Page 16 of Tales of a Deadly Devotion
Tauria, guardian of the North. Who sang to the heavens and wielded the fire to cleave the earth.
Tauria who showered the world in chaos when she fell. She who burnt first. Teaching her blood that magic holds a price that the divine must pay.
The Ode of Tauria – Unknown
Tauria.
I hadn’t given much thought to my death but I never thought I’d have to endure it being mocked by my own name.
There was no peace in the darkness of my dreams. Just that name, haunting me. In the blackness of that abyss came the short smears of colour bleeding through the gloom like an unfinished painting. Too much bitter, sour rot down my throat. Packed too tightly as if I was buried in a grave.
My own.
I could hear the rattling creak of wheelbarrows. Feel the wet press of mud beneath my fingers. Flashes of pallid, grey skin from the bodies hidden beneath Daunton Wood. The icy stiff flesh pressed against my own.
Live,my mother’s voice commanded. Turning me to the brush of breath against my ear, only for agony to claw at my body once more – trying to drag me back.
The screeching scream of foul things followed, making me flinch away, only to be comforted by the sharp scent of beasam bark. The cool relief of his magic against my burning skin.
Emrys. I dragged in a breath, wincing as it scraped at my raw throat. Trying to find him in the abyss, curling towards the barest dim flicker of silver, demonic light. A weak grey smudge out of the corner of my eye.
Kat. He called my name so softly, like a blessing or a curse. The phantom brush of his magic around my wrists, weaving between my fingers. Holding on.
The ghost of a caress against my cheek guided me, made breath slip easily through my lips but too swiftly it changed into a vicious agonising bite. Sharp teeth scraping bone that sent an excruciating fire through my veins. My throat too dry to scream.
The copper tang of blood heavy on my tongue, sliding down my throat as I choked and gasped for air.
Live for us, Tauria.My mother’s words found me. Joined by distant searching voices, calling my name.
I’m here. I’m here.I wanted to beg but nothing came from between my lips.
Beg.That monster’s voice hissed into my ear, the stench of burning flesh so potent I could taste it in my mouth. A razor-sharp blow came across my back, a horrid animalistic sound filling my ears as pain raced up my spine – making my back bow as I lurched into waking, forcing myself to open my eyes.
Live. That command came again as I panted, eyes scanning the dim room. My fingers curled into the damp sheets beneath me. Desperately clinging to consciousness.
Nausea rolled through me as the room span and twisted. Murky smears filled my vision. The dark wood and navy fabric of the bed I lay in.
I rolled to free myself from the covers, only to tumble to the ground. The jarring pain of the impact shooting down my spine, muscles stiff and aching, but the cold polished wood was a relief against my burning skin as I gasped against the floorboards. Digging my nails into the cracks between the boards.
I glanced up through the tangled curtain of my hair, seeing the door blur in my vision. Hearing the muffled taunt of those voices. The gleam of light beneath the door too distant.
Searing heat rolled through me. My magic rising from its slumber with fury. Threatening to engulf me. To crumble me to nothing but ash, slipping easily between the floorboard cracks. Lost for evermore.
Sweat dripped from my temples. Every breath scraped against my lungs painfully. Darkness creeping into the corners of my vision.
I dragged myself forwards desperately. Tangled in my own damp nightdress, anything to reach the door.
Please.Barely a croak escaped my lips, my fingers fumbling with the turning of the doorknob. Needing to escape the nightmare. The door swung free on the third try, taking me with it. I tumbled forwards. Only there was no hallway.
No William or Alma waiting. No Emrys. Nothing but the endless foggy chill of night air. My hands pressed into marshy ground, muddy water sliding between my fingers as a rainstorm hammered down in relentless strikes. Small icy pinpricks against my burning flesh as I knelt in the boggy grass.
The darkness of Blackthorn Forest beckoned in the distance as I tipped my head back to the thunderous sky.
I greedily gulped down the night air. Pressing chilled fingers against my breastbone, letting the rain drip down my front, opening my mouth so the frigid drops could chase away the bitterness of blood and ash on my tongue.
Forgive me.My father’s voice whispers against my ear, brought by the harsh winter wind. Then came the memory. The roughness of his beard damp with tears as the mud and grass beneath me shifted to wet sand.
The world broke apart before me, a mix of storm winds, dark smoke and memory. The trees in the distance shifted, bending and bowing like great waves. Until their silver bark became grey sea foam, briny salt thick on my lips.
