The Pariah Child- Sarafina's Return

by Natasha D Lane

  “Here’s our home,” he said, covering her finger with his own. He moved down toward the east. “This is where we are now. And the humans are here and here. Is that what you were thinking?”

  Well, he can read me just as well as Alex.

  Sarah glanced at him before forcing her eyes away. She tucked and untucked her legs from under her.

  “Am I wrong?” he asked.

  “Huh? Oh, no, you’re not wrong. You’re exactly right, actually.”

  He smiled.

  Sometimes it was odd looking at Bo and Kwe. Sarah found herself staring at them often, seeking out Serwa and Alex in their features. Each time, she found them.

  He continued, “If we move northeast toward the mountain, there’s a small jungle but farther north means closer to the humans. And if we head west, there’s the tall grass. Not much cover though.”

  She nodded. “You hit the nail right on the head.”

  “I what?”

  “Nothing. Let’s put the map away now. Kwe, I want to ask you something. I need you to tell me about the human soldiers. The ones who wear the cupped hands on their armor.”

  His eyes immediately flashed red.

  “I don’t like to talk about them,” he replied, picking at his tattered pants’ hem. The children had abandoned their original clothing for something less conspicuous.

  Sarah held in a sigh.

  Patience. Be patient. The others won’t talk. He’s your only chance.

  She cleared her throat. “That’s okay. You don’t have to tell me much, just a little bit.”

  “And how much is a little bit exactly?”

  Sarah kept her voice level. “Just three questions. How does that sound?”

  He turned his head to the side, looking her up and down. “Will you give me your jam for lunch and dinner?”

  She raised a brow. “You want…my share of the jam?”

  He nodded. “I’m a growing boy. I have to eat.”

  “Fine, you have a deal.” She held out her hand, which Kwe shook. “Now, the knights with hands and cupped flames, were they the ones who attacked your home?”

  The tips of Kwe’s fangs peaked from under his top lip. His shoulders had bunched up by his ears. “Yes.They were with other humans, too.”

  “Good. Do they have special abilities? Something I should know about if I run into another one?”

  He shook his head. “No, they don’t have any magic. Sometimes they have witch stones, which give them power. It doesn’t last long though.”

  “Good to know. Now, what makes them different from the other human soldiers?”

  His eyes fell from hers and his chin hung low. His fangs elongated.

  “Kwe?”

  Silence.

  “You can tell me. What do they do?”

  The boy moved his arms across his chest. Rapid breaths left his body and Sarah could hear his teeth gnashing together.

  “What—”

  “They call us half-breeds and hunt us,” he said, finally meeting her stare. “They’re the humans who hate people like me and Bo.”

  “They need to be maintained.”

  The man’s words from several days ago replayed in Sarah’s mind. When he said maintained, he meant controlled by humans.

  “The humans want to rule all of Lyrica.” Kwe released a low growl. His eyes burned that bright red again. “Mother said they think they’re better and that they have to lead us. People like me and Bo stop them from getting the control they need. To them we’re rule breakers. That’s what Father said.”

  Sarah shook her head. Her gaze paused on Kwe while her mind raced through what he had told her. What the humans wanted went beyond a war.

  Kwe took in a long breath and closed his eyes. When he reopened them, they had returned to their original color.

  He touched the ends of his fangs. “Sorry. I didn’t mean for my fangs to come out.”

  Sarah wrapped herself around him. “Don’t you dare apologize. It’s tough to talk about. Thank you for speaking with me.”

  “Sure. I’m sorry we didn’t tell you before. None of us like to talk about it.”

  “I told you to stop apologizing. After everything you just said, I understand completely.”

  “Help!”

  Before Sarah could move to her feet, Kwe had already started making his way below. He ran toward the young boy who was waving his hand and panting. Bo had called him Michael.

  “Help!”

  “What’s happened?” Bo stepped out of the nook, followed by several other children.

  Tears streamed down Michael's face as he fought to catch his breath. His light brown hair was plastered with sweat.

