The Pariah Child- Sarafina's Return

by Natasha D Lane

  Emma bent down and placed a hand in the water. “They’ve concealed her in black diamond.”

  “What? How do you know that?” Sarah marched forward, so she was standing beside them. For a moment, she stared into the river, hoping to feel, if not see, Serwa there. But she saw nothing aside from the rushing water.

  “Her energy is faint,” Emma replied. “Serwa is not hiding here. There’s no reason for her to conceal herself. Therefore—”

  “Black Diamond is the only logical answer,” Ellen finished. “It is a witch’s greatest weakness. Humans know this. Please stand back, Sarah.”

  “Why?”

  “If you don’t, you may get wet,” stated Emma.

  “Then, you would become sick,” Ellen finished. “We don’t want that. It would also upset Serwa.”

  The bubbling irritation in Sarah’s stomach evaporated. Internally chastising herself, Sarah stepped back with the others while the twins worked.

  Nearly shoulder to shoulder, they began moving their arms. Their motions were fluid and exactly reflective of the other. Sarah could sense their magic in the air; she knew they were calling to water.

  Skuntz took in a sharp inhale. The air whizzed and he jumped forward, catching an arrow that was a few inches from Emma’s face. He snapped the arrow in half.

  “Human,” he growled.

  Ellen and Emma continued working. They paid no mind to the armored man who appeared on the river’s other side. Cupped hands holding a flame decorated his chest.

  Sarah drew her sword.

  “Keep your arrows to yourself, you coward!” Klara shouted. She held her axe in both hands, tapping the blade against her palm. “If not, I’ll slice you open in one swing.”

  The man did not respond. He made eye contact with each of them but only shortly.

  Skuntz peered at their surroundings. “Are you alone?”

  Again, the man was silent.

  Skuntz grinned. “They left you alone on guard duty.”

  The weapon quivered in his hands. His eyes moved from them to the river and back again. His mouth was a strained line.

  He looked scared and worried but there was something else…

  “Thobias.” Sarah’s sword remained steady as she spoke the name.

  The man became rigid.

  Skuntz raised his brows at her. “What?”

  She nodded. “Thobias. He’s—”

  “How do you know my son?” He dropped his weapon to his side, his attention only on Sarah.

  A dark, oval-shaped structure emerged from the river.

  Sarah pulled her attention back to Thobias’ father.

  “Who is he?” Klara asked. “Friend or foe, Sarah?”

  She eyed the man up and down. He wore the human armor, though his son was everything they hated. Thobias had told her his father had been captured. But why this?

  “His name is Emry.” Jacob’s voice was shaking.

  Klara groaned. She placed her axe on her back halter before spinning on Jacob, hands on her hips. “And who is Emry?” She cast a look at Sarah.

  “Emry is…was my sister’s partner,” Jacob answered. “And my nephew’s father.” He turned to Sarah. “Whose name is Thobias. That’s the name you said, isn’t it?”

  Everything pulled itself together. Her sight moved between Jacob and Emry.

  “Where is Thobias?” Emry called from across the river. He had inched closer to its edge, leaning slightly over the rushing water. “Please, tell me where my son is.”

  The tears were in his voice, even though Sarah couldn’t see them. She returned her sword to its sheath.

  Jacob seemed on edge. His breathing had become audible and his lips were pulled back revealing gnashed teeth.

  Of course, he didn’t have an answer for Emry. The guilt was eating at him.

  Sarah placed a hand on Jacob’s arm. The tension eased and he wiped his face.

  “We found him with some other children,” Sarah said to Emry. “He’s safe.”

  Dropping to his knees, Emry released a shaking exhale. “Thank the gods. Thobias. Thobias…” He covered his eyes as fresh, deep sobs poured from him.

  “We’re not killing the human?”

  They turned and stared at the twins.

  Skuntz patted Ellen’s shoulder. “Not this one.”

  “We couldn’t sense him,” Emma said. “He’s hiding his presence.”

  “Probably with a witch stone from one of the captured,” Skuntz finished.

