Page 2 of Clouded by Envy

They both came to a halt for a moment on a large crooked branch.

“I would never leave you behind,” Bray said. “I love you, and I am always here to protect you. Always have been—always will be.” She wrapped her arms tightly around his back, and tugged Brenik into a solid hug.

Pausing for a moment with his hands at his sides, Brenik finally brought them up to hold her just as tight. She was his only family now. When they were first born, right before they could fly, Bray attempted with all her might to carry him because he was not strong enough to move his wings. She helped him get through it, yet it was also her fault that he was the way he was—even though it was not.

Brenik pushed the conflicting thoughts away. “I am here for you, too,” he said. They had only been alive on Laith for ten years, but after all they had been through, it felt much longer than that.

Slowly releasing him, Bray dove from the tree. Before he followed, Brenik scanned the ground below and his eyes widened with fright. There were bones thrown and scattered across the lush greensward. The Jovkins must have torn the bodies apart, ate what they wanted, and disposed of the bones like they were nothing.

Brenik didn’t want to worry Bray, so he leaped off the gnarled branch and followed her to search for the Stone of Desire. He kept his thoughts away from Junah and what lay ahead, because it would have to be better than the death that awaited them if they remained in Laith.

Together they flew and they flew, through the blend of trees that were all a blur except the leaves’ embodiment of color that warped Brenik’s vision. Time had no meaning until the sound of water flowing awoke him from his trance. Slowly, Brenik let his wings lessen their movement right as Brayora did the same.

A large white boulder slid into view. “Brayora, look! I think that is it,” he called.

His sister’s head twisted back to him, then whipped around to where he was frantically pointing. “You are right, little brother. That has to be it.”

Higher and higher Brenik flew, until he could tell the structure on top of the stone was the shape of a rose. The rock was bright white, and dark shadows seemed to dance all around it under the twin suns’ flakes of bright light. Already, they were in the process of setting to make room for the twin moons to rise.

Closer. He needed to draw closer. Swishing his wings back and forth, slower and slower, he let his body descend toward the top of the rock’s creases before landing in between two folds. Shortly after, Brayora dwindled down beside him.

Kneeling on the rough stone, Brenik lifted his hand to press it to the grain at the same time as Bray whispered, “Put your hand against it like Junah said.”

“I know,” he shot back, his face contorted in rage. She did not need to remind him how to do everything. Her expression told him she was sorry, yet she still monitored his movements closely.

Brenik smacked his hand against the boulder while his sister gently pressed down on it. Shifting his focus from the rock to Bray’s face, Brenik found no answer of what was to come. Her gaze penetrated the rock as if she was trying to command it to move—but everything wasnotcommanded by her like she thought it was.

At that precise moment, a hard quake knocked Brenik backward. He struck the right side of his wing against the rough edge of the rock fold.Maybe she does command everything, he thought. Quickly, he rubbed the tip of his wing where it radiated with pain, and then hopped off the Stone, followed by Bray.

His hands were by his sides, fingers fluttering with intense movements of nervousness, when another vibration from the Stone shook the ground, causing it to inch side to side. Dirt surrounding the white rose rock slithered away in broken fragments.

Bray appeared to be the epitome of calm, while Brenik wanted to fly back to Junah to let her know what happened. His heart pounded and ached at having to leave Junah. But no matter what, he could not go back. The Jovkins could already be making their way to where Junah was.

The large rock ascended from the ground as a consistent convulsion shook the surrounding trees. Birds rapidly chirped above them and then stormed away, causing a few crunchy brown leaves to rain down upon Brenik.

Bray and Brenik floated softly to the ground. The jolting noises stopped after the rock had grown into something new, almost oval-like. It stayed perfectly still, unmoving. Then it happened. It awakened, unfolding from different areas: thin, long legs emerged from the bottom—alabaster stone arms emerged from the sides. A head poked out like a turtle coming out of its shell, and the rose structure seemed to glide downward to cover its back.

The sight of the Stone’s head caused Brenik to take two steps back. Shaking, Brenik gritted his teeth and then bit the side of his tongue to make it bleed, so he could focus on something else. The two eyelids of the Stone leisurely opened to reveal eyes the color of raven wings. No nose. No mouth. But somehow it spoke in a voice that was low and deep.

“What do you desire?” The voice didn’t come from outside, it came directly inside Brenik’s head.

Bray appeared startled, too. Neither one of them said anything to each other, both only focused on the creature in front of them.

“What do you desire?” the voice boomed inside Brenik’s skull once again. His head felt like it was on fire. He lifted his hands and placed them against his temples to try and make the stinging sensation stop.

Bray, ever the brave one, spoke up for the both of them. “A Jovkin named Junah sent us here and said you may be able to send us away—somewhere safe.”

Tilting its head to the sky and then gingerly angling it down, the Stone crawled toward them. “So, you want me to save you. Why should I do this?”

“Please, I want you to help my brother. Harbor us, but most of all protect him.” Bray fell to her knees in pleading.

“And you?” The Stone’s head shifted lower until it was just a hairsbreadth from Brenik’s face.

“Yes, please save me. I—I won’t be able to survive if you leave me here.”

“What about your sister?”

“Yes,” he rushed the words out. “Her, too.” He did not want to be separated from his sister on the journey, and he would not leave without her.

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