchen table listening to the thud of boots and voices demanding answers. Someone had bandaged her arm. A mug of water sat untouched. The stench of rot still clogged her nose. She stared at the floorboards, at where her blood had soaked into the grooves, a stain left to forever remind her of what had happened here. Of what she had lost.

Everything.

There were too many people inside. Too many voices.

“...said he came crashing out of the house…”

“...killed two between here and Polk’s… a few more dead on the south side of town…”

“...sunrise is too far off…”

“...Commander’s setting up search parties…”

Her head snapped up. She stood, and a blanket she hadn’t noticed slipped from her shoulders. “I’m going,” she said.

The room fell silent.

Eli stepped forward. Two guards flanked him. She didn’t know their names. She didn’t care.

“You are in shock,” he said.

“I’m not staying here.” If she stayed still, she’d break. It had happened before, but she was not the same frightened girl she once was, and she hadn’t been for a long time.

She crossed the room, aiming for the door, and slammed into a wall of muscle. Eli’s hand was on her shoulder.

“You’re not in the right state of mind.”

She shoved him hard. He barely moved.

“What do you know of it?” she bit out. She shoved again, side stepping him before he could stop her.

She had to do something. Anything. She couldn’t sit here and let them hunt it alone. Not when it wore her brother’s face. She reached for the door.

“Wait.” Eli held out her sword. His gaze was steady. “I’m coming with you.”

“What do you care?”

“What sort of man would I be if I let you go out there alone?” he cocked his head at her.

“I don’t care what sort of man you are. Come if you want, it makes no difference to me.” She snatched her sword from him and strapped it on.

When she reached for the door this time, Eli was close behind, pulling it open for her.

Thunder roiled threateningly overhead, flashes of lightning illuminating the ominous clouds. The chaos inside the cottage was a stark contrast to the quiet in the town. Guards moved through the streets like shadows, eyes scanning the dark, boots hurried but quiet on the stone.

Vaelira adjusted the sword strapped at her hip, the weight a comfort. She breathed in the cool night air, allowing that weight to steady her.

You will not break. Not until this is done.