  “T-they took her,” he stuttered. “They took Marie.”

  Gasps followed his announcement. The youngest children clung to each other, except Ev. He stood by Bo’s side, specifically by her hip, staring at Michael.

  Michael fell forward but Kwe caught him before he fully hit the ground. Whimpers broke from him, his shoulders moving to their rhythm.

  “We weren’t even close to the shore, only a bit farther than normal. By time I saw the ship, Marie was screaming. And they were dragging her away in a net and I…I…”

  Michael pushed away from Kwe, allowing himself to slump to the earth. He slammed his fists.

  “I’m supposed to protect her!” he wailed. “Our parents are gone. It’s all up to me and I can’t even protect my little sister.”

  They all surrounded him, watching. A growing sense of dread settled in Sarah’s stomach. A quick glance around told her she wasn’t alone in the feeling.

  The ships Michael spoke of had to be the human ships Fin and Reina had warned her about. But they had said they were rare. Marie and Michael had simply been at the wrong place at the wrong time.

  Someone started, “What are we—”

  “Everyone inside,” Bo replied.

  “But Ma—”

  “Inside.” Kwe stood from Michael’s side. He directed a bright smile to all the children, then urged them into the little nook. “We will handle this now. Give us some time. Dry your eyes. No crying.”

  Sarah turned to Michael, who was still lying on the floor. His gaze was to the earth. She placed a gentle hand on his shoulder.

  “Let’s go inside now, hm?”

  He didn’t respond.

  Sarah pulled his arm around her shoulders and dragged him into their temporary home. Though something gnawed at her about leaving him alone, Sarah knew there were other matters to discuss. The biggest being how they were going to rescue Marie.

  She headed outside.

  “Bo?”

  The child had vanished.

  “Bo?”

  No response.

  She sighed before reaching out with her magic. Following the trail, she found Alex’s daughter on the farthest side of the rocks. She stood facing the direction of the ocean.

  “Are you alright, Bo?” Sarah asked.

  The child did not reply.

  “Listen. We’ll get Marie back.”

  She moved away from Sarah, wrapping her arms around herself.

  Sarah drummed her fingers against her hip, eyeing her niece, a word that still felt odd. Yet she knew Bo and Kwe were as much her responsibility as they were Alex and Serwa’s children. There was a reason Alex and Serwa had spoken of her to Bo and Kwe. There was a reason they knew her on sight.

  Because two of Sarah’s dearest people in the world believed in her. They knew she could take care of their children. So…

  Sarah gulped, then pulled the young girl into a hug.

  “Auntie Sarah, what are you doing?” she whispered.

  I don’t have the faintest clue.

  “I don’t need a hug. I’m fine.”

  “Mhm.”

  “I’m not upset.”

  “Okay.”

  “I’m not. I only…” Bo buried her face into Sarah’s abdomen, soaking her dress with hot tears. She must have clamped her mouth down because Sarah
only heard muffled sniffles. The girl’s grip, however, was what her daddy would have called a death grip. If Sarah wanted to get away, she wasn’t likely to.

  She smiled at the thought of her father. The bear hug was a method she had learned from him. When she had been unable to find words, he had offered her arms and pouch of a belly. That had always been more than enough. She hoped she was enough for Bo.

  “Auntie Sarah, what should we do?” Bo whispered. “We need to save Marie but it’s not safe here either. The humans have the land and now their ship is here. I don’t know what to do.”

  An idea blossomed in Sarah’s mind. The humans had the land and a ship on the eastern sea. Kwe, Bo, and the other children couldn’t travel by land—the distance would be too much. But they’d all fit on a ship. And Sarah knew exactly where to get one.

  Killing two birds with one stone, as Daddy would say.

  “Bo, I have an idea. It’s going to take everyone’s help.”

  The girl wiped her eyes before looking up at Sarah. “Everyone will help. I’m certain.”

  “Good. Because we’re going to steal a boat.”

