Total pages in book: 126
Estimated words: 123779 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 619(@200wpm)___ 495(@250wpm)___ 413(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 123779 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 619(@200wpm)___ 495(@250wpm)___ 413(@300wpm)
“Come. I’ll show you,” Brenna says.
As we walk over the hills and planes of wild grass and flowers, we don’t speak.
I take in this new world that will be my home, but I can’t appreciate its beauty right now, not while I know another world is dying.
Chapter 32
Alchera
When we reach the Virtutes Waterfall, I sit down and stare at the rushing water.
“Want to talk about what’s on your mind?” Brenna asks as she takes a seat beside me.
“So many people are dying right now,” I whisper, my tone somber. I focus for a moment, but I can’t feel the heartbeats and nature on Earth anymore. “It’s such a waste of life.”
“Try not to think about it,” Brenna says. She nudges my shoulder with hers. “I’m proud of you. You were pretty badass.”
The corner of my mouth lifts. “Yeah?”
“Yeah, but I’ll still beat you in a fight,” she chuckles.
Everything that’s happened since I laid eyes on Raighne in that classroom flashes through my mind and unable to control my emotions, they spiral.
I suck in a shuddering breath, and when a sob escapes me, Brenna wraps her arm around my shoulders.
“It’s over,” she says. “Try not to think of the past.”
“It’s hard not to,” I whimper.
“Do you need me?” Raighne’s voice fills my mind.
“No, I’m okay.”
“You sure?”
“Yes.”
I suck in another deep breath and push the emotions down while I lean into Brenna’s side.
“I remember the day you were born like it was yesterday,” Brenna murmurs. “Everyone was so happy. Mom and Dad fussed over you day and night.”
I sit up straighter and glance at my sister.
A soft smile plays around her lips as she stares at the beautiful sight of the waterfall. “When you were old enough, I took you horseback riding. You loved going fast and feeling the wind in your hair. Thana would spend hours combing the knots out of your hair while cursing me a blue streak.”
I must’ve been too young because I don’t remember it.
“Thana also taught you how to braid your hair.”
I nibble on the inside of my cheek as I try hard to recall the memories.
“Once, you followed Roark to the training camps without anyone noticing. We spent the whole day searching everywhere for you and found you sitting on a hill, watching as Roark trained to take over as king.”
Roark. God, it feels like a year has passed since his death.
“We were happy before you were sent away, and we’ll be happy again,” Brenna says.
I shake my head. “Dad and Roark are dead, and God only knows where Thana is.”
“We’ll be happy again,” Brenna insists, and taking my hand, she gives it a squeeze. “It might take some time, but we’ll find a new normal.”
She climbs to her feet and pulls me up. “Come. There’s someone who’s dying to see you.”
“Who?” I ask as we begin to walk back in the direction of the village.
“Mom.”
With everything that’s happened, I forgot about her.
Instantly, an anxious feeling fills my chest.
I search my mind for the few memories I have of her. The last time I saw her, she had blonde hair like Thana. I couldn’t get a good look at her at Dad’s funeral.
A memory of Mom tucking me into bed flits through my mind, and I remember feeling loved and safe.
An eternity has passed since, and I’m not so sure I’ll be able to pick up where we left off five years ago.
As we near the village, people are all gathered around the chosen ones, giving them a warm welcome. There’s no sign of Sarah and Pearl, and I assume they’re with Aster in the infirmarius.
Brenna takes my hand and pulls me down a path that cuts between two houses that are built with some kind of rock and with roofs made of wood. Some houses have ivy climbing up the walls, whereas others have vines with pretty white and purple flowers.
Even though we’re in the village, there are so many flowers and plants, it still feels like it’s a part of nature.
“We’ll sneak around the back so we don’t get bombarded by the villagers,” Brenna explains. “You can face them at the celebration they’ll have for you returning with the chosen ones.”
“Yes, please,” I mutter as I follow her down a narrow cobblestone path, then I add, “I’m not so sure about the celebration, though.”
“It’s something you can’t avoid,” she says, giving me a teasing grin.
It’s a good twenty-minute walk before we reach a large building that looks like a castle. I vaguely remember the place.
Home?
We enter via a side door, and when we walk down a corridor that’s lit up with oil lamps, I feel a sense of familiarity.
As we round the bend, a woman shuts a door up ahead, then her eyes fall on us and she freezes. The blood drains from her face, and the next second, she starts to run.