Page 13 of Queen Takes Knights
My mother’s voice. Crying, I went to her, my hands seeking her in the darkness. As soon as I touched her, I could see her clearly, as though a full moon had broken through thick clouds. I’d forgotten how beautiful she was. Her hair was dark like mine, though with more curl and shape. I had her eyes, too. Inky midnight eyes, glittering with stars.
“My daughter.”
CHAPTER SEVEN
Shara
Mom’s arms wrapped around me, squeezing so hard I couldn’t breathe. It felt good, though. Many a night, she’d held me against her like this, assuring me that we were safe, even though there were monsters creeping around. She smelled like I remembered, a sweet vanilla that made my heart ache.
“I’ve got so much to tell you,” she whispered. “But first, I’m sorry. So sorry.” Her voice broke and she shook against me.
“It’s all right, Mom. I’m okay, and now, two men found me. They say they’re Blood. My Blood. Do you know what that means?”
She blew out a long, soft breath. “Yes. That’s why you’re here. Why I’m allowed to see you again. You’re claiming the Isador legacy.”
Daire and Alrik had mentioned a legacy too, but they’d been more excited about it. Mom sounded resigned, though maybe that was my imagination. She sat down, legs crossed, so I joined her, facing her. I glanced around, trying to place where we were. Rolling hills of sand went off in all directions and a night sky gleamed with stars overhead. A crescent moon hung over a tall mountain. No, not a mountain. The sides were too perfect and steep.
A pyramid.
“I never wanted the legacy. It was a heavy burden for me. I hope the goddess takes pity on you and gives you different gifts than mine. Gifts that will be more… bearable.”
I had so many questions. What kinds of gifts? How could a gift be a bad thing? Goddess? She’d never mentioned a goddess before. But I was afraid to distract her. She’d never talked to me so openly before, and deep down, I felt an urge to hurry. I sensed that time here was precious, trickling away like sands through an hourglass. I wanted her to tell me what was most important.
“When I fell in love with Alan, I thought it was an answer to my prayers. She heard my plea and gave me a way out, a life I could enjoy without the need for blood and power. The Triune even agreed to let me leave, as long as I never spoke of my heritage and never attempted to use my powers. They placed a geas upon me, so I couldn’t speak of my old life at all.
“It was easy to walk away. We lived a normal life. I had a job, a husband I loved, and there wasn’t the constant struggle of deciding who to award with blood. Who to punish by withholding my blood. Who to feed me, to gain the most power. Who to ally with. Who only wanted a taste of blood to use me as their weapon. I could finally live and breathe and it was wonderful.
“Until you came to us.”
Stricken, I could only stare at her mutely.
“I loved you dearly, Shara. Never doubt that. Alan was thrilled to have a daughter, but he didn’t understand the risk. We’d been outside of my nest for ten years, and not once in all those years had I been hunted by thralls. I’d given up the legacy, and my power dried up quickly. But you were born with power. From the very beginning, they smelled you. They wanted you. And they hunted us mercilessly. Without my power, I could do nothing to protect you. I couldn’t even tell you what hunted us, except in the most general terms, thanks to the geas.”
My stomach pitched and my breathing was too rapid and shallow. I had to concentrate on breathing in and out, slowly, before I passed out.
It was my fault that my parents were dead. The monsters had truly been hunting me all along. If I hadn’t been born, Mom and Dad would still be alive.
Mom squeezed my upper arms, drawing my attention to her face. She smiled, her eyes swimming with tears. “We wouldn’t have traded you for the world. Alan and I would both die a thousand times if we could have you in our lives. You truly are a gift from the goddess.”
I didn’t feel like a gift. In fact, I felt like a fucking curse.
“It’s time.”
I swallowed down the bile burning up my throat. “Time for what?”
“For you to see the goddess and receive Her gifts.”
“Isis?”
Mom nodded and stood, drawing me with her. “She’s waiting for you.”
Cold chills raced down my spine, making me shiver. “What do I do?”
Mom pointed at the pyramid. “I can’t tell you.”
“You did this?”
She nodded, and her lips moved, but remained tightly sealed. The geas must have kicked in. Or perhaps the goddess refused to let her tell me what to expect. Either way, it sucked. I didn’t want to screw up some ritual that I’d never been taught, or insult a goddess accidentally.
