Page 309 of Blood and Ruin: The Complete Series

My mouth opens on a scream, forcing gulps of water down my throat. Every gasp burning like thousands of sharp needles. My healing ability works overtime trying to stop my body from passing out, but without air, it can’t do much more than slow the process.

My body starts to spasm and twitch on its own as the cold water fills my lungs. Shadowy spots enter my vision, blending in with my murky surroundings as my body grows weaker.

I try to push upward again when a mass of shadowy forms enters my vision, surrounding me. They grow closer and closer until I make out their dark bodies just as they reach out to me.

Icy claws slash through my skin, the sharp sting draining me quicker. I’m seconds away from passing out from the pain and tightness in my chest when my powers spark inside me, reminding me I’m not weak or defenseless anymore.

The flicker of power soon becomes a flare, growing until my entire body is brimming with energy, ready to explode.

My energy lets out a small pulse-like warning, forcing the dark beings back.

For a moment, my body floats aimlessly in the water as my energy builds and builds, my tendrils of shadows floating out around me like dark ribbons.

As if sensing their incoming demise, the dark beings surrounding me quickly scatter back, keeping a far distance.

I’m about to release the built-up energy and finally be rid of these beings when a body collides with mine, quickly pulling me upward.

Seconds pass before I reach the surface and take a large gulp of air, my healing ability kicks in forcing most of the water out. I continue to cough and spew up the water as I’m pulled out onto a rocky ground.

“Kiarra?” A familiar voice sounds distant as I’m laid down on a hard rocky surface. My head spins, making everything around me tilt and sway.

Blinking the dark spots from my vision, I glance up to find Rion’s worried gaze down on me. There’s a small gash healing on the side of his head with streaks of dry blood down his face.

“Kiarra… I can’t lose you… Not again.” Rion mumbles things that make no sense.

Why would he lose me? I’m right here.

I frown, trying to shake the spots from my vision, and wonder if the concussion is making me misunderstand what Rion is saying.

I open my mouth to ask him if he’s okay but instead turn to the side to spew up more water, my lungs still on fire as they heal.

Glancing down at my hands and legs, I see black marks in the shape of hands and teeth. Some are already slowly disappearing as they heal. But with my ability focusing on that, my head and throat seem to take longer to heal.

I try to focus on Rion, or one of them, as two now appear in my vision.

Must be a bad concussion.I squint, trying to reassure him that I’m here and everything will be fine, but the look in his double pair of eyes tells me he’s panicking.

HeknowsI’ll heal so why he’s this worried doesn’t make any sense.

Maybe I look worse than how I feel?

The calm and reassured Rion I know is gone, leaving behind a completely different person. One who looks lost.

But why? I try to ask him, but my throat is still raw, my ability still focusing on whatever those dark beings did.

My vision slowly starts to clear as I glance around, squinting at our new surroundings. Another cavern by the looks of it with higher ceiling walls and a larger underwater river running alongside it.

Annoyed at myself that my healing ability isn’t fixing what I want it to fix first, I quickly glance around before focusing back on Rion.

“It’s okay. I’ve got you. I know you don’t understand any of this, but you’ll heal, and we’ll figure the rest out as we go.”

Understand what?

“Where…” I start, but have to stop to swallow, the raw burn choking me. The dark spots finally leave my vision and the dizziness eases enough to only see one of him.

I go to try again, swallowing hard, as I look at Rion.

“I know you’re confused right now, but I’ll explain everything once we get out of here.” Rion glances around, looking lost. His expression is full of heartbreak and sorrow as he glances back at me.

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