  Two crescent shadows fell over the group. Jacob had taken to the air. He landed next to the still sobbing Emry, touching his shoulder but not speaking.

  Sarah turned her attention to the water between them. Could she freeze it and walk across?

  Skuntz approached the diamond structure. Kneeling down, he smoothed his hand across the surface. A smile broke on his face.

  “We need to get her out,” he said. He turned to the twins. “How can we get her out?”

  Klara smirked. “I can take care of that.”

  Like she had done in their previous battle, the dwarf slammed her hands into the earth. Two fists rose from the ground and began smashing Serwa’s prison.

  A shiver ran up Sarah’s spine. Something was wrong.

  Power flowed from the black diamond. It rippled through the air, pouring over Sarah, mingling with her own energy. Serwa’s magic called to her and Sarah stumbled forward.

  Ellen and Emma were doing the same. They were like the children and Serwa the Pied Piper.

  And then the diamond’s surface fell away. The last hit had destroyed it.

  A searing heat shot through the air like an aimed spear racing toward its target. Sarah was pushed to the ground. Sweat had formed on her skin and her chest felt heavy.

  Sarah tried to recover, only for her legs to give way.

  But she was there.

  The tears were burning Sarah’s eyes.

  The witch, her old friend, stood in what was left of her prison. Her hair hung down her back and curtained her face. But Sarah knew who she was. She knew her name.

  She was Serwa.

  Chapter 23

  The moon was their spotlight. Shadows were cast from the crackling fire.

  They could have been ancient statues, a treasure a wanderer comes across accidentally.

  Sarah imagined the newspaper headlines. She could see the scholars and travelers all rushing to see the stone remains of the three female warriors—Serwa, Ellen, and Emma. There would be an air of mystery surrounding their origin.

  And Sarah would be the only one on Earth who knew their story.

  Serwa was poised and perched perfectly atop her log. She had tilted her neck back, so her face caught the moonlight. Her curls had been rolled into a sort of braid that hung all around her, trailing past her back and pooling onto the soft grass. And her eyes burned the same brilliant gold they had the first time Sarah met her, when she thought of witches as elderly women with crooked, bumped noses.

  She smiled. That was long ago.

  For a moment, when she had seen Serwa rise from the diamond’s ashes, Sarah had become a child again. She wanted to run into the witch’s arms, tell her how she had practiced her magic even on Earth, and show her how strong she had become. Tell Serwa how much she had missed her and Alex.

  Sarah needed to let Serwa know she was strong enough to protect her now. Just like Ellen and Emma had done the past twelve years.

  On either side of the witch were the twins. They both sat angled outward, their hands folded in their laps, their backs slightly to Serwa, and their faces were blank canvases.

  Everyone else sat on the opposite side of the fire—including Sarah.

  Serwa hadn’t spoken much since being set free. She had quickly looked over all who were present, then asked for Alexander and her children. Skuntz had explained what had happened since she was captured.

  There was obvious relief that Bo and Kwe were safe. And obvious dread that Alexander was still somewhere in the human kin
gdom. Her face had contorted and her magic suddenly felt like lead spikes weighing the entire party down.

  Since then, she had only eaten, drank some water, and sat on the log. Ellen and Emma had not left her side.

  Sarah tried to lose her thoughts in the fire but her eyes always found their way back to her old friend.

  Serwa was alive and well.

  Skuntz caught her stare. He nodded to her left and she followed his gaze.

  Serwa wasn’t the only one who had been silent. Emry had also lost interest in speaking. After bombarding them with as many questions about Thobias as they had the knowledge to answer, he had tossed off his armor.

  Skuntz glanced at Serwa, then Sarah.

  Sarah gulped and gave him a quick nod. They’d have to send Emry away, and soon.

  “I missed the moon,” Serwa said, smiling. She looked away from the luminous stone and showed her large smile to everyone. “I couldn’t feel it like this when I was in the black diamond. The damn humans were good.”

  She sighed. “They caught me when I was at my weakest.”

