Page 101 of Seized to Sacrifice
Elle felt a hand on her shoulder and turn to find Vie.
‘What's wrong?’ the witch asked in concern.
‘I'm sorry,’ Elle said. ‘It's just … up there. I knew about some of those things. I know what I have to do but—’
‘I understand,’ Vie said. ‘Everything must be taking its toll on you.’
Elle nodded jerkily.
‘There’s a quiet place in the Library itself where you can be alone if that might help.’
Vie glanced at Thorne as she began to lead Elle away and she froze mid-stride.
‘Well that's odd,’ she said to herself as if forgetting that anyone else was listening.
‘What is?’ Thorne growled menacingly.
Canting her head, her brows knitting together.
‘I’ve never seen an aura like yours before.’
Thorne snorted. ‘Suppose I’m just fucking special, eh, witch?’
‘You’re something,’ Vie said, ‘but I’m not sure if special would be the word I’d use. One side is so much darker than the other and there’s a break in the middle.’
‘He’s a shifter,’ Elle said helpfully. ‘Dark Realm.’
But Vie shook her head. ‘No, it's not that. Your essence is apart when it should be,’ she clasped her hands, interlocking her fingers, ‘together.’
‘I know, woman,’ Thorne snarled, clearly not liking Vie very much. ‘It's been like that for a long time.’
‘So youwantit to be one again?’ she asked.
‘Of course,’ Thorne replied, rolling his eyes. ‘but it's been too long. It’ll never be—’
Vie touched him on the arm and he jolted.
‘What did you do?’ Elle asked in concern, grasping Thorne as he swayed in his feet, his eyes unfocused.
‘I’m sorry,’ Vie said, looking embarrassed. ‘I just tried to meld the two sides of you back into one again; like knitting a wound back together, but I’m afraid it didn’t work. Ithasbeen a very long time since you were whole, hasn’t it?’
‘Yes,’ Thorne said simply.
‘It’s not too late.’ Vie said, staringthroughhim. ‘It looks to me as if you’ve been trying to repair the chasm.’
Thorne looked surprised. ‘It does?’
‘Yes,’ she said. ‘Don’t lose heart. Whatever you’re doing is working. It will just take time.’
She took Elle’s hand and pulled her. ‘Come,’ she said, ‘I’ll take you to that quiet place I was telling you of.’
Elle went with her willingly, giving Thorne an assessing look as she was led away. Vie took her across the Library floor to a corridor on the other side.
‘This is taking its toll on Thorne as well, though he pretends it isn’t,’ Elle said. ‘Thank you for trying to help him.’
Vie shrugged, looking uncomfortable with the praise. She led Elle through the hallway to a few steps that led down and then to the final door at the end.
She opened it.
