Defiled
Page 30
"I don't think I can do this, Lumi? I'm not ready," Bella said, looking at the child laying on her chest. She was already struggling to keep herself and her sister alive. They had lost everyone dear to them already. The idea of now being responsible for an infant who was wholly incapable of fending for herself frightened Bella to her core.
Luminear was also scared. Now there were three of them, and it would soon be winter. They had barely enough coin to make the trip to Laeluffian. Now they were stuck again. Bella wouldn't be going anywhere for weeks. What will become of us? Somehow Luminear forced a smile, knowing this was her time to be strong, whether or not she was ready.
"Trust me?" Luminear asked.
Bella, weak and exhausted, nodded to her sister, "Aye."
"We will get through this like we always do. A day at a time. Rest for now. I will make the hike to Glenmoore to fetch us what we need. More blankets, clothes. Sell the horses. We will make do."
Bella shut her eyes in defeat. "This wasn't supposed to happen. I didn't ask for this. I'm unfit. I can't do this," she sobbed. Luminear reached out, setting her hand against her sister's cheek while looming closer to plant a gentle peck upon her brow.
"None of this was supposed to happen, Bell. You are fit, and we'll do this together. We'll make the best of it and come out on top. I promise." Luminear moved to Bella’s side and wrapped her arm around her sister’s shoulder.
Bella wept, allowing Luminear to hold her as she held her newborn child. It was nice to be held. For the moment, Bella surrendered, accepting that she was lost, broken and terrified. This was something she never admitted to herself, nor to Luminear. Yet, Luminear had long understood her brave sister was in shambles behind her bravado.
"Let me take care of you."
Their ever-changing lives continued a march into ominous uncertainty. Ambiguity stayed the only constant in their existence. What else could two children that had been fostered and raised by madmen expect, but this strange, endless journey of doubt, pain, and fear? Between Icaz and Lonewolf, the sisters never had much hope for an ordinary life. Even when they had found one, it was stolen from them in the worst way. They may have escaped, but the year following the events that took shape in Crusayla haunted their every step.
Whatever lay in the shadows was not done with Luminear and Bella, not even close. Now they had a baby girl mixed up in their chaotic lives. More peculiar yet, a band of eastern champions, bound to their fate, sought these women. To bring salvation or more devastation, only time would tell. Still, as the sisters awaited in uncertainly in their cave, Darius and his company set sail on the Pallae Sea. Hope and answers were on the way.
Please take time to review this book if you enjoyed.
Other books within The Lady of the Water series include…
Innocence Interrupted – Volume One
Medley of Treason – Volume Two
&
Furtive Liaison – A standalone prequel
The Lady of the Water-Volume Four-Shadow Rising will be released July 31, 2020
Excerpt for Shadow Rising follows.
Luminear's eyes shot open as she woke from a nightmare just in time for violent limbs to wrap around and grip her arms and chest. The aroma of death and decay enveloped the surrounding air. Luminear shrieked, causing Edward to spring up in alarm.
To break free of the violet pulsling, she kicked and screamed, struggling and fighting against its hold. Still, the menace proved stronger. It dragged her from the ground while emitting irritating high-pitched wails followed by gargling and choking sounds from its decaying throat.
Even before Edward comprehended what was happening, he could see Luminear headed toward the woods.
"Let me go!" Luminear cried, trying to break the power of those enchanted arms, her attention riveted on the grotesque oozy flesh so thin the monster’s bones rubbed against her, his coils surrounding her and hauling her as the camp slipped further from view.
"Lumi!" Bella wailed as she ran from the wilderness, reentering the campground with Averan at her side. While the pulsling was short, and not overly vigorous like a dratzel, he was more than strong enough to handle Luminear, and fast enough to outrun her company.
"I'm not yours! I'm not going! Leave me be!" Luminear choked out her words when, in a flash, she comprehended her dire circumstances. The distant noises of other creatures sounded in an orchestra of ghastly shrieks. Luminear was not only being taken but leading her sister and their men accomplices straight to their death. She had already experienced the twisted desires of these beasts in her dream. Panicked, she curled her arms and tried to pry the pulsing off to free herself to no avail as Bella, Averan, and Edward continued to fade from sight.
It was in this moment a familiar sensation triggered—an overwhelming feeling she had not experienced in some time. Her senses heightened and a calmness settled her emotions as a cogent awareness washed over her, bringing a wave of relief and potency.
Except, unlike before, when she rescued Bella from Laelliandir, she saw the world differently. She lacked empathy when she looked upon her panicked sister, Edward, and Averan desperately trying to reach her. This power that now possessed her looked upon the crude hands dragging her away with curiosity and decided she didn’t appreciate her aggressor. She wished pain upon the pulsling’s hands and with the mere thought, it released her to stumble upon the ground as it screeched in ear piercing agony.
When it freed her, Luminear fell on her side, hitting her head hard upon the ground. Instantaneously, the queer sensation left her. How is this possible? She wondered as her emotions returned to normal. She spun around to face her violator, whose arms now were devoured in flames. The fire spread from its arms to cover its body and head. The nasty thing thrashed about, seeking escape from the torment and peril.
Aghast, Luminear pushed herself to her feet to stare as the monster sank to the soil to wither and die. I did that. She turned away to notice a glow radiating from the palm of her hands.
Bella and the men slid to Luminear's side, swords drawn, in time to witness the dying thing shrivel up and cease movement. As the wretched screeches dwindled, the trio, quivering in astonishment, beheld Luminear and peered to her hands, which were engulfed in a fiery flame that slowly wasted away evaporating in the air. Averan, Edward, and Bella stood dumbfounded, struggling to absorb the incident, but Luminear understood.
“Huh? What is that? What just happened?” Edward asked, looking between Luminear's hands, the corpse burning on the ground, and the women for answers.
Luminear brought her hands before her face and watched the glow die down. What am I? She contemplated for only an instant before Bella grabbed her by the wrist and yanked her to follow.
In the opposite direction Bella ran, dragging her sister along. Guessing what had happened, Bella said over her shoulder to the two men, “No time to explain.” The howls, squeals, and other foul distant screams hung in the air chanting their foreboding intent. “Run!”