Page 47 of Isle of Beasts and Shadows

Father withdrew the blade from Sirius’s body, watching him crumple to the ground. Curling into a ball, Sirius clutched his wound as Airella hurried to his side. The glowing pendant around her neck indicated Jonathan’s safety. Sirius attempted to speak, but his thoughts were a whirlwind, rendering his words incoherent.

“Don’t talk,” Airella sobbed, her voice quivering with emotion. “Everything will be fine.”

“Oh, my dear, nothing is going to be fine,” Father’s words cut through the tension in the room. “Now that he’s out of my way, I can now proceed with my plans.” With those chilling words, he exited Alikad’s body in a dark fog, leaving a sense of foreboding in the air.

“Airella, take my scythe... create a portal... get us out...” Sirius whispered as he clenched his wounds, his gaze locked on Airella with urgency and trust.

Without hesitation, she quickly lifted the heavy scythe, its weight unfamiliar in her hands. Alikad’s body lay motionless on the ground beside her, until suddenly, he jerked back to life and reached for her. Airella’s heart raced as surprise took her, her next move uncertain.

In a swift and desperate attempt to defend herself, she swung the scythe over her head, the blade meeting Alikad’s arm with a sickening thud. Pain seared through him, and he let out a guttural cry before seizing the weapon. Their struggle intensified amidst the chaos.

On the ground, Alikad and Sirius, locked in a moment of intense pain and emotion, exchanged a gaze that spoke volumes, their fates intertwined in a cruel twist of destiny.

“I had taken upon myself the duty to kill you, Sirius, and perhaps in doing so, I would free myself from here. However, now that even Father is trying to kill you, I believe it would be best for him not to have his way.” He ripped a piece of cloth from his cloak and wrapped it around his injured arm, a golden stain blooming through the fabric. “I now know that killing you won’t make much of a difference, but you must defeat Father.” With a heavy sigh, he then stood and just simply eyed down Airella, his gaze piercing yet filled with a hint of sorrow.

“Why do you look so much like Sirius?” She questioned, her voice quivering slightly with a mix of confusion and curiosity.

“Father removed a piece of my soul with a spell when I was young and created the Sirius you know today. He took a piece of me that could be easily manipulated. He can’t be trusted. Father has complete control over him, whether or not he realizes it. I watched from Limbo as he mercilessly slaughtered most of the humans on the isle. I have been trapped here for centuries, locked away. However, I saw a chance to retreat from the confines of my cage once Father became distracted with this mess. But no matter how many times I’ve tried, I can’t step foot outside of this world.” He stared at her as if she were going to be his next meal, a flicker of desperation dancing in his eyes.

“I’ll help you... but here’s the deal.” He crouched next to Sirius, the gravity of the situation weighing heavily in the air. “When the time comes and we’re merged once again, you will obey me. Got it?” He forced Sirius’s lips together like a caretaker with a child.

Sirius, with a mix of fear and determination, nodded in response to the pact that was being sealed between them.

“What are you going to do, then?” Airella raised Dawnbreaker in Sirius’s defense. Her heart raced as she faced the looming threat before them, her grip tightening on the weapon she wielded with skill honed through countless battles.

“You have to do the rest, half-breed. I’m just going to get you out of here.” Alikad’s voice held a steely determination, echoing with the weight of their shared past. With a swift motion, he swung his dual-bladed scythe through the air, the metal gleaming in the dim light of the otherworldly realm they found themselves in.

In that next moment, Airella’s inner strength manifested in a way that even surprised her. Despite the odds stacked against them, she swiftly secured Sirius’s scythe to her back as they emerged from the ethereal portal that connected Limbo to the realm of the living. With a sense of purpose driving her every step, she carried him, his weight a burden she bore with unwavering determination.

Together, they navigated the treacherous path to Aramore, towards a village nestled just outside the city gates of the imposing castle that loomed in the distance.

“Hopefully there is a healer there,” Airella whispered under her breath, her gaze fixed on the flickering lights in the distance. She knew Sirius had a deep wound, too grievous for a mere flame to cauterize.

As she trudged along the path, a heavy darkness enveloped her heart, weighing it down with the burden of sorrow. The memory of not bidding a proper farewell to her mother, let alone lay her to rest beside her father’s grave, cast ashadow on her spirit. Tears welled up in her eyes, reflecting the pain and longing that tugged at her soul.

Returning to her own village was not an option, not while the accusing whispers of murder lingered in the air. Determined to seek aid for Sirius, she understood she could not find the solace she sought within the familiar confines of her village. With resolve in her heart, they journeyed forth towards the unknown, hoping to find the help that had eluded her so far.

“Airella, thank you...” Sirius’s voice trailed off, his eyes closing in a moment of respite as he leaned into her embrace.

The journey ahead was uncertain, but in that fleeting moment of gratitude, a silent vow passed between them—a promise to stand together against whatever challenges awaited them beyond the village.

Chapter 29

Airella wandered aimlessly, her footsteps echoing softly on the dirt path as she approached the outskirts of the nearing village. The sun was setting, casting a warm golden glow over the landscape, painting the sky in hues of pink and orange. Each door she passed seemed to hold a story, a life behind it waiting to be discovered.

As she knocked on each weathered door, the sound reverberated through the quiet streets. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, an elderly woman opened her door with a creak. The woman, with wisps of silver hair framing her face, peered at Airella with kind, yet curious, eyes.

“Please, can you help us? Do you know of a healer nearby?” Airella’s voice quivered with desperation, her eyes filled with worry as she held Sirius close.

The elderly woman, her wrinkled hands clasped together, looked at the peculiar sight before her. A young girl standing before her, carrying a person who seemed in need of help.

“Oh, my... I know of many remedies myself. Please come in,” the old woman said, her voice filled with a sense of urgency. She gestured for them to enter, the warmth of her home enveloping them.

Airella stepped inside, taking in the sight of the small run-down cottage. The room was dimly lit by a flickering candle casting dancing shadows on the walls. The scent of herbs and earth filled the air, creating a soothing atmosphere.

The old woman lived alone, surrounded by books and jars of various liquids. Airella couldn’t help but wonder why someone of her age and standing would welcome two strangers, armed and in need, into her humble abode. But in that moment, the urgency of Sirius’s condition took precedence over her thoughts.

“Lie him on that bed there. I’ll go gather my supplies,” the old woman said, her voice filled with determination as she hurried to the cabinets, the sound of her footsteps fading into the distance.

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