Page 14 of Daughter of Shadows and Ash

Chapter 9

We ran through the woods, Maël leading me through a shortcut that avoided the main road. We needed to get home fast and couldn't find the owners of the camp along the road. As we neared the village, more light peered through the trees. The sun was still rising, casting an eerie glow through the canopy.

Breaking through the dense foliage, bodies strewn across blood-soaked grass, I finally understood why, my heart dropping like a stone as I saw the front gate ablaze, the wood crackling against orange flames. The entire village was engulfed in a hellish inferno.

"Find whoever you can and hide in the woods," Maël commanded, drawing his sword from its scabbard. "Whatever happens, get to safety, I will find you after." I met his gaze and nodded, swallowing hard.

I drew my dagger as I followed him into the chaos-stricken village. People were running, screaming. Dark armored figures cut down villagers indiscriminately, their blades flashing in the firelight. Maël clashed with one as I darted towards some ofthe homes not completely engulfed in flames, desperate to save anyone I could. Inside, I found only the dead—faces I'd known all my life, now empty vessels staring into nothing.

As I emerged from the last house I'd searched, I saw a child cowering by a crate. Barely old enough to count his summers, I ran towards him, keeping my eyes peeled for any of the attackers.

"Hey, are you okay? Let's get you somewhere safe." I reached out my hand. The child's face, pale beneath the soot and tear tracks, bobbed in a solemn nod as he grabbed my hand.

"My mommy wouldn't wake up."

My heart splintered, and I guided us through the maze of burning homes towards a dense copse of trees. I glanced around and motioned for him to hide there. "Keep your head down, I'll come back for you. If you see any of the bad men, run into the woods and don't stop, okay?" He nodded. That was good enough for me, and I prayed none of the attackers ventured this way.

I ran back towards the smoldering ruins of our once peaceful village. Recognizing the path to our home, I pushed my legs harder, my lungs burning from the smoke. I could hear the shouts of men amidst the thick haze of smoke, but I couldn't hear the screams of villagers. I refused to contemplate the meaning behind that silence. That silence held more horror than a thousand screams.

As I rounded the corner,my grandmother's screams pierced the air. Our cottage blazed, a fierce orange inferno consumingmy grandmother's beloved garden. She stood among the wreckage, a vision of spiteful hate.

"Oi, is this the one?" One of the brutes surrounding her growled to another. The commander stood taller and appeared to hold the authority.

"Aye, that's her. You've made some powerful enemies, old woman. Took us a while to track you down." He sneered, his lips curling with malice. In one swift, merciless motion, he thrust his sword into her chest.

A scream tore from my throat as my grandmother crumpled to the ground. I was mere steps away but not close enough. My heart shattered into a thousand pieces as I watched the life drain from her eyes. In a blur of rage and desperation, I unsheathed my dagger and buried it in the nearest man's flesh. He didn't even have time to register what was happening, his words lost in a wet, gurgling gasp. I whirled on the others, there were two more and their leader. They eyed me with amusement, their laughter a cruel taunt. I was alone, it was clear they had razed the entire village. I just hoped Maël had escaped, that he was somewhere safe, helping others hide.

"What do we have here?" The leader smirked, "Care to warm my tent, lovely?" His cronies chuckled as he took a measured step forward.

"I'd sooner slit my own throat," I snarled, inching towards my fallen grandmother. Maybe I could heal her, maybe it wasn't too late.

"That can be arranged," the leader stated coldly, nodding to the brute on his right.

"What kind of blade is this?" The brute I'd fought asked, stooping to retrieve my fallen dagger. It sparkled like starlight despite the blood now flecking its surface. The leader glanced at it, and his face drained of color as he looked then to me. His demeanor changed instantly, like he felt threatened.

"Kill her now. We can't risk her surviving," he commanded.

I tried to get away, but I was only mere steps away from my attacker, his sword poised to strike. I scrambled, reaching with my good arm for another weapon when my eyes caught movement past the man stalking towards me.

Maël fought another man, he had the leverage. He swiftly gutted his opponent and caught sight of me as the man fell. Fear laced his eyes as he realized what was happening. "ALORA!" He called. Whatever he was going to say next was cut short.

Gods, please,I begged.Anyone but him, take me in his place, just let him live.

A blade protruded from his abdomen, shock etched across his face as he fell to his knees, his eyes fixed on me, filled with sorrow.

"That's the last one, Captain Johan," Maël's murderer called out triumphantly.

I couldn't see how near my own soon-to-be killer was, time slowed as my eyes stayed on that same spot. On the man laying dead on the ground. My grandmother not far, struck down. That was the last one. It was only me, no one else to save our village, no one left to defend. I felt a sudden rush of warmth yet coolness as I cried out, something foreign erupting from within. My body trembled as my power burst forth, surrounding us in darkness. I could see the men looking around uncertain, as if they couldn't see. I took the chance to launch myself at the one before me, twisting his sword straight into his own neck. Distracted by the lack of sight, he didn't have a chance to react as I took his life. I kept hold of the sword and kicked his body off it, it landed with a sick thud. I could barely stand as I looked at the remaining three. Warmth bloomed in my hand, I looked down to find a pure light flame licking my fingertips.

"What the fuck are you?" The leader gasped, his eyes trained on my hand, the only light in this darkness. His blade poised.

I could feel the power building, I couldn't control it. It was coming no matter what I did. I cried out, trying to will my body under control. It was too much. Flames surrounded me, my flames. Pure white, growing higher and faster. I could hear the leader shout something but I couldn't make it out, barely conscious in my own body as power flooded me and unleashed itself upon the world.

Let it,I told myself.Let it cleanse the world.

Chapter 10

Iawoke to a world of ash, the remnants of my community and their homes reduced to nothing but dust and memories. The darkness I had summoned and the flames I had unleashed had vanished, leaving only destruction in their wake.

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