Page 96 of Morning's Light

“Don’t finish that sentence,” Astix warned.

“I’m leaving now. Don’t try to come after me. It won’t end well for you.” Karsia jerked the door open. A shadow clung to her, a hint of the true nature of the maliciousness dragging her soul into the depths.

“No!” Aisanna tore after her, an instant too late.

Astix held out an arm and caught Aisanna around the middle. “Let her go. We’ll find a way. I won’t give up.”

They stood in the foyer, surrounded by memories and listening to their mother’s hushed sobs.

What the hell had happened? In a matter of seconds, their luck had turned. And Aisanna lost the baby sister she’d sworn to protect. A split second was all it took for Karsia to disappear. A split second to cause a rift in their family and a whole new world of trouble.

Aisanna walked to her mother and gave her a light pat, the slightest touch of fingers on her shoulder. “Shh, calm down. It’s going to be fine.”

Varvara trembled. “You’re mistaken. It will never be fine again, my dear.” She sniffed, wiping beneath her eyes. “Karsia’s right. The end is coming.” The statement caused Varvara to shrink into herself, her breath coming in harried gasps.

Even now, with the life she knew in tatters at her feet, Aisanna’s eyes refused to tear up. “What do we do now?” she asked instead.

“I don’t know.” Astix shoved a hand through her hair and sighed. “I don’t know what to do anymore. But we’ll figure it out. We have to.”

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