Page 173 of The Gods Veiling
“You heard me. What the hell was that? Why did you help me?”
“I’m sorry, did you fucking want to be dragged into the darkness by these…things?”
She scoffs as she sways to reach for a discarded sword. Her eyes are full of a mixture of hatred and despair that I don’t understand when they meet mine.
“You have no idea what you just did, but I’m telling you now, don’t ever fucking do it again.”
With that, she charges back into the fray behind us while I stand confused, pissed, and still on high alert.
What could I have possibly done to her?
I shake my head, convincing myself now really isn’t the time to give a fuck about Mara’s reaction to being saved. I turn to rejoin the fight, but a cold chill sweeps through me and causes my feet to halt.
“Miss, w-will you help me?”
Icy dread seeps into the very little strand of soul I have. Slowly, my body pivots toward the sound of that small voice. My knees try to buckle beneath me when I lay my eyes on the little girl.
She can’t be any older than little Laney.
Her shoulder-length hair is caked in blood, mud, and gods only know what else. Her face is petrified and her black lip trembles.
She’s one of them, but innocence surrounds her. She looks terrified for her life.
Why is she here? Why is there a child entering a battlefield?
I lower my sword and press the tip into the dirt. I force the shakiness out of my voice and speak as gently as I can. “Sweetheart, where are your parents? You shouldn’t be here.”
“They…they’re in there. They left me. Will you find them, please? I don’t want to be alone.”
My heart shatters in my chest. That chill sinks deep below my skin and my nose starts to burn from the tears I fight as the girl sniffles and wipes the black drip that pours from hers. Emotions clog my throat to the point it’s suffocating.
The likelihood her parents are somewhere alive behind me is slim to none. If they are, they very well won’t be for long. I don’t see our forces capturing creatures or letting any of these beings free.
She takes a step closer to me, and I step back, pleading with my eyes. “Don’t come out here, sweetie. You need to get somewhere safe. I don’t…I don’t know where your parents might be, but you need to go back where they left you and find a safe adult. Please.”
“I don’t have anyone else.”
Valories…please no.
I want more than anything to wrap my arms around her and tell her she’ll be okay. I want to wipe her tears away and move her dirty hair from around her face. I want to tell her to run. Run far and fast. Find someone. There will be people out there who help and accept her. She doesn’t have to be alone. I can’t be here for her, but I can get her out of here.
Out of nowhere, a body appears behind her with their sword at her throat and a scream tears out of me.
“Creed, stop! That’s a child. She’s just a child.”
His blazing white eyes collide with mine and I want to throw up. The mournful look on his face tears me to pieces.
“Listen to me and look closely.”
“Please, Creed, let go of the little girl. She won’t hurt us. Just turn her around and let her run. Please.”
“Look at her,” he bellows, and my body shakes from the force of him tugging on my soul. Fury and hurt slice through me as my tears become heavy enough to fall. “Thayla, I’m sorry, I’m so sorry, but I can’t hold my power off much longer. Please look and see the truth.”
Although my head shakes, I look. I stare into the eyes of that little girl whimpering for her life. My sadness and anger grow the more she cries.
Until…
Her cry turns into a laugh.
