Page 93 of Daughter of the Serpent

The realization washed over her like a rushing wave, filling her heart with a sense of belonging she hadn't known before.

And just for that perfect moment, everything in the world was right.

Chapter Sixteen

Sylvie left the feasting hall with mixed emotions. In a matter of hours she had reunited with her mother, met her young sister, and they had rekindled their relationship. Yet, as her mother slipped away, young daughter in her arms, Sylvie was left more broken then the start. Despite all the joy she wished to feel, she couldn’t deny the utter rage that had risen up with it.

For years, they had been kept apart, their bond severed by the dictations of the temple.

Despite their carefully crafted justifications, she could not fathom the logic behind such heartless division. She had been robbed of time - years that should have been hers. Years she could have spent in her mother's arms, feeling the warmth of her, feeling her care and love - instead of knowing only the emptiness of the temple walls.

She looked up at the darkened sky, her breath coming in quick, uneven bursts as if she could find answers in the scattered stars. Anger coiled within her, a serpent winding through her chest, squeezing until she could barely breathe.

Why did things have to be this way?

The world around her blurred, pain clawing at her insides as shebegan to lose herself in the grip of her emotions. A heat began to rise in her palms, her body beginning to sweat as her magic began to thrum unchecked and unbidden through her body.

“Not enjoying the festivities?” Rederick’s voice slid into her awareness like a blade, sharp and unwelcome. Sylvie flinched, willing her magic to subside, yet it only seemed to grow more hot with his presence.

Rederick had been a ghost all evening, slipping from sight, making her doubt that he would linger. Yet now, here he was, looming close, his presence a weighted shadow instantly slamming against her senses. She lifted her chin, summoning every ounce of strength to meet his gaze.

“On the contrary, I enjoyed them very much, my lord,” she replied, her voice clipped, counting each heartbeat until she could escape him.

Rederick’s thin smile never reached his eyes. “I am pleased to see your mother made an appearance,” he drawled, each syllable slithering along her spine. “Unlike you, she has proven to be a faithful and true servant of the light.”

Sylvie bit the inside of her cheek, willing herself not to snap.

“And clearly the gods have rewarded her,” Rederick went on, his eyes gleaming. “A new sister - how fortunate.”

Sylvie forced herself to nod, her muscles coiled tight as she struggled to keep her expression neutral.

“Mave, is it? She certainly carries pure Mardovian blood - I could smell it on her skin when I gave her my blessing. So pure, so holy. Perhaps she too shall show signs of magic.” His gaze drifted back toward her, something cold and cruel flickering in his eyes. “Perhaps she too shall be of some use to the temple."

Sylvie flinched, cursing herself for the reaction. She despised how he wormed his way under her skin, dredging up her anger with ease. Her tongue was instantly laced with poison, ready to lash out at the mention of her sister and the temple. The very sound of her nameon his lips, the awareness of him touching something so precious, so innocent - made her insides squirm.

He caught the shift in her, a twisted smile curling at the edge of his mouth. “It must be difficult,” he continued, savoring the moment, “watching them move on without you - seeing them receive such a fine replacement.”

Her jaw clenched, but she managed a tight smile, slipping on the mask that she had perfected - one that said she was a content, humble, and obedient servant. “Not at all,” she lied smoothly. “I have found my place here, amongst my new family.”

Rederick’s lip curled, a shadow passing across his face. “Yes, the temple has been very accommodating - far too accommodating, if you ask me.” His gaze swept over the revelers who now wandered from the feasting hall, his contempt palpable. “But that leniency will be stripped away soon enough. You’ve shown your true blood, it is only a matter of time that the gods will condemn you for it.”

Her magic rose to the surface once more, her palms warming considerably as her temper flared. She couldn’t hold it back, nor her own tongue if she tried. Sylvie’s smile sharpened, defiance flickering in her eyes as she drew her gaze over him.

“And what about your blood, Rederick? Shall I take a blade and see what spills out?”

Surprised, he turned to face her, his expression dark as his eyes narrowed to slits. “You think you’re clever, girl,” he hissed, leaning closer until she could almost taste the venom in his breath. “But you’re nothing more than a fool - one who can be silenced with ease.”

Her fists clenched within the folds of her skirts, nails digging into her palms. “We shall see.”

“Regardless, You should be grateful,” Rederick continued, straightening to his full height, looking down his nose at her. “Grateful that you draw breath, that I didn’t see you tossed from the cliffs when I had the chance. Without my word, my mercy, you’d be nothing. And just as I’ve given you life, I can snatch it away - so treadcarefully. I would spend these final days before the trials making your peace - it is likely you don’t have long.”

“Not if I prove you wrong.” She mumbled, the words hardly audible under her breath.

Within seconds, invisible hands snaked around her throat, squeezing. She gasped, her heart rate instantly accelerating. Rederick’s eyes burrowed into her own. “Mark my words, you will amount to nothing. The gods will never know your name, nor will history after you. You are marked not for life - but death.” Rederick’s sneer twisted into a grim smile, his eyes alight with dark satisfaction. The tendrils of his magic coiled tightly around her, squeezing until her breath came in ragged gasps, her eyes wide and frantic. Fear coiled around her heart, tightening with each second. Rederick's cold stare pierced through her. “It’s about time you learned your place,” he sneered.

Then, with a sudden release, the magic unraveled, and she collapsed to her knees, lungs burning as she gulped down air. Curious eyes turned their way, and Rederick stepped closer, pulling her roughly to her feet before the whispers could gather strength. His hands moved over her robes, brushing off the dirt and mud with a patronizing care. He leaned in, a twisted smile curling on his lips.

“I am a patient man, but I will relish the moment the gods tear you apart.”

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