Page 93 of Daughter of the Darkened City

Pain rippled over her body as if part of her were being torn to shreds. Her power depleted, draining entirely and she let out a gasp for breath, as if she’d been knocked square in the chest. This was it. This was her end. When she started the next verse, she would draw power back again. But it would be too much. Too much for one demon. She wasn’t a true conduit or sink. It would overpower her, making her heart stop.

But she felt no more fear.

Regret for not having more time with Avenay? Yes. For the pain it would cause her brothers? Yes. But no fear. She would see the goddesses’ faces. She would see her colony, her parents.

Avenay.

She closed her eyes. Her heart beating like a battle drum in her ears.

Avenay.

Something seemed to respond, like rays of light over her shadows, reaching through the leaves of trees, touching her spirit, caressing her. She found that line between her and Avenay. It was tense, but at her prodding, it responded with excitement. She didn’t know how to express everything she wanted to through the bond, but she put all her love and affection, all her desire and joy down it, hoping it hit Avenay and that would be her last memory of her.

I love you, my mate.

And she began again.

Grant me your power

Grant me your light

Grant me the courage

To wield your might

Double the power

Double the might

Fill the shadows

With your light

Energy hit her with a force so strong that she went sprawling back on the floor, the sword coming with her, clanking against the stone. Magic poured over her like a waterfall, beating her, drowning her.

Onora screamed, her face twisting in pain as she desperately ripped back her sleeves. Swirls of dark mottled her skin, the surrounding white puckering to angry, searing red. Enid frowned in confusion as her eyes swam. The power was too much and too strong as it flowed through her, closing off her functions, stealing her breath. She clawed at her throat on instinct, even as her conscious mind knew it was no use. She thrashed and flipped on the ground as her vision blurred, then went black entirely.

Chapter 34: Avenay

Avenay screamed the moment she felt it. The bond between them severed. The pain Enid felt whipped across her before there was nothing. Vasu was next to her in a moment, hands on her shoulders.

“What is it?” he asked, looking her over for any injury.

“No, no, no, no…” she repeated the words frantically, searching her mind for any explanation. “It’s too early. The ritual wasn’t supposed to start yet.”

A lump formed in her throat. This couldn’t be true.

Enid. Enid. Enid!

Her mind was a tempest, her hands shaking as fear and anguish washed over her. She desperately searched for that thread between them, that bit of light, but it was gone. Dark and cold and silent. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she tried to reason it away. But how could she? The bond had been ever present since she’d seen Enid that day in Elf Glen. And she’d realized then it had always been present, just slack and quiet.

The absence was a hollow emptiness, dark as the pit, cold as ice, silent as death. She gasped for air around the sob that came out of her, grasping her throat as if she were grasping to hold on to that thread, pull it back, keep it there.

Enid. Enid. Enid.

Every part of her hurt, inside and out. Every inch of her skin felt raw and tender, her heart breaking with every beat, her jaw clenching so tight pain radiated up her face. This couldn’t be true. Enid couldn’t be dead.

Not when she had just found her. Not when she’d just begun to know her and love her.

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