One life taken by the Sidhe King, the other by Ariana.
28
ARIANA
Anumbness settled over me first. It narrowed with a crushing force, and strained against my ribs, tightening around my lungs. Strange coldness coated my skin, my fingertips growing numb, my mind vacant.
The conjuring within, the feel of my mist, the power beneath my skin.
“Ariana?” Erik lowered himself beside me, yet all I could do was stare at nothing. There was a void of space before me, filled with an invisible darkness that was very much felt. It flooded the room, seeping through my skin, and poisoning me.
Voices spoke, telling me they would take care of the bodies.
Bodies.
Two lives were taken because of my decisions. Two souls forever gone.
A tremble slithered down my spine, the sensation odd amongst the detached shock of it all.
A boy no longer drew breath.
Gorm. His final breath stolen by my mist.
I felt it. How his lungs tried to expand, to draw in oxygen while my mist prevented it. The twitch of each muscle as it thirsted for air. I felt it when he stilled. When his soul left his body.
My eyes slid shut.
The numbness enveloping me began to crack.
It was all too much.
My muscles shuddered uncontrollably as if vibrating. Was I shaking?
Hands gripped my shoulders and forced me to my feet. They guided me to the room where I often did my work healing the servants.Healing. Never did I think I would be responsible for their deaths.
A door clicked shut and suddenly arms surrounded me, holding me while I numbly stood there, unable to move.
“Ariana,” Erik’s voice cut through my thoughts. “Don’t let him win.” Warmth from his chest seeped into my stiff body. “This will not break you.” His heartbeat thumped strong and true, felt against my ear as he held me. Warmth and life radiated out of him while I stood cold and lifeless.
“Then why do I feel broken?” I mumbled, eyes filling with tears a new.
My friend. I took his life.
He was one of the first to show me genuine kindness in the Sidhe lands. And where did that kindness lead him?
Into a grave.
“Because you care. Because you are nothing like the Sidhe King.” Erik’s arms tightened around me. “We will free the people of these lands.”
I wished to believe him. “How are you so certain?”
“The air whispers secrets. All you need to do is learn how tolisten.” His words sounded like something Gorm would have said.
A wave of pain crashed into me, swallowing me whole. I sobbed as my knees buckled. Erik held me while I fell apart. He took my pain, my shame, and offered only love in return.
Warmth surrounded me. A strong heartbeat spoke to my own, coaxing it into a more natural rhythm. Slowly, simply by holding me, life began trickling back into me.
He held me till my tears dried and there were paw scratches at the door.
