Page 109 of The Song of Sunrise
The mood turns distinctively sour. Bennidix’s shoulders straighten, pain evident on his face. He pushes his mug aside and reaches out his hand. “I will go with you.”
“No!” Lark shakes his head. “I do not want to endanger you. I only have the Marfik stone now.” He taps his pocket where he placed the stone. “The other two might take a lifetime to find.”
“Who are you kidding Lark, you will want company. I can help. Please. Let me join you. The fate of the world cannot rest on your shoulders alone. Let me bear some of the load.”
Lark takes a slow sip of ale then grabs onto Bennidix’s outstretched hand. “Fine. You helped me with the moon stone, but the sun and star stones are going to be more challenging to get.” He lowers his voice to a whisper. “We swear the blood oath tonight then.”
Bennidix’s eyes widen in surprise at the ancient binding oath that binds not only the two making the deal but their descendants as well until the oath is fulfilled.
“Tonight,” Bennedix says, then taps the mug on the table, gesturing for the waitress. “I’ll take another—”
“—another beer please!” Leaf taps his mug on the table while smiling widely. Surely charming his way into the free refills he frequently boasts about.
I snap back into the current time. I’m at Anita’s, not a floating bystander to two Watchers sometime in the past, but back in my own body as if that entire memory passed in a matter of seconds.
Normally, I can control the queasy feeling in my stomach after using my abilities, but that’s when I consciously channel. This time I was abruptly taken into another memory. I set my mug down. The room spins.
“Akemi? Are you okay?” Ramona wraps her arm around me. “I knew you were a lightweight, but didn’t realize it was this bad.”
I shake my head. “I’m fine.” I stand. I need to get out of here before I faint or throw up or both. “I just need a little fresh air.”
I make my way through the crowded tavern. With each light brush of a shoulder or hand, a wave of visions flashes through my head in such fast succession, I barely make it to the railing of the small outdoor porch before the dizziness sets in. It’s as if the lid that is normally tightly closed on my Starwatcher abilities is completely off, allowing all of the memories to pour in.
It’s too much.
The uneven wooden porch railing scratches my palms as I squeeze tightly.
Breathe, breathe.
I feel like my entire body is rising upward into the dark expanse above as memories crash into my brain at a rapid pace. Panic rises in my core. I am losing control. Instead of a steady water drip, an entire dam of memories break through. My body begins to tremble under the pressure, and my temples throb violently.
Give yourself ten seconds. If you cannot ground yourself, touch here. Atlys said during one of our sessions. I brush theinvisible tattoo on my wrist, anchoring me to the Core, just as the memories start flooding in again.
Ten. I squeeze the railing. Wooden slivers pierce through the thick of my calloused palms.Death is all around me, permeating all my senses. Unfamiliar horns blare.
Nine. I force oxygen in through my nose.Visions of red, smoke, and ash flash across the inside of my closed eyes. People scream and run in all directions. Total chaos to match my racing heartbeat.
Eight.Terror courses through my veins as I hear deafening sounds. BOOM. BOOM. BOOM.
Seven. I exhale.I can feel the earth cracking and shaking beneath my feet.
Six. I inhale through my nose as slowly as I can manage.The world returns to a sepia tone, from reds to muted browns and oranges. As if in a perpetual state of sunset and haze.
Five. I let my ribs slowly contract, and I blow air back out through my pursed lips.The sirens fade. Screams dissipate to yelling, yelling to a million whispers rushing through my mind.
Four. My breath continues to contract, slowly, until I feel my pulse slow down to match. The memories slow from a flash to a pulse.
Three. I breathe in through my nose, taking my time to steady myself. The haze clears, and the sepia turns to a comforting blackness. Clean, and soothing. Pulsing visions fade and fall into the darkness closing in.
Two. My mind is still. The shadow of familiar hands wrap comfortably around my wrist, and I feel grounded once more.
One. I open my eyes and let out one final breath. My hands tremble and sting with pain from gripping the railing so tightly. Yet I do not care because of what I think I just saw in those memories…
…The breaking of the world.
38
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