by S. D. Grimm
Ethan clutched his sword hilt. Red trailed down its blade. His talents pulsed through him—his desire to protect Serena throbbed.
His opponent swung. Ethan was faster.
Weapons clashed. Ethan was stronger.
He pushed the man back, kicked. The man stumbled. His sword dropped. Ethan struck.
The blade hitched as he caught bone. The man’s arm fell and Ethan finished him off.
“Mother!” the Healer behind him screamed.
Ethan turned. Belladonna thrust her weapon into Lydia’s stomach. She fell. Tabitha shrieked.
Belladonna pulled out the weapon.
A quiet overtook the woods. Trees seemed to still and no one breathed.
But Ethan had just witnessed these Healers fighting and healing themselves. Hadn’t Miranda just said the only way to kill a Healer was to cut out her heart or chop off her head? Neither of these things had just happened, yet Lydia didn’t move. Didn’t get up. The gaping, bloody wound in her chest continued to pulse blood.
It had to be the sword.
“Mother!” Mary, the young Healer, raced toward Belladonna, who stood in front of Tabitha, ready to strike.
Ethan’s legs burned as he ran faster. He caught Mary’s sleeve. Fabric ripped. He gripped her wrist.
Belladonna swung the Sword of Black Malice at Tabitha’s head. She ducked and held up her sword, but it fell to the ground. Her hand fell with it, now a useless part of the weapon.
A shudder raced through Ethan’s body, and he flung Mary behind him.
Tabitha collapsed, holding what was left of her arm. Ethan’s stomach roiled. Belladonna stepped past the broken Healers, eyes on the girl behind him.
Ethan summoned his strength and held his sword up in front of him, staring at Belladonna with the blade in the center of his vision. Deep, body-shaking sobs sounded behind him. Ethan swallowed, not thinking about anything but defending himself. Defending her.
The black blade thrust toward him. He whirled around and toppled into Mary, pushing her out of the way as the weapon cut through the air.
An earthquake seemed to shake the ground and a unicorn reared, kicking at Belladonna with its hooves. She backed away, slashing the sword at the creature. When its hooves hit the ground, the earth shook.
Ethan gripped Mary’s elbow and towed her up. “Run.” He shoved her away from the battle.
Light flashed. A deafening boom resounded and the earth quaked. Ethan flew off his feet and landed hard on the ground paces away. He got up to his knees, bracing himself on all fours. What was that?
A burn pulsed in his chest.
Serena.
Speed fueled him before he called it.
Serena lay motionless on the ground and Belladonna stood over her.
Ethan skidded in front of Serena. “You’ll not claim another Healer today,” he said quietly.
Belladonna laughed, dark and screeching.
She was close enough now. Ethan waited. Watched. Called on his strength.
She swung.
The sword met his. A jolt shook his arms. Spread through his whole body. The Sword of Black Malice kept moving despite Ethan’s strength. He couldn’t hold it. His sword blade bent more than normal. Metal shrieked and his blade tore off from the hilt.
It sailed through the air, wagging like a dying dragon’s wing, and hit the ground with a shuddering bounce.
Useless.
Ethan stared at Belladonna over his empty hilt.
Belladonna approached him. “Another round, stupid boy?”
He had nothing to protect Serena except himself. But his talent urged him to keep her safe. It was his job. His desire. His choice.
He could only pray to the Creator that this weapon didn’t kill others like it killed Healers. Belladonna didn’t hesitate. The blade pierced his chest. Sank deep. Cracked ribs. Shot pain through him like a flash of light. So bright and consuming. It felt warm and cold at the same time. Dust motes glimmered in front of him, untouched by the movement around them, if anything was moving at all—it seemed that everything had stopped to take a breath.
Strange to think of dust motes. Was this what Kinsey had seen when Scarface stabbed her through? Had time stopped for her? Had this light bathed her?
He’d seen this light before. That thought sent a tremor through him. Not again. Who would protect Jayden and Serena now?
Belladonna bent near him. So close he could count her eyelashes, if he remembered how to count. How to breathe.
“Do I know you?” she asked.