  “Are you sure they’ll be fine?” Michael asked.

  Bo glared at him and put a finger over her mouth. Ev, who clung to her back, shook his head at the frightened young man.

  Sarah attempted to send him a smile but her focus was narrowed. She and six of the children were treading the water a few yards from the ship. After ensuring the humans didn’t plan on moving farther along the coast, they had waited for nightfall to make their move.

  Three of the youngest children stayed behind. They couldn’t swim and were all under seven, so the plan was to get them afterwards. Truthfully, they wouldn’t be much use in a brawl.

  Sarah hoped there wouldn’t be much brawling anyway. If they could get all the humans in one room and lock them up, no one would get hurt.

  Together, the group made their way to one side of the ship. Sarah called to the water. It lifted her right below rim, so she could peek over. The entire deck was empty.

  Quickly, she gestured to her companions before raising them above deck with water, as well. Sarah waited until the last of them was aboard. Then, she climbed on herself.

  The boat creaked and groaned with the waves, moving back and forth. Though the night was dark, the moon was bright and Sarah felt completely exposed on the deck. What if another ship came by?

  She rattled away the feeling.

  Bo turned to her. Without even a nod, they began.

  Sarah and three others stayed on deck while the rest moved below to lock the humans away.

  Now they waited. A horrible tightening gripped Sarah’s chest as she watched Kwe and Bo step into the darkness. She itched to go with them, but someone needed to stay above with the other children. From what Sarah had gathered, they weren’t like Kwe and Bo. They hadn’t been trained to fight.

  A creak. Sarah prepared herself.

  They all emerged from the bottom of the ship, Marie included. Sarah smiled until she noticed no one else was.

  Michael held his sister to him. As he met Sarah’s eyes, he frowned.

  She moved toward him and placed a hand on Marie’s back. The young girl was breathing steadily. She was alive and well.

  Something was wrong but now wasn’t the moment to ask. They had more work to do. As long as everyone was alive, there was nothing to worry about.

  Sarah moved to the ship’s side, looking for the anchor. Since returning to Lyrica, she’d had had a troubling revelation: she was very much out of practice. Moving the water to lift the ship’s anchor shouldn’t have been so difficult. After all, she was older now and supposed to be stronger.

  Yet she could feel sweat building on her brow as she tried to quietly place the chunk of metal on the deck.

  She’d once used an elemental’s own water attack against him. Now she struggled to keep the water moving. Serwa would be disappointed.

  The thought made Sarah gnash her teeth.

  Come on. Only a little bit more now.

  The anchor landed without a sound. Sarah released a long overdue exhale just as a woman with short hair who was dressed in men’s clothes appeared from the ship’s depths.

  Everyone froze.

  The woman wiped her sleepy eyes before peering around. Her body reacted first, growing rigid. She took a step back as realization dawned on her face. Finally, she screamed.

  Bo moved. Ev got to the woman first.

  His small hand turned into a claw, which slashed across the woman’s body. She fell to the side.

  Ev now squatted by the body with wings protruding from his back. Where hands and feet once were, there were now sharp claws and talons. His eyes glowed.

  Sarah was like a statue, staring at him.

  A...a gargoyle?

  It was too late though. Noise could be heard under the deck.

  She cursed.

  “Fight!” Bo screamed.

  Heeding his sister’s command, Kwe stepped to the side of the entrance. He stood just out of sight. When the first man appeared from the ship’s bottom, the boy didn’t hesitate.

  He sliced the sailor’s jugular and the body landed beside the young woman’s.

  Sarah ran across the deck, positioning herself in front of the other children.

  “Stay behind me,” she shouted as sailors began spilling onto the deck. “Did you hear me?”

  She glanced behind her. Apparently, she wasn’t as needed as she thought.

  While on land, their eyes had nearly watered at the very mention of humans. But now, having the enemy so close within their grasp, that fear had disappeared. It was replaced with a potent hate.

  She gulped.

