Page 81 of Riftborne
“Narissa.” I felt my cheeks get hot. Suddenly I wanted to go drench myself in the rain outside.
“Of course. She’s my third in command, behind Mercer.” His face tilted as his eyes studied me, likely wondering why I’d asked such a thing.
Immediately, I regretted it. An unfamiliar ache ran through me. I wanted to forget this conversation. I wished I could take it back. I didn’t want to feel like this.
“Fia, you have to promise me something.” A seriousness washed over his eyes. One that caught me even more off-guard. “You have to promise me that you’ll stay out of trouble while I’m away. Remember to address those in a station above you as you should, with respect. Don’t try to make any new friends outside of Venom. Don’t do anything risky.”
The seriousness in his eyes turned into a sort of pleading, almost as if he was desperate for the words to sink into my skin.
“I won’t be here to protect you.” He said in a quiet voice.
I opened my mouth, and then closed it, unsure of what to say. I simply nodded.
“Do you promise?”
“Yes.” It was all I could muster.
“And you must continue your training. It’s never been as important as it is right now.”
“I’ll make sure I’m at peak control by the time you return,” I said, giving him a look of reassurance. I hoped it seemed genuine.
“Well, that’s good to hear.” He offered me a small smile and leaned forward, resting his forearms against his knees. “What’s gotten into you?”
I shook off the question as I sunk back into my lower spine, diverting my attention to the tendrils and the tendrils alone.
CHAPTER 29
Darkness surrounded me.
It was vast. Specks of light dotted the expanse as misty clouds wafted across.
I felt my feet sinking down, finally meeting a ground that wasn’t visible.
I attempted a step forward, and was immediately unsuccessful. My body wouldn’t move.
I began to see a small sliver of something reflective in the distance, slithering toward me. As it approached, I realized it was translucent, as if lit from within. It looked like the webbing that rested at the base of my spine.
I reached out, and it began to swirl through my fingers. A smile crept up my lips.
Soon enough, another was flying toward me, drifting into my other hand. They doubled in size, then tripled, weaving their way up my arms.
Suddenly, they began to pull me, as if wanting me to walk forward, but my feet still wouldn’t budge. They unraveled themselves and retreated to the darkness once again.
I wondered where they wanted me to go.
What they wanted me to see.
Osta was sprawledout on the sofa as I stepped into the living room. One hand was draped over her eyes, and she was gripping a few pages of parchment in the other. A quill and ink sat unused on the table.
“Osta? Did you sleep in here?” I asked, noticing the small throw haphazardly covering her lower half.
“Hmm?” Osta murmured, rubbing her eyes. She slowly sat up on her elbows and leaned her head back to look at me, still squinting from the early morning light.
“Oh–erm, I must have dozed off,” she said quietly. I walked over, gently tugging the blank parchment from her hand.
“What were you doing with this?” I raised an eyebrow. I’d never seen Osta write in anything beyond her design journal.
“I haven’t heard from any of the Nobility about a follow-up…” she murmured, running her fingers through her hair. I sat down at the end of the sofa. I could spare a few moments before heading to the Apothecary.