Pain shot through him, blinding him to everything else and he sucked in air.
Every breath ached. Something warm, metallic-tasting filled his mouth. Dripped over his lips.
“You know where the Deliverers are, don’t you?”
He tried to tell her he wouldn’t say anything. But he couldn’t say anything. Couldn’t see. Couldn’t think. Forgot to breathe.
Chapter 45
The Sword
of Black Malice
Jayden shook her head, dazed. She’d landed hard, but nothing was broken. What happened? She sat up and tried to clear her head. Dash had raced toward Belladonna. When his horn connected with the strange black sword, sparks zapped in the air. It had almost felt like a storm, but not quite. More like an explosion of light. But when Dash’s hooves smashed the ground while his horn was connected to that sword, it was like a lightning tremor through the ground. An earthquake of light. Had everyone felt it? Had it thrown all of them?
Where were they?
Jayden’s heartbeat stilled. Stopped. Everything stopped. Her limbs wouldn’t support her, and her knees hit the ground as Belladonna removed the sword from Ethan’s chest. He dropped to the ground like a sack of apples.
Something inside her shattered.
Not Ethan. Anyone but Ethan.
Jayden found her legs and raced forward.
Dash beat her. His horn met the black weapon and he whirled his head around. The black sword flew from the woman’s grasp. It landed near Tabitha. Yes. Tabitha could reach it in time. The old Healer extended her arm, but the vile woman caught the weapon first. Then she threw something on the ground. Purple smoke whirled around her like a funnel cloud, then vanished.
Belladonna, Tabitha, and the black sword—gone.
Jayden reached Serena’s side. “Ethan?” she whispered.
“He just jumped in front of you!” Mary was hysterical. “We can’t heal him. Doesn’t he know that? Why would he do that? No one can heal him.”
Jayden pressed her hands to her mouth and muffled words came out. “Is it true?”
“Yes.” Serena sniffed. A tear slipped down her cheek. She knelt next to him. Blood covered his chest. She touched the wound. “There’s nothing I can do.”
A sob choked Jayden.
Ethan’s eyelids fluttered. “Serena?”
“Ethan? How—?”
He grabbed her hand and winced as he tried to sit up. “Your hands are cold.”
“Cold?” That was all he had to say? She wiped the blood away from his wound and Jayden gaped. No wound. Just a dark, black scar.
“Ethan.” Her voice seemed to be so far away.
He turned to her and his eyes softened. “Hey.” He pulled her close and pressed his cheek against her head.
She gripped him back so tight. “Are you—”
“I’m fine.”
“You’re not fine,” Serena said.
Jayden pulled back from him, even though she didn’t want to, and stared at Serena. She was right. Why would that woman spare him? She reached in to feel Serena’s emotions. Confusion topped everything. And longing. A deep longing.
Serena leaned close and inspected the scar. “Belladonna spared you. Why? How?”
“I—I don’t know.”
Serena hovered her hand over Ethan’s wound. “I need to know.”
Mary grabbed her hand. “Serena, don’t.”
“But I—”
“I already felt my mother�
��s wounds. You don’t—you don’t want to feel that.” Tears spilled down Mary’s cheeks.
Serena stared at Lydia’s bloody stomach. “We have to get you to the Tree of Wisdom.”
“No. No Healer can heal me, Serena.”
That might be true, but Jayden didn’t need Healer powers to care for a wound. “I can try. I trained under wise women at home.” Jayden knelt beside Lydia. “Yes. I think I can heal her. I need—”
“Dear Child, there’s nothing you can do now.” Lydia’s wrinkled hand cupped Jayden’s. She shifted her eyes to look at Serena. “Belladonna killed Midnight and Diamond. They’re gone.”
Serena covered her mouth, but Jayden didn’t understand.
Lydia shook her head. “I won’t last the night. The rip is too deep.”
“No.” Jayden protested. “I can stitch this up. I—”
Serena laid a hand on Jayden’s arm, and compassion flooded through her. “She means the rip from the bond. Midnight and Diamond were Lydia’s and Tabitha’s unicorns.”
