Of Thorn and Thread (Daughters of Eville #4) - Chanda Hahn Page 0,80
male, female, or something else entirely.
Muffled steps drew near, and a figure in a dark cloak stepped near the ray of light, their outline illuminated in the contrast.
“You made it far enough to reach me. I applaud your determination and your strength. So I will take pity on you and let you live, like I did the other one.”
“You mean Liam,” I breathed out.
The stranger shrugged. “I know not his name. Only that he was determined to stop me, and I can’t have that. Not when I’m so close.”
“So close to what?”
The person leaned forward just enough so I could see the corner of a feminine mouth lift in a smile. “Revenge,” she said.
“Why do you wish to destroy the kingdom of Rya?”
A high-pitched laugh followed. “The kingdom of Rya isn’t worth saving. Sometimes evil must be struck down so that hope has a chance of being reborn from the ashes.”
“What do you mean?”
“Vengeance, dear girl. I am here to right the scales of justice for a wrong committed.”
“What wrong?” I watched the speaker, her height, her way of walking as she moved through the small pit.
“The king of Rya took everything from me, and so I have sworn to take what is most important to him.”
“His throne?” I asked, standing up and turning to keep the woman in my sights.
Her manic laugh filled the air. “No, his child.”
“The king of Rya has no heirs,” I stated.
“Lies. I know there was one. The king has hidden the babe from me, but I will find it. I won’t stop until I’ve taken it from the king.”
“I know of you. I know of the attack and what the king did to your people, but spilling innocent blood won’t solve anything. It won’t bring them back.”
“You know nothing.” Her voice shook with anger, her pacing became frantic. “A life for a life. They hid the child from me, but I will find it and kill it.”
“Please, I beg of you, stop what you’re doing. Too many innocents have died already from your curse.”
Her pale hand reached up to cup the ray of light, its glow making it seem like her hand captured the light within. “And yet it isn’t enough.” Her head cocked to one side as if she were momentarily distracted. “Yes, the time has come. I’ve delayed long enough.”
“Wait,” I called out, desperately trying to delay her while I thought of a way out. “Revenge doesn’t have to be the answer.”
“I’ve been locked away for so long that my hatred consumed my dreams. All I can think about is revenge.”
She sounded stark raving mad.
“What if I could help you find a better purpose? Together we can find the truth. If you would but let me—”
The woman waved her hand at me. “You’re becoming a bit of a nuisance. I tire of you.”
The ground trembled, and the earth cracked and crumbled around me. The thorns retreated, and the hole I fell through was visible again. If only I could have reached it. Limping, I raced for the wall and tried to climb, digging my fingers into the dirt and roots, pulling myself up.
“You do have fire. This will delay my plans once more, but I can’t have you getting in my way.”
A flash of light surrounded me, paralyzing me. Fire ran through my bones and I felt pulled and stretched. I opened my mouth to scream, but it was cut off.
Sunlight burned my eyelids, the fire in my body faded to a dull ache. Opening my eyes, I was met by a clear sky full of foliage.
Groaning, I rolled over and sat up. The remains of a wax circle lay near my head. I awoke back in the fairy circle near our home. Had I really traveled hundreds of miles in an instant, or was it all a dream?
No, it couldn’t be a dream. My ankle had deep puncture wounds, evidence of the firethorn attack.
Glancing around the glade, I felt the frustration build up within me. “No,” I yelled, slapping my hands onto the ground. “This isn’t fair!” I brushed off my skirt and was at a loss for what to do now. With a flash of a madwoman’s hand, I was right back where I started. I didn’t know what to do or where to go, except home.
I stood up and began the slow trek back to the tower and tried to organize my thoughts. How did I explain my sudden disappearance to Mother, or for that matter, my sudden return?