Page 29 of Where Darkness Falls

“Cara,” I whisper. “I am not going to hurt you. I’m your sister.”

“Then, what was THAT, Maeva? I-I’ve never seen your face like that. You were glowing! You just melted one of the king’s soldiers,” she shrieks, her breathing unsteady.

I’ve never heard her this fearful—especially not of me.

I try to inch forwarda step.

“I know,” I say, calmly. “I wish I could tell you how or why, but I’m still processing it myself.”

Cara huffs.

“Don’t mistake me for a fool, Maeva,” she warns, her tone full of sorrow and bitterness. “For ten years you’ve lived with my family, and not once have you ever shown an ability. Have you been lying to us all this time? Do you really not remember your life, or is that just a ruse as well?”

Her words strike me like a physical blow.

“Is that truly what you believe, Cara?” I ask,

She is quiet, except for a small sniffle.

Every moment she is silent, my heart grows despondent.

“I love your family as if they were my own flesh and blood. I love–,” my voice breaks. “I loveyou, Cara. I’ve never lied to you or knowingly led you astray. My first memory is wandering through Aurelius at fifteen, covered in blood. I don’t know who I am or where I came from, but I promise I wouldn’t hide something this serious, not when it could jeopardize the safety of those I love.”

Distant howls fill the night sky.

It’s late, and there are all manner of creatures lurking in the shadows. If we stay here, it’s only a matter of time before one finds us.

I take a deep breath.

“I don’t understand what just happened, and I want to try explaining it to you, but we need to get back home first, before something worse than the soldiers finds us. I promise that once we are home, I will explain, but we must go now,” I say.

“You will tell me everything?” she asks faintly.

I walk until I’m standing in front of her. Bending down, I find her shaky hand.

“I swear on Siorai’s reign, I’ll tell you everything that I know,” I say.

“Okay,” she replies noncommittally.

I release her hand as she stands up with a groan.

I wrap my arm around her. “How badly are you injured?” I ask.

“I can manage,” she replies. “I think my face hurts the worst from where the other soldier slapped me a few times. Don’t you feel the same way?”

I’ve been so focused on her that I haven’t even thought of my own injuries. Yet, as I shift around, I feel no pain where bruising should be. My mind is reeling. How is it possible that I feel no pain? While I wasn’t slapped as many times as Cara, I was still held against my will.

Suddenly, Cara shivers, making me realize just how cool it is outside.

“Let’s just get home for now,” I reply, avoiding her question.

We make it through the rest of the village without another incident, before setting down the well-worn path. Even though we know it well, not having a torch does add another level of difficulty to our journey through the mist. The temperature has dropped significantly in the last few hours, also adding to our discomfort. I jump at the sound of moaning spirits circling us above.

“Are you sure you can’t make yourself glow?” she whispers for the third time.

“If I knew how I did it the first time, I would do so,” I grumble.

“Right,” she retorts. “You can only use it to murder a soldier—my mistake.”

---