Page 21 of Stone Heart
She walked out from the bush, still using her magic to make herself invisible. The castle alarms blared, and Larina froze in place again and turned to look back at their home. Dark clouds rushed in over the castle, hiding the rays of the suns. Darkness surrounded her. She backed up, tendrils of fear creeping into her small chest.
“Mommy!” she shouted, haring off down the path her mother had taken.
“Larina!” Her mother’s voice was drowned out by the roar that trembled through the earth.
Larina released a scream and tumbled to the ground, scraping her knees in the process. Tears blinded her as she sat, confused.
“Mommy!” she screamed. Fear gripped her, and her body shook with sobs. She wanted to feel her mother’s arms wrapped around her but she didn’t know where she was. She didn’t want to play the game anymore.
Her body trembled, and she sensed her powers slithering along beneath her skin. She cried out, a spurt of energy bursting from her body. She whimpered, trying to pull her energy in like her teachers had taught her.
“Larina, calm down,” her mother’s soothing voice sounded behind her.
Larina whipped her head round. Her beautiful mother stood there. Tears streaked her face, and she walked toward Larina. “My dear, what have we told you about using your powers to make you invisible? I need to see you. If it wasn’t for your powers glowing, Mommy wouldn’t have been able to find you. Hurry, little one.”
The desperation in her mother’s voice had her quickly closing her eyes and pulling back on her powers. Her mother smiled and, leaning down, she wiped the tears from her face. The queen swept Larina up in her arms and held her tight to her chest. Larina returned her mother’s hug hard, breathing in her scent.
“I’m so sorry, Mommy,” she hiccupped.
Her mother swiftly made her way through the gardens. “Don’t worry, Larina. Those powers will one day come in handy. We must hurry. Danger is coming. I must get you to safety,” she murmured against Larina’s forehead.
Larina didn’t know why the sky had darkened the way it had. She may only be eight years old but she knew danger when she saw it. She raised her head and peeked over her mother’s shoulder.
Dark clouds continued to scud along over the castle, and a shiver ran through Larina.
Something was coming.
She may be young but she recognized evil.
Somehow, young Larina knew the evil that was moving in toward their home was coming for her.
