Page 34 of Forsaken Secrets

14

Lynk

The darkness clung like a heavy cloak around me as I wove through the trees, my prey almost within my grasp. The shade — its dark form blending with the night's shadows — was hunting, focused on something or someone, and didn't even notice my presence.

Drawing close, I debated my options.

I should just end it quickly, but I craved a true fight, something to offset the frustration over not finding those missing people. A spirit wraith like that shade might be the perfect opponent.

I slid my scimitar from its sheath, the curved edge glinting in the moonlight.

The shade paused, scenting the air. It shadow-cloaked face lifted to the sky, then twisted to face something to my right.

I looked in that direction and groaned.

Kaiya squatted near a tall stone at the edge of their estate and was … clearing weeds? She reached out and ripped off the moss that had grown over it.

Her magic was suppressed, but I had no doubt this wraith was chasing her, and it wasn’t the first one.

How were the damn wraiths finding her?

I ground my teeth and moved faster.

If I hadn't been here, that shade would have consumed her spirit essence until she was nothing but empty hazel eyes and paper-thin skin.

It breached the tree line, but I cut around to intercept it, running my thumb down the hilt of the blade until shadows bled out, spreading up the metal like a sheet of black mist.

I stepped to the shade's side, then spun the blade in an arc, sending its head toppling. Dark spirals of shadow shot like spurting blood from the newly decapitated body.

The fucker kept moving.

Out of the corner of my eye, Kaiya stood and moved further down the drive before dropping to her knees again.

My throat tightened. Dare I warn her? Perhaps she'd take her own safety more seriously …

No. She'd have too many questions that I couldn't answer. Especially after the morning at the cliffs.

The shade jolted forward, picking up speed, and my body pulsed with energy.

Closing my eyes, I connected to the wraith's spirit korra, dark and twisted from its connection to the void. I reached out for that darkness, letting the biting cold fill me, poking and stabbing through my defenses.

They were shredded in an instant, and I hissed at the biting pain.

Gritting my teeth, I connected with my blade and pulled as hard as I could, welcoming the icy darkness into my korra.

It would be right at home …

Full, I opened my eyes and stared at the dispersing shadows as a human form took shape and the corpse slumped lifelessly to the ground, dark tattoo covering his left cheek.

Fucking hell.

I looked at the moons, then opened my mouth and let out a silent scream, releasing the tension that had built up inside me.

Energy pulsed through my veins, a humming throb to keep time with my heart.

I needed to move. To think.

Grabbing the body, I ran deeper into the forest.

Frustration ate at me, but this was how it was supposed to be.

This was my atonement.

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