I thought I had left any shred of compassion in that damned lake the moment I placed her stiffening body within those holy waters.
Unable to watch the woman on the platform before me fall to her death, I look away.
Coward.
But it’s nearly unbearable to watch an innocent life be stolen away. Every time their eyes glaze over and the light fades from their gaze , it adds another layer of hatred around my heart like a plated armor created from venom, poisoning me slowly.
My fists ball at my sides, clenching and releasing. If only I could just touch her to let her know she isn’t alone right now, not really.
But I won’t, she’s better off without me, better off being dead rather than suffering because of me. I’ll never earn redemption, I’ll never truly be free from the shackles of my life. My penance for killing mynaymeihwon’t come easily, and I have much to atone for.
A slow, creeping feeling nags at me. It’s too quiet, the air too dense all of a sudden.
Visions of Eiliorah floating in the crystal water, face expressionless, surfaces in my mind. The dark drifting tendrils of my shadows that snake around my wrist as I let her body settle into the greedy waves.
I’m too tired for this, these haunting thoughts which are plaguing me. I was able to board them up in the farthest recesses of my memories for centuries until recently. Seeing Alora’siludreer,her trickery of light, left me speechless. It was one reason alone King Euron would want her, the whole reason for her capture initially. And I had somehow kept it to myself, sheltered her for no other reason than I had only ever seen one other with the ability to bend light.
I force myself to look at Alora as I notice the guard’s hand grab the lever to pull the trap door. It’s the least I can do in this moment when I’m as helpless to our fates as she is.
Kassiel.
A revelation I’m not sure I want to dissect, stuns me to my core.
I lose awareness of my limbs, something powerful overtaking my body as I start pushing my way to the front, hopelessness and anguish quickly filling my thoughts.
Distant booming stuns the crowd as they look around, trying to locate the sounds. My eyes are only set on the feisty woman who is about to die.
“Alora!” I bellow, frightening the crowd immediately next to me.
Her eyes crash into mine and the shock written on her face almost has me stumbling.
It’s too late though as I watch the wooden platform give way, her body collapsing through the space in the floor.
I can’t get to her in time. Damnit.
Shoving Rion out of the way to get past, his arm comes around, swinging towards my face, the connection and pain catch me off guard. Rivulets of blood spew out of my nose.
If rage was a color, I’d be painted in it. I grab his throat and start squeezing, this time not bothering to stop when I feel thetunnel of his windpipe crush. If he thinks he can stand in my way he’s sorely mistaken.
Orlin’s heavy boot kicks at my legs repeatedly, though I still have my grip on Rion. He’s come to defend the bastard who’s equally matched with his own vile repulsiveness.
It’s not Orlin’s assault that stops me from ripping away Rion’s essence, it’s the explosions that halt me. That, and the world tilting, is the only reason I don’t use my curse to finally end the bastard. Orlin and I are ripped apart as an explosion thunders directly next to us, sending debris and rock showering around us in its wake. The detonations are so loud I can’t make out screams or any other sounds. I just see people fleeing and fighting.
I notice Rion’s limp body on the ground, fallen not far from me. Taking my heel, I stomp his head as hard as I can muster until I hear a sickening crunch. I repeat my actions again. And again, until his blood is painting me instead of only my rage.
I quickly turn to free Alora from the swaying rope.
I’m at her side in three strides, explosions continuing to reverberate in the streets.
Unsheathing the opaline dagger I found on her after she fell unconscious in the storage house, I slice through the thick rope in seconds.
She’s tinged blue, lips slightly ashen. Setting her down on the ground, I bring my hands to her face, ready to give breath if she needs it as my knees dig into the soil. Her eyes roll beneath her closed lids.
Thank the goddess.
Her chest heaves with an inhale. Staring at her, overcome by what I’ve done for this stranger, confusion sets in. Perhaps they came for her after all, her little group of miscreants.
The chaos around me is deafening. Fires catch on the homes nearest the market square, sending dark plumes of smoke into the sky.
