Page 22 of The Curse of Golden Blood
I tried to push the sound from my mind, but it only grew louder, echoing in the depths of my subconscious.
I could feel a strange heat welling up inside me, a white hot rage that threatened to consume me. It swirled within me like a maelstrom, building with each passing moment.
I needed to calm down, to regain control of myself, but I couldn't seem to steady my breathing.
I felt as if the entire world were collapsing in on itself, as if all the stars and planets were spiraling down a dark, twisting void. I closed my eyes and took a deep, shuddering breath, then another, and another, until the storm faded away and the whispers quieted to a dull murmur.
When I opened my eyes, I saw a shimmering figure staring back at me, watching me with curious eyes.
It was an emberhart. Right outside the windows.
Its fur was a pure, brilliant white, like freshly fallen snow, and its eyes were a deep, crimson red. It was huge, easily the size of a full grown horse.
It tilted its head, gazing at me with a strange intelligence.
I was confused at first, wondering if I were imagining the creature, but when I blinked and rubbed my eyes, the emberhart was still there, staring at me.
I could feel its presence pressing against me, permeating my thoughts. Somehow, it made the rage in me calm and made my body feel warm, and content.
And as I stared back, I found that the only word that came to mind was beautiful.
It was the most beautiful creature I had ever laid eyes on.
We both stayed like that for a long moment, just staring at each other. It made no sound, didn't move at all. It was as if it was holding its breath, waiting for me to do something, waiting for me to make the first move.
Just then, the door to the infirmary swung open and Karys walked in with a stern expression.
"Vessel," she snapped, "You are expected to dress and prepare yourself for the evening—"
"What is an emberhart doing in the Thunder Court?" I interrupted, gesturing towards the window.
Karys frowned, her sharp features furrowing into a scowl. She stalked towards the window, peering out into the night.
"There is nothing out there," she muttered.
"It was right there, looking at me."
She shook her head. "My dear child, you must have been hallucinating. There is no such creature in the Thunder Court. Emberhart belongs in the Realm of the Sun."
I knew I had seen it. There was no way I had been imagining it. It had been real.
But I swallowed the words, for the longer I thought about it, I was starting to wonder if I had, indeed, just been hallucinating.
I wasn't sure, and I wasn't about to argue with Karys, who was already looking more and more irritated by the moment.
"Now then," she said, turning back to me, "Let's get you into something more presentable."
I looked back towards the window, searching the darkness outside for any sign of the creature. But there was nothing there. Just empty, impenetrable blackness.
"Is it normal for Vessels to have dinners with the court members?" I asked, turning back to Karys, hoping for some clue as to what might be expected of me.
"As far as I am aware, it is not. Typically the Vessels are kept separate and contained, locked away like the treasures they are," she continued, her gaze sweeping idly around the chamber. "But it appears the Thunder Lord and the others have decided to make a special exception for you. Perhaps they have a special task in mind." She smiled, baring her sharp teeth at me.
Special task. Great. That didn't sound ominous at all. I pursed my lips, trying not to think about it too much.
"Here," she said, lifting her hand.
With a flick of her fingers, white light coiled in the air, folding in on itself like mist made solid. When it cleared, a single gown hung suspended above her palm.
