Page 42 of Isle of Beasts and Shadows

As she hurried towards Sirius to peer out the window, her eyes strained through the swirling smoke, desperately trying to decipher the unfolding scene of confusion and danger. She stood frozen, watching in anguish as the soldiers ruthlessly seized a screaming Arii, their actions shrouded in the flickering shadows cast by the dancing flames.

Through the haze, she caught a fleeting sight of her mother lying motionless on the ground, a chilling wave of dread washing over her like an icy embrace. Standing over her was the possessed Duran. He shifted his gaze to meet Airella’s, and he smiled.

The soldiers vanished into the night, disappearing into the darkness with Arii in their clutches. Airella was consumed by a surge of helplessness and desperation, her heart heavy with a sense of impending doom. She was frozen, unable to move as her mind tried to process the events unfolding before her. The acrid smoke enveloped her, each breath a painful reminder of the chaos surrounding her.

With the flames encroaching, threatening to devour everything in their path, Sirius, acting on instinct, swiftly gathered Airella in his arms.

In a moment of pure determination, he made a daring decision and leaped through the window, the heat of the flames fading as they escaped into the cool night air.

The ground rushed up to meet them as they landed from the 2-story fall, the impact jolting through their bodies. Adrenaline coursed through Airella as she took in her surroundings, her eyes darting to her mother lying still on the ground.

In that suspended moment, time seemed to stand still, the world holding its breath as the gravity of the situation sank in. The thought that her mother might be lost to her forever weighed heavily on her, casting a shadow over her heart.

“Mother?” Airella fell to her knees next to her mother, shaking her by the shoulders. She could feel the coldness of her mother’s skin and the weightlessness of her body, sending ashiver down her spine. “Sirius!” She turned her gaze up to Sirius, desperation clear in her voice and tears welling up in her eyes. “Bring her back, like you did to Jonathan. Please!” Airella’s voice cracked as she begged, her heart heavy with sorrow and fear.

Sirius, his face a mask of stoicism, closed his eyes and shook his head slowly. “It’s too late. Her soul has already departed from her physical form,” he stated softly, his words heavy with finality. “I also only have one pendant to use, and Jonathan’s soul is currently occupying it,” Sirius attempted to explain, but Airella was lost in her grief, unable to fully grasp the magnitude of the situation. Tears streamed down her cheeks unchecked, blurring her vision.

“No!” Airella’s cry echoed, her voice filled with anguish and disbelief. It was then that she discovered the bloody stab wound implanted in her mother’s chest. The sight of it made her heart lurch with a mix of horror and sorrow. Elizabeth must have been fighting for Arii, sacrificing herself to protect her son. This was Father’s doing.

Tears continued to stream down Airella’s face as she stood amidst the chaos, her fists clenched in frustration. The soldiers had taken Arii away, leaving her feeling helpless. Would they even have a chance of catching up to them? Airella’s gaze darted around, noticing that they had even taken the horse they used to get here. The sense of defeat threatened to overwhelm her, tempting her to give up then and there. But she couldn’t. Arii needed her; he needed to be rescued. She wouldn’t give up on him.

Covered in smudges of ash, Airella couldn’t contain her sobs as her home continued to burn in the dead of night. It all felt like a surreal nightmare, as if she would wake up at any moment and find everything restored to normal.

“She’s gone...” Airella whispered, her fists tightening in grief as the held her mother’s lifeless body.

Neighboring villagers, their faces a mix of shock and suspicion, crowded around the scene. Some whispered accusations in hushed tones, pointing fingers at the young woman before them.

“I knew she was a witch!”

“Murdered her own mother...”

“Who is that strange man?”

Anger seared through Airella as she absorbed their misguided assumptions. These people did not know about what had just happened. Her heart ached for her lost mother, but she knew she had to focus on the immediate challenges ahead. With Arii’s safety hanging in the balance and the looming threat of the kingdom’s soldiers, Airella steeled herself for the arduous journey ahead.

“Let’s go,” she muttered under her breath, determination shining in her bloodshot eyes as she turned away from her mother’s lifeless form, ready to face the uncertain path that lay before her.

Chapter 26

To Sirius, the humans on this land appeared far more merciless compared to the old Miscreant Slayers of the island. Reflecting on his own past destructive actions, Sirius gained a fresh perspective as he observed the unfolding scene. A fierce glare crept across his face as he surveyed the surrounding villagers.

Under his breath, Sirius whispered, “I hope my skills haven’t dulled.” Lifting his scythe above his head, he made a swift diagonal slash, creating a striking flash of black and twilight hues that forced Airella to shield her eyes.

Startled by the dazzling display, Airella shouted over the crackling flames, “What is that?”

Before she could receive an answer, she noticed the pitch-black portal with jagged white lines resembling a tear in fabric. Ignoring her inquiry, Sirius clutched her hand, swiftly pulling her through the mysterious portal that beckoned behind him.

“Hmph, I remember the world of Limbo being a lot less dark,” Sirius spoke aloud as he scanned the area.

The house they had been standing in front of was now a darkened black and was engulfed in white flames. Even the people surrounding them were darkly colored as they shuffled around. Airella attempted to touch her lifeless mother withher hand, but her physical form never made contact with her. The two were completely oblivious to everyone and everything outside of Limbo.

“Where are we?” Airella turned to face Sirius, her eyes wide with curiosity as she surveyed their surroundings. Her blonde hair cascaded down her back, catching the dim light as it swayed with her movement. Sirius met her gaze, his expression calm and knowing.

“This is Limbo,” he began, his voice soft yet filled with certainty. “It’s the place where lost spirits find themselves when they lose their way.” He gestured toward a transparent humanoid spirit nearby, its translucent form gripped with disbelief as it gazed upon Airella’s burning home.

Airella’s thoughts drifted to her mother, a sense of longing in her voice as she started to speak, but Sirius anticipated her unspoken question.

“Your mother isn’t here,” he reassured her gently, his words carrying a sense of understanding. “If she were, we would have seen her by now. She must have transitioned smoothly to her next life.” Turning back to Airella, he reached out and took her hand in his, a gesture of comfort and solidarity. “Jonathan. Release him from the necklace,” Sirius instructed, placing his scythe on the ground with a sense of reverence. “In this realm, his essence will manifest as a transparent figure, keeping his familiar appearance.”

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