  “It won’t happen again.” Emma faced Serwa. She withdrew a dagger from her cloak.

  Ellen did the same. “We’re here now. Our journey is complete and we are ready to return to your side.”

  Serwa placed a hand on both their shoulders. “Thank you. How was your ethereal quest?”

  “Amazing!” Emma replied, her hands tightening around her weapon. “Our ancestors allowed us over to speak with them. There was so much we didn’t know, Serwa.”

  Ellen scooted a little closer. “We communed with the elements as you instructed. We saw our mother and brother, too. They’re very happy in the other world.”

  Serwa nodded. “Your quest seems like it was a success. I’m glad to have you both back, though I wish it were under better circumstances.”

  Sliding her hands from their shoulders, Serwa folded them in her lap and turned to face the entire group. Her energy already had a pull but straightening her back and lifting her chin only added to the effect.

  The witch had become regal since Sarah last saw her. And her magic had grown stronger.

  She examined each of them, the flames flickering flecks of orange in her eyes.

  “What’s our next move?” Skuntz asked. He sat up, both elbows on his knees as he listened.

  Stretching, Serwa rose to her feet. Her dress hem was shredded at her ankles.

  “Nettle is on the battlefield. That’s where we should be, as well, but I refuse to let Alexander remain with the humans.” She rolled her fingers and the sound of cracking bone filled the forest.

  She took in a deep breath. “This is why, Ellen and Emma, you both will travel to the human kingdom to rescue him and Charles.”

  “What?”

  Their reaction was immediate.

  “But, we only returned to you,” the twins said in unison.

  Serwa pressed her eyes shut. Opening them again, she composed herself.

  “Yes, but my escape is only a single part of a larger plan. Many vampires are loyal to me. Many also see Alexander as their only ruler,” she replied. “If the kingdom is to prosper after this war, Alexander needs to be at my side. I cannot be in two places at once.”

  She cleared her throat. “The kingdom must come first. It’s where I’m needed, and where Alexander will call home, once you’ve saved him.”

  Ellen and Emma glanced at one another. Without another word of protest, they returned to their seats, staring at Serwa.

  “Then we’ll be traveling with you, Queen Serwa?” Klara asked.

  “Yes, and do not call me queen, Klara. You freed me from that damn prison. Not to mention, I considered your father a friend.” She paused. “Please, know you have my condolences.”

  She looked over Sarah. “My friend here knows how I feel about titles, don’t you, Sarah?”

  “Neither of us is a fan,” Sarah said, chuckling. She rolled her palms over her knees and grinned at the witch. “I…we’re glad to have you back, Serwa. Really glad.”

  “And I am glad to see you in Lyrica.” Her smile softened, and Sarah felt a warmth wrap around her. She met the witch’s eyes.

  “We have much to discuss, Sarah,” she replied, then turned to the twins. “But first, our battle plan.”

  “How should we enter the human kingdom?” Ellen said, grazing her dagger’s tip across her clothing. Her sight found Emry, who had been sitting quietly beside Jacob. “Perhaps the human knows something.”

  All eyes fell on Emry. He gulped, strengthening his hold on his small mug of water.

  “I…I’ve only been to the kingdom a few times. I can’t remember much.”

  “You can try harder,” Ellen said, staring at him over her blade. “A few times is more than enough to draw out a map.”

  He gawked at them.

  “Or, you could let us cast a spell.”

  “Poke around your brain a bit.” Emma smirked. “We’d only need time to find the ingredients and—”

  “He is not the enemy!” Jacob shouted, flaring his wings out.

  Emma tilted her head to the side and looked him up and down. “Says the traitor.”

  Jacob’s response fell short. He smashed his mouth together but kept his eyes level.

  “The angel who wanted the stone.” Ellen tsked. “Did you think we forgot?”

  “Stop it,” Sarah said, casting a glare in the twin’s directions. “We’re past that now. Jacob has helped us several times since leaving the angels.”

  Emma kept her gaze on Jacob. “How are we certain we can trust him?”

  “Angels are good liars. They may even be able to fool us,” Ellen added.

