“I am not from Noria.” Her voice lacks a child’s playful optimism.
“You were found in the village.”
She digs her thumb into her index finger, picking away at the grime. “Wind can carry a leaf. That does not mean the leaf is from a tree rooted in that land,” she snaps, eyes turning cold as she glares at Galen.
My lip twitch at her boldness. Had she been born at another time, she could have been with me and my family.
“Where are you from?” Adrian inquires gently.
"The Valley of Sand and Bones," she answers. Adrian pales. "They thought the fire killed me, but they were wrong."
“Lies. You’d never survive the journey from those lands. Childish nonsense,” Galen snaps. “It’s clear you know nothing of manners. Tell me what happened in Noria?” Galen demands.
“They said I was a mistake. I have no control over it. It’s a lie.” She digs into her fingertip so harshly that it will break the skin any second.
Stop!I want to shout.Someone cares if you hurt. I care. I want to help.
“I was chosen because I was good.” She nods to herself.
“Who chose you?” Adrian inquires in a gentle but unwavering tone.
Ignoring him, she looks at the creature. “We were hungry.”
“You? You mean you and this creature?” Galen clarifies.
She smirks, sending a bead of sweat down my temple. A second later, two fangs appear.
“Impossible,” a noble whispers, and her head snaps to him. She lunges, jumping onto him, sinking her fangs into his neck.
Shock chains us all to the floor.
“She’s a vampire!” someone shouts.
“No.” I shake my head in horror. Vampires’ fangs don’t retract. She said she was hungry. We don’t drink blood to satiate hunger, only magic.
“She’s something else,” I whisper in horror.
Suddenly, every noble panics. I look at Adrian. He nods. I unsheathe my sword, and Adrian sends his magic out, squeezing the child’s neck. She drops from the noble, her hands curling around his force. Her fangs disappear.
I move in. Don’t ask me to kill this child, whatever she may be. I won’t be able to.
Galen lunges; his vines pin the child down, and then he raises his sword. He’s going to kill her without a second thought. I step forward to stop him, but air pushes me back.
I find Adrian’s eyes, a delay that gives Galen the time he needs to ram his sword through the child’s heart.
How could you?I glare at Adrian.
He shakes his head and glances at Galen. He was trying to keep me safe from Galen’s wrath.
Gushing hot blood fills the air as it slams against the blade, freeing it. Galen pushes his sword deeper and deeper, twisting and churning it, until the child takes her last painful breath.
Clang!The gifted sword Galen gave me clatters to the floor.
A pool of blood seeps out of the child. Black blood! I want to rush to her side, push it back in. But it’s too late. I need to kill Galen so this doesn’t keep happening.
I get it, Everett. I understand, and I accept.
Adrian watches as I bend down, grabbing my sword. I glare at Galen as I rise.
