Page 34 of Wraithwound

Panting, Lena stood on wobbling legs. Laney, Riley, and Camille remained crouched at the adjoining wall in the moonlit cell staring at her.

Vince was still alive, as evidenced by his sallow, uneven breaths, but he wouldn’t be getting up any time soon.

Assured that he was no longer a threat, Lena sprang into motion. She found the keys in Vince’s pocket and rushed to unlock the door of the other cell. The squeak of the hinges felt like a warning call for all to hear in the quiet of the early morning, but no one came for them.

The night sky welcomed them beyond the barn door that had been left ajar. Winking stars shone from above. Lena wondered if they seemed brighter somehow, bigger, as if celebrating her freedom. She walked towards the forest at the back of the property, eager to get away from the barn that had almost been her final resting place.

Laney ran to catch up with her, and the other two women followed. When they’d reached the edge of the forest, Lena slowed.

“Thank you,” she whispered to the women who now stood huddled together.

“I didn’t do it for you,” Camille said under her breath.

Lena slid her gaze over to Camille, who retreated several steps, fear growing on her face.

“Your eyes are glowing but brighter,” Laney said.

Lena blinked, willing the irritation to fade, but Laney let go of Camille and walked over to her.

“You’re welcome,” Laney said, reaching for her hand.

The moment they made contact; Lena gasped.

“You too?” Lena asked.

“Is that what it is?” she whispered, closing her eyes and letting her head fall.

Riley and Camille looked between Lena and Laney, waiting to be brought into the conversation, but Lena kept her eyes trained on the maiden before her.

“I think it is . . . No, I know it is,” Lena said.

“Are either of you going to tell us what’s going on?” Camille snapped.

“I was scratched by the Aurynn the night I was dropped here,” Laney said, tears welling in her eyes. “I knew I felt different, but I didn’t know why. I also hadn’t been able to check it because⁠—”

She lifted her wrists up and held them out, showing the angry red welts from the rope.

“Let me see it,” Riley demanded.

Laney lifted her right arm and turned her body towards the light of the moon to show where her robes had been torn. Through the ripped fabric, a gash in her flesh was visible. Small black veins, delicate in their appearance, spiderwebbed away from it.

Lena could sense it was indeed a wraithwound and realized that some part of her could detect the lifeform that now grew inside it. Riley shook her head in disbelief; Camille looked devastated.

“What exactly are the Aurynn, then?” Laney asked, anger lacing her words.

It was a question no one knew how to answer. It seemed like a lot in Reimar was not as it seemed.

Camille slipped her hand into Laney’s. “What will you do?”

“I— I’m going to The Whispers,” Laney said.

“The Whispers?” Camille asked, stunned. “Laney, no one goes to The Whispers and returns. Haven’t you heard the stories?”

Laney considered for a moment and then straightened. “I have, but I’ve also heard on my travels that there is help to be sought there, if only the person is brave enough to venture in. If I go, my life may be forfeit, but if I stay, it definitely is.” She turned to Lena then. “Come with me.”

Riley went oddly quiet at that, but Camille stared intently at Lena.

“There’s something else I have to do first,” Lena said, shaking her head. She would not risk Henry’s soul on a rumor when there was a good chance Ada and Eduard would be able to provide information on the plant Ahgrie told her about.