Page 97 of Morning's Light

CHAPTER 22

“You’ll be okay?” Astix stood in the entryway with one foot literally out the door. “We need to get back to the cabin and strategize. Pack another bag and come with me.”

Aisanna leaned on the banister. “I’ll be along in a little bit. Go home to your man and don’t wait up for me. We’ll figure this out in the morning.”

“We’ll get her back.”

“Are you sure? We’re two down,” Aisanna said. “Two siblings down and I swear to God, I feel like this is the end.”

“I’m not usually one to make blanket statements about looking on the sunny side, and I’m not this time either. The only thing I know? I know things will look better once the sun rises.” Astix glanced over her shoulder. “Come, soon. Okay?”

Aisanna held her arms out, though she didn’t expect a hug in return. Much to her surprise, Astix darted forward for a brief embrace.

“Don’t tell anyone and ruin my reputation,” Astix whispered.

Aisanna gave a brief squeeze. “Just let me enjoy it, please.”

Astix left with little fanfare. Aisanna then spent too much time in the living room staring out the window, watching dawn break, knowing she needed to get gone and lacking the willpower to do it. She moved silently throughout the house and sent wave after wave of magic out to her baby sister. It didn’t surprise her when they went unanswered.

Karsia was gone. Aisanna’s life was in shambles, and she was basically waiting on the Claddium to come and cart her away. She could look forward to spending the rest of her life in the Vault for what she’d done to Orestes and Zelda.

What was the point of fighting?

She lay on the couch with her head resting on the arm. Despite the hour and the weight on her mind, she slept little. Her mind was too full of her sins, not the least of which was her blame for what had happened.

Karsia needed the time to adjust, to come to terms with what had happened to her. Aisanna understood that. Still, she would need her wits about her to do what needed to be done.

She was awake when the grandfather clock in the hallway tolled six. Fists rubbed at dry eyes and she rose to check the window once more before heading down the hall for a drink of water. Mist rolled across the ground and covered the world in shades of grey. Beat down, weary, and even the sun refused to shine.

Certainly not what she’d signed up for when she agreed to summon a monster. There were too many things demanding pieces of her soul, demanding compensation.

Aisanna was on her third cup of coffee when her mother joined her in the kitchen. Instead of the usual put-together picture she presented, Varvara had not bothered with makeup.

“I’m sorry if I woke you,” Aisanna told her. “I need to get to the cabin but I can’t make myself move. Are you sure you won’t come?”

“If we leave, then who will be here if Karsia comes back?” Varvara gestured toward the near-empty pot. Lines rimmed her eyes and greasy strands of hair fell across her face. “We’d better start a whole new pot.” She leaned heavily against the counter and watched the machine click on and start to gurgle. “My baby is gone and my other children have targets on their backs.”

“Astix won’t stop fighting. It’s not in her nature.”

“And you?”

“I’ll do what I have to do.”

Aisanna heard a soft chuckle. “If it were anyone else, I’d say you sound like you’re giving up. But I know you. I swear we’ll get your sister back, and get the Claddium off our tail. This whole mess with Orestes and Zelda…it’s none of my business what they do until it impacts my children.”

“What are you saying?”

“I’m saying I’ve made it my business.”

The deep chime of the doorbell sounding interrupted their talk. Varvara held up a hand. “Stay here. I’ll take care of this.”

Aisanna set her cup down with shaking hands. “They’re here for me, Mom. I should have left when I had a chance.” At once, fear overtook her, a feeling she’d yet to experience when facing the antithesis of what she stood for.

“Not under my roof.” Varvara sent her a stern look. “Listen to me for once in your life and stay put.”

“No. I’ll handle it.” This wasn’t going to be a case where she let her mother fight battles for her. Not today.

She pushed up from the stool and stomped into the foyer, steeling her nerves. If they wanted to take her, then good luck. Varvara followed close behind.

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