Page 135 of Night's Reckoning
Kill her! She is nothing.
She wants to die.
Her eyes beg for it.
He hates you because of her.
“I will find the sword, Father. I will kill Saba’s daughter.”
“Is that what you think I want?”
Her father’s words came to her, louder than the whispers.
“Is that what you think I want?”
What did he want? What did Ben want now? What did Tenzin want? Did she even know anymore?
“My daughter, if you resist change, you will never be who you were meant to become.”
She glanced over her shoulder at the curving bronze sword she had carried for thousands of years. The blade was stained with the blood of enemy and lover, friend and family, murderers, rapists, defilers of the weak. Those who were weak. Those who were strong.
Tenzin looked from the bronze blade, back to Johari.
Kill her.
She is nothing.
Thief,they whispered.Liar and thief.
“So am I,” Tenzin murmured. “All that and more.”
Her feet dropped to the soft red carpet, and she loosened the backpack she carried, still holding the sword on Johari. She withdrew a book in a clear plastic bag. “You know what this is.”
Johari’s face froze.
“I found your book. And the picture of your Zuberi.”
“Please.” Her breathing came faster. “He has nothing to do with this.”
“Why do you keep his picture?”
“Because I love him.” She blinked hard and held out her hands. “I have only ever loved him. But I was a fool. Please. Give it to me. If you kill me now, at least let me hold his picture when I die.”
“I’m not giving you the book.” Tenzin slipped it back in her backpack and stood straight, leveling the blade on Johari’s neck. “But I will not hurt this man. This vampire who helps women the powerful have forgotten.”
“Thank you.” Her face fell in relief. “Zuberi—”
“I am going to find this kind doctor you love,” Tenzin said softly. “And I’m going to tell him about Ben. And about Meili. About everything you have become.”
Johari’s chest heaved. “You would be more merciful to kill me.”
Tenzin cocked her head. Looked at Johari. Looked at the sword in her hand. “It was only ever a symbol.”
She rose again as waves crashed against the cabin, throwing everything in the hallway off-balance. Paintings crashed and glass broke. The smell of seawater was everywhere.
Johari held out her arms to steady herself. “The sword?”
“It was only ever a symbol. It was death captured in a beautiful vessel. Your sire and Arosh, they never understood. Zhang Guo neverneededa sword, because he has me.” Tenzin reached for Johari’s hand, gripping her fingers and stretching her arm forward. “Iamthe Night’s Reckoning.”