  Sarah narrowed her eyes. “You’ll have to trust me. The same way I trust you all!”

  The fire crackled as silence descended on the group. Energy was rippling in the air.

  Skuntz groaned. He fell on his side and propped his head up with one hand. The fire’s light fell over his face.

  “Sarah is right.”

  They stared at him. Sarah wasn’t certain she’d heard him correctly.

  “Jacob isn’t like other angels we’ve met.” He turned his attention to Jacob. “I trust him. He’s an ally.”

  Klara raised her hand. “I do as, well. He stuck around even after I threatened to cut his wings off.”

  Jacob gave a small grin. “A threat I’m sure you planned to carry out if I had stepped out of line. Both you and Jacob.”

  Both the elf and dwarf nodded.

  Sarah found Ellen and Emma again. The three gave each other direct stares.

  “Fine,” one finally responded. “We trust you, Sarah, and so we will trust the angel, too.”

  They looked at him, then gave a slight bow in his direction. “We apologize and hope you can forgive us.”

  Mimicking their movements, Jacob said, “Of course. I hope I can continue to prove myself.”

  “I think, maybe…” Emry stumbled over his words. He coughed, then took a swallow of water before starting again. “I can’t draw you a map. My memory isn’t that good. But, I might know where King Alexander is being kept.”

  Sarah’s heart raced. She snapped her neck, turning to Emry. The man was weathered. He didn’t look old. No, there was simply a layer of exhaustion and thinned perseverance resting over him.

  “When they captured me I was taken to the kingdom for training. Everyone was chattering about the queen’s new…well, they called them pets. I never heard a name but they’re chained in the throne room, where the queen enjoys spending most of her time.”

  The delicate hand that had grabbed at Alexander’s head…that was the human queen.

  Sarah inhaled sharply through her nose. A layer of ice coated her palms.

  “That’s Alex,” she said. “That’s where they’re keeping him and Charles.”

  Ellen and Emma stood.

  “What should we do?” they asked, looking at Serwa.

  She groaned and stretched, then met the t
win’s expectant stares. “Ellen and Emma, you will leave for the human kingdom. Find my boys and set them free. But, once that is done, you four should not return home just yet.”

  Sarah blinked. “Why? Isn’t the point to get them out?”

  “There’s a bigger plan here,” Skuntz whispered.

  Serwa continued, “Once they are free, I want you to go the queen’s chambers. She must be alone when you do this.”

  The twins nodded.

  “Do you want us to keep her alive for you?” they asked.

  She shook her head. “No, she’d be an easy kill. Not entertaining at all. Kill her, slowly. Make it look like a sudden illness. When she has a miraculous recovery, you will be controlling her body. She’ll be your eyes and ears. Gather all you can, distort their forces. When Nettle and I arrive with our army, the humans will fall with little effort. Do you have the spell?”

  They smirked. That was all the answer Serwa needed.

  “We’ll gather the ingredients while we travel,” Emma said.

  “When should we expect you?” Ellen asked.

  Serwa moved her hair over one shoulder. She lifted her right arm. In the blink of any eye, it had transformed into a sword.

  She sliced through her hair, leaving it swaying just above her shoulders. The remaining braids tumbled to the floor, landing with a thump.

  “Two weeks.” Serwa flicked at her fingernails.

  “When should we leave?”

  She turned to them. “Now.”

  The twins spun on their heels and raced into the forest. Serwa faced the remaining members of their group.

  “We’ll leave at daybreak to join Nettle. Emry is coming with us.”

  Jacob and Emry looked at one another.

  “There’s no other option, Jake,” Klara replied, catching both their attention. “He’ll have to see Thobias after the war ends. We can’t risk telling him where he is. He’d either get lost on the journey or, by luck of dwarven stone, find him and be murdered.”

  The angel sighed.

  Emry stared at everyone wide-eyed, his pinky finger tapping rapidly against the clay cup. He was like a child watching his parents fight, unsure of what to do.

  “I’m sure I can find it if you give me the directions,” Jacob snapped.