Page 12 of Sapphire Queen
Chapter 8
Sarifena began sifting through the debris. The explosion had destroyed several homes and damaged many more. Fields were charred from the flames she’d extinguished, leaving the permanent mark of hatred on her land. Heaving remnants of brick and wood, Sarifena helped her men pull victims from the rubble. It felt as though an eternity passed, and there were still mounds of broken memories scattered across the land.
“Sarifena!” Emersyn, the Emerald Queen, raced from a parked car. “I came as soon as I heard. Are you ok?”
Sarifena embraced her sister, “Yes… but” her breath caught as she waved her arm toward the damage, “Look at the land – these people's homes…” she let out a sob as she shook her head.
“I’m here to help. We can fix this together,” Emersyn grabbed her hand, “Let’s finish digging survivors out, and then we can put the land back together.”
Lacing their palms together, Sarifena and Emersyn began working to free anyone buried. Sarifena’s eyes strayed to Heath, who was working to help the wounded.
“So…” Emersyn spoke, cutting through her trance, “you and the doctor, huh?”
Sarifena glanced at her sister, “No… it’s complicated.”
“Complicated? You like him, and he likes you… so what’s the hold-up?”
“He wants something I can’t give him, Emersyn.”
“Hogwash.” Emersyn tossed a broken board aside, “You’re stupid. I know you think you’re broken because of the poison… But Sari,” Emersyn tilted her head, “What if you’re not? Are you going to throw away something good? Sometimes you have to take a chance, or you’ll miss out on something wonderful.”
“I…” Sarfiena paused as a blood-curdling scream stopped her.
“PLEASE SOMEONE…,” a nearby woman was screaming, “MY BABY!”
“Shit,” Emersyn and Sarifena stood, rushing to her side.
“Please… help him.”
Clutched in her hands was a young boy, a toddler. He was unconscious and covered in blood and ash.
“He was inside the house when the explosion happened. I found him buried beneath the rubble. Please… don’t let him die.” She sobbed into one of the guard’s chest as he pulled her from the child’s lifeless body.
“Emersyn?” Sarifena looked at her sister, her unspoken question clear between them.
Emersyn pushed away from the tattered remnants of wood and pulled him into her arms. Placing her hand against his chest, she closed her eyes and called her magic. Sarifena held his tiny hand in hers, as her sister’s magic flowed through his body. She could feel the tingle of Emersyn’s magic in her palm. The sensation traveled through her arm as she watched the earthly glow consume his fragile limbs.
Finally, the child stirred in her lap and took a breath.
“EVAN!” the mother dropped to her knees and engulfed him in an embrace, “Thank you, Your Majesty. Thank you.”
Emersyn collapsed onto her butt, taking a deep breath. Drake, her fiancé, wrapped his arms around her, pulling her into his lap. Using their magic usually took a toll on them, causing them to be weak.
Sarifena conjured some water into her hand, “Here, drink this,” she pushed her palm against Emersyn’s mouth and helped her swallow the liquid.
“Thank you.” Emersyn sat up, “I feel better. Let’s see what else we can do to fix this mess.”
As she stood, another explosion rocked the ground.
“What the fuck,” Drake peered into the distance, “That was the Amethyst Kingdom.”
“Amalee,” Sarifena gasped, “Commander!” she called out, “Find out what’s happening… make sure Amalee is not injured. And see if she needs our help. Constable,” Sarifena turned toward Constable James, “Call the other Kingdoms… we need to alert them they could be next.”
Sarifena turned to Emersyn, “You sure you feel up to cleaning this mess up?”
“Yes, but I must siphon some of your magic.” Emersyn took Sarifena’s hand and raised their joined arm into the air. She used her other hand to manipulate the environment as she called forth her magic.
“Use your magic to make it rain. It will help speed things up.”
