She felt the exaltation and glory of the crowd below her, their pride, power, and fervor. She was a part of something far grander than she’d ever known before, part of the grand religion and belief that guided the lives of more people than she ever imagined existed in one place before. Part of her swelled in response to that exultant glory before her. Another part felt sick. In the back of her mind, Elyana whispered dark secrets, words Lhaurel did her best to ignore, words that spoke of the horrors that had come before.
You killed that woman. The magic forced you to do it, as it did to me with Briane. But they’re both still dead. Nothing can change that now. You’re a monster. Just like I was. Just like all the Sisters are. Briane . . . dear, sweet Briane.
I couldn’t control it. Lhaurel thought back, for the first time attempting to communicate with the voice of the woman inside her mind.
Neither could I, when I killed Briane to save the Rahuli. That didn’t stop them from naming me a monster. That didn’t stop me from being one.
“People of the Empire!” Sellia shouted, her voice magnified by a series of oddly shaped pipes so that it carried down to the people below. She stood alongside the five Sisters, where they could be seen by those below. Lhaurel stood apart from them, on display.
“Here is our Sister, returned to us. Here is the one of Honor! Do you accept her?”
The roar of the crowd was deafening. Lhaurel swallowed hard and raised her hands toward the sky. One of her hands trembled slightly, though none of the people below were close enough to notice anything but the grandness of the gesture as a whole. The people below cheered. Lhaurel’s upraised, open hands clenched into fists. Her blood red nails dug into the flesh of her palm. She was one of them now. She was truly a Sister.
She was one of them.
About the Author
Kevin L. Nielsen's journey into writing began in the 6th grade when an oft-frustrated librarian told him there simply wasn't enough money in the budget to buy any more books. She politely suggested he write his own since there were no more unread books left in the entire library. His teacher at the time also challenged him to read the Iliad by the end of the year (which he did). Kevin has been writing ever since (and invading libraries and bookstores everywhere).
Kevin currently resides in Utah with his amazing wife and two wonderful children. He's still writing and continuing a lifelong quest to become a dragon rider. He also has a thing for purple shirts.
Connect with Kevin:
Blog: http://kevinlnielsen.com/
Twitter: www.twitter.com/kevinlnielsen
If you love
the Sharani Series,
Take a look at Kevin’s other book, Resurgent Shadows!
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