Page 123 of Fallen Thorns
My Star. Oh, my Star. I stand behind him and watch as he turns away. I canfeelhim. My Star.
I need not move.
He is reborn.
Marianne
I layon the frozen grass, propped up by my failing arms, head heavy and eyes weary. My throat had already started to clot, and I felt the skin stretching to close together, but I’d lost too much to stand. Lucy’s body still slumped before me, the winter sun glowing around her like a mocking halo.
I heard Casper’s despair, even from my distance, and my chest seized up.Ben.
I could barely lift myself.
The battlefield did not cease entirely, but it is obvious that people from both sides were curious to see what just happened. Thescreamthat escaped Casper’s lungs. My eyes brimmed with tears. My boy.
I would have never considered myself a maternal person, it was not in my nature, but The Thorns were like my children. My equals. Mine to guide and mine to protect.
I had lost a child.
Sweet, sweet Ben.
And it was all my fault.
I triedto keep my arms steady as my view swam into focus. Lucy lay weak in front of me, Carmen not too far behind, standing but exhausted. Everything had stilled, as if even nature itself yearned to mourn.
But then came the fire.
At first I didn’t understand what was happening. No one did, but then I saw him.
Carmen jolted around and I knew what I must do. She would thank me after, if I survived.
Run.I told her. And she did. I sent her to find Rani, to take them both to safety.Run. Far, far away. Hide.If only I could do so myself.
The creature in Arlo’s body strode forward, fire burning in his eyes. I watched from the floor as a few from the opposing side attempted to block his path, but they were met with his unnatural strength which tore away at them all. He stopped for nothing.
The closer he got, the taller he appeared. Bigger. Grander.A god.
“Arlo, no.” Mars. They ran up to him with begging arms. “Don’t do this. Please.” They frantically attempted to pull him back. He did not lash out this time, but shrugged them away with great strength.He’s still in there. Just.
Mars, get out of the way. Please. I beg you.I could not call to them though. I was too weak.
Arlo continued to move. His face now readable, even in my state. His brow was tight and eyes blood red.
Everyone… run.
The blurry outline of a battered Lucy stood up to greet him with open arms, her pride somehow in tact. He took none of it.
I will never learn how much of my life she knew. But there was one thing for certain, and it all hit me at once. She brought up my past for a reason.
Weeks ago, I had been struck with the realisation that Arlo reminded me of someone I once knew, but I brushed it off in an instant, thinking it wholly impossible and near insane. But as he stood before us all now, only one name came into my mind.
Jerome.
My old friend.
The man who first destroyed my ability to trust.
The man I thought I may have even once loved like a brother.
