Page 108 of A Conduit of Light
Hisway was lit.Shelit the sky like the sun she was and he knew he had minutes, seconds, to get to her.
Sylva’sdead body had lain onHeimlen’sfloor, and the journal had been open to the most disturbing of entries.
Heshould have stopped to listen.Heshould have heard what she had come to say to him, but his own fear had muddled his thoughts.Heimlen’slies had weaved through his mind and held strong, even when his instinct had been to tell her the truth—a truth she must have discovered for herself, as his gloves had been cast aside next toSylva’scorpse.
“KARUS!”
Hetook everything he had and pushed forward, the lungs in his chest likely to burst at any moment, but it didn’t matter.
Heran on.
Hecould see her silhouette underneath the giant sun as he heard her scream.
“KARUS!” he boomed again, but nothing was as loud as the sound of theBlightrecoiling into the ground, the crackling of its demise echoing through the trees it left bare.
“KARUS!”
Hewas almost there, and she was almost gone.
HesawHeimlen’sbody as he neared hers.
Hewatched, pushing further, not letting his legs give out just yet as she kneeled, one hand lifting the sun, one buried into the dark earth.
Therewas only one way to save her.Theonly way he could think of.
Heslammed into her body, forcing her to the ground as he covered hers with his completely.
TheSimulairSolumwas broken instantly and the dark fell upon them into absolute nothing.
Hegasped heavily into her hair, his eyes adjusting to the lack of light as he rose to see her.Redblisters broke her cheeks and lips, white streaks of hair framed her head.
“Karus, can you hear me?”Hestraddled her and shook her shoulders. “Karus!Openyour eyes!Please!”
Herlids blinked rapidly and her chest began to heave heavily as he tilted his head back to the night sky, thankingFelgrenfor letting her live.
“Youdid it!Karus, it’s gone—you’ve done it!”
Sheblinked a few more times, turning her head to look around before setting her gaze upon him.
Ashe reached down to hold her, she scrambled backward out from under his legs, across the newly healed soil, backing into a fallen tree.
“Who—who are you?”
“What?”
“Isaid, who are you?WhereamI?”
Confusioncrossed her face.
“Karus,I—it’s me.It’sRev.You’vedone it, you’ve destroyed theBlight.”
Sheshook her head profusely and grabbed the sides of her hair. “No, no, no, no, no.”
Theair around them grew sharp and cold, chilling his bones further as he watched her rocking back and forth beside the tree, a different scent of decay in the breeze.
“It’sokay.It’sgoing to be okay.Ilove you.I’mhere,Iwon’t let anything hurt you anymore.”
Herscream pierced through his ears.
