Page 28 of Of Withering Dreams
Kaden was soon ahead of us, defenseless and unable to move. My hands flew to my mouth, holding back a scream and the sick rising. Another parasite latched onto his limp form, its worm-like arms embracing him tightly. His back bowed as the oozing being curved over him. Its barbed teeth latched onto his chest as it gulped in his ember.
“Ma, why?” Kaden’s ragged whisper broke my heart in half. His lips were pale, the same color as his now pallid skin. His aura was diminishing fast, the green of it barely visible.
Gavrel reached them, his hand and sword blazing as he stabbed through the demon’s side. The monster hissed, unlocking its grip on Kaden. It writhed and shrieked in agony as Gavrel pulled his sword away, stabbing it again through its gaping mouth. It sagged, flaccid and lifeless, onto the glowing moss.
Kaden crumpled to the ground, and I ran to him, holding him in my shaking arms. His body was freezing, his limbs limp. His upper body lay across my lap as I cradled his head in the crook of my elbow. He whimpered.
“Well, this is disappointing.”
The female’s voice startled me, jerking my body, jostling Kaden. Elder Melina Harrow leaned against a tree. Her snug black dress wrapped around her curves, the color marring the neon hues surrounding us. A steel-colored mantle hung from her slender shoulders and swept down, petting the moss beneath her. She casually inspected her dark, pointed nails. A striking, glossy ring wrapped around her thumb. Its intricately carved design resembled delicate lace sculpted out of black tourmaline. The ring’s interwoven contours and crevices glinted.
She caught my stare from under her lashes and let her arm fall as she pushed herself off the tree trunk with a dramatic moan.
“Why did you have to spoil the best part, Gavie?” she asked with an exaggerated pout and then laughed as her mouth settled into a simper.
“Forgive me, Mistress Harrow. I wasn’t about to allow my brother to be harmed,” he replied, his expression unreadable, aside from his ticking jaw. I followed his lead, grinding my molars together, wary of saying something any of us might regret.
She dismissed him with a wave of her delicate hand as she approached Kaden and me. She loomed over us, tilting her head to one side, studying me with one eyebrow raised. “You put on quite the show … Seryn Vawn, is it?” She didn’t wait for a response. “I’ve no doubt it would have been more riveting if Gavie hadn’t intervened.”
“Indeed, Mistress,” I murmured, keeping the acid in my gut at bay.
She clapped her hands together, glancing at Gavrel, who stood at my side. “Ah, the little puppet speaks.”
Puppet.
Heat gathered in my cheeks. I opened my mouth to reply but then thought better of it, slowly releasing my breath and sealing my lips. Kaden stirred in my arms, groaning and lifting his hands to rub his eyes.
“Kaden, it’s all right. I’ve got you.” I helped him sit beside me.
“All is well in the enchanted forest,” Melina quipped as she twirled and took a few steps away. She turned back to us, her mantle twisting around her curves, her platinum hair draping down her back meticulously. She grinned again as her hands stretched toward us.
A wisping dark smoke smoldered around her, licking over her arms and hands. Her uncanny silver eyes pierced into mine. A deep throbbing began in my scar and clawed over my head. My mind was breaking free of my skull, pushing against the thick bones. I pressed my palms to the sides of my head, scrunching my forehead—trying to rid myself of the intrusive ache. My aura flickered over my skin, and I welcomed its presence. All at once, the pressure dissipated. With a sigh of relief, I dropped my hands. My ember fizzled out, evaporating as swiftly as it had appeared.
Melina squinted, tilting her head. “I look forward to observing your ember develop, little Seryn. You are quite intriguing. It wouldn’t do for you to be trapped in the Stygian Murk when I’m just getting to know you. Perhaps you’ll heed my warnings and not stray so far again. Be a good pet, like your mother, and all will be well.”
I began to rise, ire pushing my limbs forward. Gavrel’s heavy hand bridled my shoulder, and Kaden grabbed my hand on the other side. Before I could tug my body away from them, Melina’s aura enveloped her in a billowing haze as she clapped her hands together. She vanished like a nightmare does upon waking. Her smoky ember drifted away into the neon leaves, joining the flames above us.
13
SLEEPLESS IN SURRELIA
Mare wyrms. That was what those soul-sucking demon leeches were. We were nearly back to the training field, Gavrel leading the way. I assumed he was particularly displeased with our lack of critical thinking skills—if his scowl was any indication.
“They hail from the Nether Void. Over the last century, Void creatures have been trespassing into Surrelia. The Order’s efforts to resolve the situation have been futile.” Gavrel swung his head from side to side before glaring at the ground momentarily. Then he adjusted his scabbard, his sword snuggly sheathed at his back as he strode into the open field ahead of us.
“Are you all right?” I asked Kaden.
“Yeah,” he muttered.
“Kaden …” I put my hand on his forearm, encouraging us to pause. His muscles tensed beneath my touch.
“I’ll be fine. Was it a shit experience seeing my mother? Yep. Would I recommend having your soul or whatever sucked from you? Nope. Now we know.” He shrugged, effectively nudging my hand from his arm.
“I understand. You know I do. Seeing my mother was devastating,” I murmured.
His eyes softened. “I know. Sorry. I’m grateful you snapped out of it—unlike me. I’m a jackass,” he groused, plunging his hands through his messy strands. Kaden’s bronzed complexion had returned, chasing away the chalky paleness the mare wyrm’s attack had triggered. I studied him from the corner of my vision, looking for any lingering signs of affliction.
His nose, once straight like his brother’s, was crooked after it had been broken. A rueful smile tipped one corner of my mouth. When we were sixteen, he had gotten into a scrap with another boy from our village. The boy had cruelly mocked me for not having a mother. Kaden tackled him, delivering several blows before the boy landed one good punch to Kaden’s nose and ran away. The boy never ridiculed me again.