Serena’s face scrunched up as she hugged Lydia. So much sadness welled up in Jayden’s heart, and she turned off her talent.
Ethan touched Serena’s shoulder, and she reached up and grasped his hand. “Dash, please tell the Circle to form. This can’t wait.”
She locked eyes with Ethan. “You should take Jayden and run.”
Oh no. This was bigger than the Circle. “We’re staying with you,” she and Ethan said together.
“Yes. Stay.” Lydia’s voice was so weak. She motioned to Ethan. “You protected my daughter and Serena.”
Serena shook her head, stared at him. “No one protects a Healer. We heal ourselves.”
Ethan nodded toward Tabitha’s severed arm. “It wasn’t working against whatever that weapon was.”
“But you protected me against that mortal weapon, too.” Mary’s voice was quiet. “They’re right. You’re different.”
“Why didn’t it kill me?” Ethan pointed to the black scar on his chest.
“Belladonna wanted to keep you alive for some reason.” Serena looked at Ethan. “What did she say to you?”
“Just—” Ethan’s chest rose and fell. “I don’t remember.”
“It’s okay.”
Mary nodded. “I’ll tell the Circle what you did for me. For my mother and Tabitha. I think they’ll trust you. I know I do.”
Serena stood. “Let’s get you back to the tree. I don’t know what’s going to happen next, but—”
“We have to go after this Belladonna. I only came out here because she wanted you. She’s a threat to you, Serena.”
Serena looked at Jayden. “She’s a threat to all of the Deliverers.” Serena stared at Ethan. “I want to come with you. I think you need a Healer to fight this war.”
Jayden expelled a breath.
Ethan smiled. “I think so, too.”
Serena nodded. “I’m going to plead my case to the Circle.”
Jayden grabbed Ethan’s hand in both of hers. He turned, eyes soft. “You okay?”
This moment, right here—the Healers sobbing, the Sword stolen, Logan still sleeping, streaks of dried tears stretching her cheeks—everything around her was falling apart, but the answer was yes.
Yes, because he was alive.
So right here, this moment was worth holding on to.
“Uh oh,” Serena whispered.
Jayden looked up to see a petite, dark-skinned woman lead a group of eleven Healers up the hill toward them. The woman pointed to Ethan. “You, boy.”
Ethan’s subtle touch on Jayden’s arm guided her behind him, but she resisted. “Easy, Ethan. We want them to befriend us so we can take Serena with us.”
“What happened here?” the petite Healer asked.
“Hello, Ruth.” Serena placed her hand on Ethan’s shoulder and whispered, “Ethan, be careful how you answer.”
Chapter 46
False Accusations
I asked the boy a question. Do not interrupt,” Ruth snapped. “Where is the sword, boy?”
Ethan stared into this Healer’s eyes as the throb of a threat heated his chest. She had it out for him. “I don’t know. That woman took it.”
“Where?” Ruth closed the distance, her eyes hard. She wasn’t about to back down, but neither was he. He’d had enough of this Circle.
Serena stepped in front of him. “Ethan was—”
“Were you in the library, boy?” Ruth’s gaze didn’t leave his eyes.
“That’s not my name.”
“Ethan, you don’t have to answer her.” Serena held her hands out as if she was trying to calm him. Wasn’t he already acting calm? He thought he seemed pretty calm.
Ruth dropped a white shirt at his feet. Blood stained it as if someone had cleaned their sword on it.
Wait. That was the shirt Rochelle had given him. Now it was personal.
“Mary gave this shirt to Rochelle to give to you. Were you wearing it at the library just before this?”
“I was.” Serena covered her mouth with her hands. Why was she worried? Surely the truth would clear up this whole mess. “I didn’t steal any sword.”
“Ruth, what is going on here?” Serena asked.
She snapped her fingers and two Healers grabbed Serena. Two others grabbed Jayden.
Dash reared.
Ethan calmed his breathing. So far they meant no harm to anyone but him. If he remained compliant, he could keep the girls safe.
Ruth’s glare melted butter. “Miranda is dead in the library. Rochelle said you were there with her.”
“What?” Serena gasped.
