Page 74 of Visions & Shadows

I see the love she has for her brother as she talks to him, and it makes me relax even more.

Suddenly, one hell of an intense pain rushes through me, forcing me down. My knees hit the ground hard, and I dig my fingers into the hot sand.

Jesus.

It feels as if my body is being ripped to shreds.

“Alchera!” I hear Raighne call out, but he sounds miles away.

Images start to flash through my mind, and I’m unable to hold back the scream as it tears from me while my vision goes black.

Adeth disappears, and relief washes over me.

I can still feel her nails digging into my cheek and the blood trickling down to my jaw.

My wrists are raw, where they're tied to a rope hanging from the ceiling.

I can’t take much more of this.

Ares begins to advance on me, and as he pulls his arm back, I shut my eyes tightly.

All the pain is getting the better of me. I’m sure I’m dying.

His fist slams so hard into my gut all I can do is gag for air. My body swings from the impact, but it doesn’t stop him.

He grabs me by the hair, and I have no time to recover before the next blow slams into my ribs.

Excruciating pain becomes the sum of my being, and it feels as if every agonizing breath might be my last.

But, the relief of death doesn’t come, only a new level of pain when a whip cracks over my already raw and bloody flesh.

Coming too, a sob escapes me, then I whimper, “It hurts.”

Arms are holding me tightly, and I feel warmth flood my body, chasing away the chill and pain left behind by the vision.

Feeling sick, I push against Raighne and manage to turn to the side before I vomit whatever I had to eat earlier in the day.

My body convulses horribly, and when I slump back against him, a flask of water appears in front of my face.

“Drink some,” he orders.

With trembling hands, I grip hold of the flask. I take a sip and rinse out my mouth before I drink greedy gulps of the cool water.

I hand the flask back to Raighne, and pressing a hand to my stomach, I try to breathe through the horror left behind by the vision.

I’m going to die an agonizing death.

A sob bursts over my lips, and I quickly cover my mouth with my hand.

“No, you’re not,”I hear Raighne’s voice clearly in my mind.

He helps me to my feet, then says, “Come. Let’s go to Roark.” His arm wraps around my shoulders, and he holds me tightly to his side.“You can’t talk about your visions in front of everyone. Only Roark, Finian, and Brenna can hear the details.”

Raighne helps me walk, and when we reach Roark and the others, he asks, “What did you see?”

I frown as I look up at him. “Didn’t you see?”

He shakes his head. “I can’t follow you when you have a vision. I can only see when you think about it after you’ve had the vision.”

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