Page 72 of Skyshade
Sairsha still smiled as tears streamed down her face. She was so, so happy. And Isla didn’t understand at all. Her smile never faltered as she said, “We were chosen to help you. We have waited so long for you to be revealed to us.”
Chosen? By who? For what?
“We offer ourselves to you,” Ragan said, volunteering his sword for her to take. “And hope we are worthy.”
She tentatively took the sword by the hilt, not knowing what was going on, but certain that she would rather it be in her grip than his.
Ragan smiled wide. He closed his eyes.
And ran himself through with the blade.
Isla screamed, the sound filling the world. Her ears began ringing. She dropped the sword, and his body along with it. Blood pooled at her feet. She hadn’t wanted to kill him...but he was dead.
What had he done?
What had she done?
Something in her chest flickered, almost in satisfaction. That didn’t make sense. She didn’t want to kill. She didn’t want to feel as though she had gained something from it.
Grim’s words from their wedding were in her head: I know you’ve killed dozens of people who should have rotted in our prisons long ago, and I know why you do it. To keep the beast within at bay.
There was a beast inside of her, she had known that for a while. It enjoyed taking life.
But that wasn’t who she was.
Isla slowly looked up from the body, only to see the rest of them smiling at her, offering her their own swords. She backed away as much as she could. “What are you doing? What is wrong with you?”
Sairsha shook her head. “Don’t be concerned, Promised,” she said, smile still bright on her face. “You will take us somewhere else. Somewhere better.”
What was she talking about? She couldn’t promise them anything.
“Please,” Isla said steadily. “Just give me my portaling device. Let me go. I don’t want any part of this.”
“But it’s the part you must play,” Sairsha said. “It has been written.”
They pushed forward in unison, and Isla was forced to put her own blade up.
“I won’t kill you,” she said, backing away, shooting a look at the wild waters behind her. If she could make it in the river, the current would help her get away.
But she needed her starstick. In the wrong hands, it could be ruinous.
She could clutch her necklace. Summon Grim. But that would likely lead to everyone here dead, and that was exactly what she was trying to avoid.
“Oh, but you must,” Sairsha said. She put her arms to the side, baring herself for a blow.
No. She refused. This was madness.
Sairsha’s face fell. “We hoped you would understand. But you still have much to discover.” She looked to the others. “We insist.”
“I said no,” Isla repeated. “Leave me alone. I’m not the person you’re looking for. I am not the girl. I have not been promised.”
Sairsha smiled again. “You are everything he said you would be.”
Then, she struck.
Isla folded over with the blow. She hadn’t been expecting the hilt to the face. Blood ran down her temple. The act of having killed Ragan swirled in her chest, burning, unleashing feelings she didn’t want to harbor.
Hunger. Part of her wanted this fight.
