Page 76 of A Touch of Stars and Stones
They talk, but I can’t make out what they are saying from a distance.
At least this time, Ascella circles alongside Ever, and they both take their time before Ascella moves to jab Ever, first on the left, then another, quick as lightning, encouraging Ever to move and respond.
When she swings, I grin, but know she telegraphed it too well, and Ascella blocks. However, Ever grabs hold of her arm, holding it firm in her hand and takes a step towards Ascella, using her few inches to her advantage.
But then they both stop moving.
They both lock their gaze on one another and don’t move. It’s like they’re frozen.
And we all wait, even checking to see if Rowan will intervene. Because nothing…
An ear-piercing scream rips through the air.
Ascella drops to her knees, and the scream is followed by another that trails into crying. Ever’s hands are still on her.
“No. Don’t fucking touch me!” She screeches at Ever, who looks wide-eyed and terrified, but she releases her grip, stepping back in a rush.
It’s not just our group. All the trainees now turn their attention to us, Perrin moving into the ring and Raiden breaking the edge, following and running straight for Ascella.
Fuck this. I go, too, my feet sprinting towards Ever.
“What is it? What is it, Cella?” Raiden asks.
She’s curled her knees to her chest, hugging them to herself.
I reach Ever, who’s still motionless, staring down at Ascella, a darkness shadowing her eyes.
“She showed me… my death,” she croaks out, so softly I can only just hear.
“No, I didn’t. I mean. I don’t know what that was.” Ever starts to fumble with her words, so I get in her field of vision.
“Ever? Eyes on me, don’t look at her. You’re fine. Ascella’s fine. It’s all okay.” She blinks, and her eyes focus on me, the darkness dissipating but leaving them with a vacant look again.
“I don’t know what I saw. I don’t know how…” she starts, but the words fade.
“I was dead, Rai. We were on a battlefield, hundreds of Kirrians, our army around us, and her, walking straight for me, a blade in her hand. We fought. She fought like it was Calix or Ten with the sword, and she shoved it straight through my chest.” Ascella’s voice snaps on the last word. She’s certainly firing the accusations. She pats her chest as if checking to make sure there isn’t a gaping hole there after all.
“We don’t know what you saw, but you’re very much alive,” I offer. However, I know what it’s like when you get one of those visions flashing into your mind. It turns you upside down, and you don’t know what you’re seeing.
“Perrin, take Ascella, Raiden too. Aurelia, you take Ever and Aten,” Rowan issues the instructions, having arrived.
Ever looks more shaken than Ascella now, and far too pale. I grab her hand, and that initial blast of heat descends into pain, a thousand tiny pinpricks, as I pull her with me out of the ring and back towards the training residence.
The pain is bearable and is joined by a steady shield of pure fear that eats into my body, but I shove it away. It’s Ever’s fear, not mine. Despite the instruction, I don’t wait for Aurelia and move us past the audience waiting on the edge of the ring and keep her hand in mine.
Consequences be damned.
twenty
. . .
Ever
My hand clings to Ten’s as if my life depends on it. I can barely focus on where we’re going. My mind is still stuck on that battlefield, the look of utter terror on Ascella’s face, the sickening shriek as the blade in my hand sank through her chest, and the way I gripped the hilt harder as I forced it past her ribs.
No.
That did not just happen. It wasn’t a vision of the future. I can’t be. I’d never be able to do that.