“I didn’t say you killed her.” Rochelle’s voice came from the cluster of other Healers. They were holding her, too.
Ethan shook his head. “I’m sorry Miranda died, but I didn’t—”
“You were alone with her in the library, were you not?”
“I was.”
“And you were alone beneath the gray alor tree. With the sword?”
Ethan didn’t say anything. If they weren’t going to listen to the whole story, he certainly wasn’t going to tell them what they wanted to hear.
Ruth tilted her head and cocked an eyebrow. “Shall I take your silence as admission?”
“Once you hear my side, I’m sure there will be no doubt of the fact that I didn’t kill Miranda or steal the sword.”
“What’s that black mark on your chest?” Ruth pointed to new scar.
“Someone named Belladonna stole your sword. I didn’t. Her men killed Miranda. And I’m sorry about that, but it wasn’t me.”
“The mark.”
“It’s from the sword. She stabbed me.”
“And then used the sword’s dark magic to heal you?”
“I guess.”
Serena squeezed her eyes closed.
Ethan stared at her. Why was she so worried? “Can’t you see I’m telling the truth?”
“Anyone with the mark of the sword can lie to a Healer,” Ruth said. “Your testimony means nothing. But you already know that, don’t you?”
Ethan’s heart crumbled.
“What about mine?” Serena strained against those who held her close.
Ruth’s lips formed a thin line. “Only Healer blood can open the door. Was it yours?”
Serena opened her mouth, but didn’t speak.
“Answer me.”
“Yes.”
“You helped him. Rochelle told you Belladonna stole the sword, but that could have been what she believed. He covered his tracks well. He knows everything about Healers from Belladonna. He was working with her. Why else would she heal him? Why else would he come here and make threats to Tabitha? I’m sorry, Serena, but he betrayed you. Bind his hands and lock him up.”
Ethan stood there while the Healers bound his hands and led him away. As long as he complied, they wouldn’t harm Jayden, and that was what mattered.
Chapter 47
Tedious Road
Leaves flitted off the
trees and fell along the path, making no sound
as Belladonna’s black boots pounded them into the mud below. The potion she’d thrown on the ground should have been enough to take her back to the castle, but apparently Tabitha’s extra baggage cut half the traveling time. Now she was in the middle of the woods approaching a city, and she didn’t even know which one.
Didn’t matter. That unicorn would have killed her. She had to get out of there. And she’d gotten what she went for. The sword, a powerful Healer, and destruction. So what if she hadn’t been able to grab that young man who knew the Deliverers? She had ways of getting back to him later.
And true, she’d wanted Serena, but Tabitha would have to do. It’s not like Franco asked for specific Healers.
The wind picked up, kicking dried leaves into the air, and they hissed and flitted on the breeze. Wind made inconspicuous travel harder. Sounds distorted, and scent carried.
Tabitha stumbled along after her, mouth covered and hands bound to the rope Belladonna held. Healing the woman’s missing limb had taken a lot out of Belladonna. She found she could heal the arm when she held the sword. Now black veins snaked up Tabitha’s right arm—well, the stump that remained of it. Hopefully it hadn’t distorted her power at all. Surely the death of her unicorn made her weaker.
Those white beasts had been all too easy to slaughter with the help of her black lion and Cain. He’d done as promised, and he was a warrior. Her warrior. She glanced at the sky. He should be returning to her any moment now.
Belladonna tugged harder on the rope. Tabitha squeaked. So cumbersome. Belladonna sighed. But his majesty wanted a pure Healer—one untainted by lies and code-breaking like herself. Obedient servants were a pleasure to their masters. Masters who could be overtaken when the time was right. A purr rose in Belladonna’s throat. Her black lion, Mist, echoed. Good, the creature had found her. Hopefully the creature hadn’t bitten Cain. Belladonna would not like it if her favorite guard had been killed.
She halted. The familiar tingle on her wrists caught her attention. She might be bonded to a black lion, but she could still sense another Healer. She glanced back at Tabitha. The woman was staring at her wrist. So she felt it too. The presence of another Healer.
Too easy.