Page 83 of The Spark that Ignites
“Not only do you have two types of magic, which are unheard of—well, besides Vesper and Iz—but you aren’t thrust into a life you didn’t choose. You get to live both parts. Love who you want without reservation and fear.” The last words held a bitterness. Maybe she was thinking of Callias.
Scrunching her nose, Emmery hugged her knees to her chest. “To be honest, I’m torn. I can’t figure out what I am or where I fit. And theShadowheart—” She glanced sideways at Briar who gave her a brief nod as if she already knew. “I want to belong somewhere. Be normal for once.”
“Normal is overrated. You don’t need to be anything for anyone besides yourself,” Briar replied, offering a soft smile.
It was easier said than done.
A silence swelled before she spoke again.
“You know, my father was Fallen and worked as a tutor when he met my mother. He knew she was Hollow, and they fell for each other anyway. I guess some things you can’t change, and love has a way of worming into your heart. They ran away together when she became pregnant with my brother.”
“That’s sort of romantic,” Emmery said. “To love against all odds.”
“It is, but it didn’t end well for them. After they had my brother, it was tough for them and even harder after they had me. They had to hide their relationship and my father wasn’t around. He couldn’t be. Even missed my brother’s birth. My mother had to claim that she had us outside of a wedding blood oath. It ruined her reputation. It’s highly looked down upon, especially for Hollow women.”
Emmery’s heart ached at her story. To miss the birth of one's child and be punished for loving someone, like it’s a choice—it was unjust. God ordered or not.
Briar swallowed hard, her chest swelling with a deep breath. “I was four when they were discovered. My father took a small tutoring job so they could settle in a remote home to help keep their relationship secret. It didn’t pay well, but it put food on the table. It was one of the other Fallen tutors that reported him. They were both executed by King Thellonius.”
She went on, “My brother and I were out playing when the guard’s showed up. We hid in the trees outside our house until they left, but then they dragged us to that gods awful orphanage.”
Gut twisting, Emmery whispered, “That’s—awful.”
“It is. But we were unfathomably lucky they didn’t kill us. They could have gotten in tremendous trouble for not doing so, but I guess one of them knew my mother.” Briar shrugged as if it meant nothing at all, though she picked tirelessly at a scab on her arm until it bled. “But that’s life.”
Emmery chewed her cheek, unsure where to go from here. “Where’s your brother now?”
“I haven’t seen him in decades. Thankfully, he wasn’t here when the kingdom was destroyed, but he went missing after. Vesper said he’s serving King Destonne and he’s there voluntarily, which makes no sense. But then again Destonne has been known to be charming when he wants to be. Maybe he has something over his head. Some blackmail or I don’t know.”
“What’s he like?” Emmery asked. “Vesper told me he’s rather cruel. Vile, really.”
“He was always quiet and kept to himself, but I remember he was very clean cut and formal, and he didn’t keep a lot of friends. Easy on the eyes too ... if he wasn’t such a psycho.” She inspected her fingernails. “I haven’t seen him since he put onthat wretched crown but I’m sure it’s a sight to behold. Probably messes up his perfect hair.”
An infectious grin claimed her face which Emmery returned until she caught sight of Briar’s faded fingers and her stomach lurched.
Because the tips weregone.
Briar wiggled her blurred fingers. “It’s the cost. All Hollow magic comes with a cost. Vesper’s steals the pigment from his hair, and honestly, he won’t admit it, but I think it’s aging him too. Some are rumoured to inflict blindness or rot limbs and those with the burden of beast can lose their mind if they remain in their beast form too long. Mine just turns me invisible. It’s not permanent but I try to use it sparingly. Not sure what would happen if I didn’t.” And amazingly, her fingers refilled with colour as she spoke, fading back into existence. “You’ll have one for your—”
Bang!
Briar and Emmery leapt to their feet as the door practically knocked off its hinges.
Vesper stumbled through with Callias propped against him, arm slung around his shoulder, both drenched from head to toe in blood.
Chapter Thirty-One
Bowing under his friend’s weight, Vesper dragged an unconscious Callias, the toes of his friend’s boots skidding along the floor as his limp legs flailed like a stringless puppet. Fresh blood slathered Vesper’s leather armour, face, and hair like warpaint.
Emmery’s heart lurched as she searched Vesper’s body for the source but found none. Oh gods, was it all Callias’s?
Briar surged forward and grabbed Callias’s arm. “Merciful Deimos! What happened?”
“Hounds,” Vesper gasped, panting heavily. “Hollow hounds. They—” He sucked in a breath. “They were outside Ellynne. A half dozen of them. He—” Callias groaned as Vesper lay him on the floor, removed his cloak, and peeled off his soiled gloves, tossing them aside. “Thelunaticthrew himself in front of a charging hound. You fucking martyr! What were youdoing, Cal? I bloody had that one!”
Blood dribbled from Callias’s wounds, his breathing shallow and thinning by the second. From the severity of the bites, it was a miracle his innards weren’t spilling out. Shredded like paper, layered teeth imprinted his leather armour. No normal dog could have done that.
Briar fell to her knees and with a quaking hand, she swept aside the golden hair plastered to Callias’s tanned forehead, her other hand hovering over his battered body. “He’s—he’s lost too much blood.Vesper—” Her voice shook. “Dosomething.”