  Charging toward their enemies, the children wailed into the night. They had no weapons aside from their fists, feet, and teeth, but they put them to very good use.

  The humans’ assault came to an abrupt halt. With swords raised, they watched two of their men be overtaken by the children. The men screamed their throats raw as the children clawed at their eyes and pummeled them with their fists.

  Marie grabbed at one’s hair. Michael squeezed another’s throat.

  Some bit, others scratched, a few just screamed, but the result was the same.

  The men’s cries died away with haste. However, the children didn’t stop pounding at the bodies.

  Sarah tried to move toward them. Her feet didn’t seem in compliance.

  Just go, just go.

  Her hands were tremors. Why was she shaking? This wasn’t her first fight! She had killed many during the last battle in Lyrica.

  So, why not now?

  The night filled with empty thumps and thuds. Bo and Kwe moved on either side of their comrades, facing the human enemy. Their eyes were like crimson stars in the dark sky.

  Bo smiled. “For our home!”

  On cue, Ev appeared from the side and grabbed the captain—he looked to be at least—with his talons. The man cried out but Ev continued to lift him into the air, only to drop him into the sea.

  Using Ev as a distraction, the siblings made their move.

  Sarah bit her lip. She winced as the old gash reopened. Yet it was just what she needed.

  Moving forward, she called to the wind and blew the men backwards. Their bodies slammed against the deck. Once there, she pinned them down.

  “Bloody witch!” one howled.

  Sarah searched the space for Bo. When she found the child’s eyes, Sarah gave a hard nod. There was no other choice.

  “Kill them,” Bo ordered.

  The impromptu soldiers didn’t need to be told again. While Sarah held the sailors to the deck, the children descended on them. The twins made quick use of their targets while the others beat them into unconsciousness. And Sarah watched.

  Part of her wanted to close her eyes, to cover her ears. She didn’t want to look on while the humans were beaten to death. She didn’t want to hear their screams. But she planted her feet to the deck, forced her eyes
to remain open, and took in all their painful wails.

  Because Serwa was captured. Alex was missing and Solar was likely being tortured for her tears like the other dragons.

  Sarah wasn’t on Earth anymore. She was on Lyrica.

  At some point, the sailors’ fight left and they let the children end them. Both Kwe and Bo checked each corpse for insurance.

  The remaining children had fallen on their knees. They were panting and staring around wide-eyed. As the moon shone down on them, Sarah could see crimson splattered across their skin and clothing.

  Marie snuggled into her brother’s arms and held his hand. He squeezed her against his chest in response.

  Ev landed on the deck without a talon scratch across the wood. Still in his other form, he squatted directly in the moon’s path. His shadow, his skin, a wonderful dark in contrast to the pale, round moon above them.

  With a few flutters of his wings, the two appendages folded into his back. Ev stood from his squatted position, coming to his full four feet of height. His claws and talons disappeared, leaving him the same small boy Sarah had met several days ago.

  Kwe turned to him. “Ev, can you—”

  “I can do it.”

  The smallest child limped over to Sarah. He patted her hand and pulled her toward the lower deck.

  “I don’t think we should tell you. Kwe and Bo think we should.”

  “Tell me what?” Sarah asked.

  “About what we found here.”

  An icy feeling pierced her chest but Sarah forced her feet forward.

  Ev moved through a few hallways before stopping at large wooden door. It hung partially ajar.

  “It’s quiet,” she whispered. Her heart hammered in her chest and Alex’s warning rung in her ear.

  “It is when things are most quiet one has to be most cautious.”

  “This is why we decided not to lock the humans up. If you listen closely you can hear them breathing,” Ev said. Then, he pushed the door open. Sarah followed behind him.

  Her eyes widened at what she saw.

  Wooden planks in columns of three stacked above one another. Cages between each stack. Lyricans chained to the wooden planks and locked inside the cages. Dying lanterns hung along the walls, casting shadows over the captured.

  They didn’t speak. But Sarah could hear whimpering. She could hear chains rattling.