Page 14 of Riftborne
Fear seeped back into me as I stepped past him.
The sun was peeking out from over the mountains in its descent. It would be dark soon.
I crossed my arms until the door snapped closed behind me.
Stealing a glance in his direction, my eyes gave me away. He was just staring at me with that odd curiosity again. Not saying a word.
“Let’s just get to it then,” I said curtly.
He shook his head, huffing an amused sigh. “That’s the tone you intend to use?” he asked with such superiority, I thought I might suffocate.
“Will it change anything?”
He strode over to the table where we kept our gardening tools, picking up a hand shovel and examining it.
“I’m just trying to understand the reason behind your contempt. You seem enraged. And all I’ve asked for is a simple conversation,” he taunted.
“I apologize,” I murmured, hiding the chill that wanted to lace my voice. My eyes wandered towards the floor.
He raised an eyebrow, lowering his chin.
“That’s a much more acceptable tone, don’t you think?” His voice dripped with sarcasm. “Since we both know why I’m here, why don’t you start with telling me what it is exactly that you did to those poor girls.” He leaned back against the table, crossing his feet. “I’ve never seen anything like that. And I’ve just about seen it all.”
“I… I don’t really know.” The words fell out. I could feel my confidence draining through my feet. But defiance still lingered, albeit quietly, in the back of my mind.
He rolled his eyes. “Riftborne. My patience is dwindling. Your focus. What is it?” he snapped.
“My focus? I... don’t know. I don’t have a focus… I mean...” I shook my head, confusion creasing my brow. “I don’t have any control over it. I’d hardly call it afocus.”
He cocked his head to the side and narrowed his eyes. “What do you mean, you don’t have control? How did you even channel it?”
“I was agitated. It only happens when I’m in a heightened state.I don’t know how to explain it. It just overcame me. I couldn’t stop. I can never stop on my own,” I stammered.
He pursed his lips before turning his head, deep in thought.
“I didn’t mean for it to happen,” I added. As if it weren’t obvious.
He continued to stare at the corner of the room like he hadn’t heard me.
“Has this happened before?” he finally asked.
I hesitated, horrified by the prospect of discuss the times I had previously unleashed my curse on someone.
“I’d rather not talk about it,” I said, wrapping my arms around my middle.
Anger flickered across his eyes. He continued to glare at me, but his amusement returned.
“I’d rather not make this more difficult than it needs to be,” he shrugged, angling his head. “But I certainly can.”
In a blinding flash, a dagger sliced through the air, aimed dead center at my face. Terror seized my throat. Time seemed to freeze as I flinched, the blade whispering past my cheek before embedding itself in the wooden beam behind me.
After a few deep breaths, I opened my eyes to find him smiling wickedly. Like this was his own personal form of entertainment.
“If you’re going to kill me, just do it now,” I whispered, bracing myself against the beam.
The General rose to his feet and approached me with measured steps, stopping just mere inches from my face. His emerald eyes locked onto mine as he reached past me to retrieve his dagger. He brought the blade to my neck, dragging it gently along the contour of my throat. I held my breath, expecting the kill.
“You don’t get to die until I’ve had my questions answered. If your own life doesn’t matter to you, then we’ll have to go in another direction. That other Riftborne girl was at the party too, correct?” His low tone hit me like daggers of ice. “What was her name again… Osta?”
