the scapegoat. Taking the fall for the real villain, but I couldn’t prove it. Not yet. If the King would sacrifice his only son, allow him to die . . . I shuddered to think what might come next. Palmo wasn’t talking either . He seemed satisfied to suffer in his prison cell in Helker.
A scraping sound, like claws across concrete, brought me out of my reverie. I took the opportunity to examine my sparse surroundings. It certainly wasn’t luxurious , like the dining hall, or the bedroom. Peering through the darkness I searched for the owner of the noise. And let out a cry. “Sadraden.”
A small roar answered, followed by heavy breathing. Jumping up, I ran over. “Sadraden!” My irrihunter. My b est friend since I was little. I hesitated to touch her. The syrupy smell I was beginning to associate with Ramien emanated from her. “Where are we?” I whispered. Then added with a desperate sob, “You’re dead, aren’t you?”
Hush, child. You know I am. Her voice scraped through my mind the way her claws scratched along the solid floor.
I swallowed another sob. “I’m so sorry.” A tear trickled down my cheek. I brushed it away; astounded I heard her thoughts. “ Were you always able to do this?” I mumbled.
What? Speak into your mind ? She gave a rattled roar, shaking her dull black mane. Of course. But you weren’t able to hear me. Her legs shook from the weight of her body. She fell forward, onto her knees . With a sigh, she rested her head on her paws, licking them.
“Let me get you something to drink.” I scanned the room for some water. Our room was nothing more than an earthen container. A death box, I thought, momentarily terrified.
It’s no use. Water will do nothing to refresh me. My soul is impri soned in this body just as we are confined within the dirt . Ramien has a message he wants me to deliver. She took a ragged breath.
“If this body isn’t part of you, why are you in so much pain ?” I asked, rushing over to her, leaning my h ead against her jaw, the way I used to. I stroked her behind the ears, noticing her once soft fur was scruffy , and felt wiry beneath my fingertips.
Ramien feeds off a soul ’ s agony. Don’t worry yourself , it’s temporary . Sadraden closed her eyes.
S he said Ramien had a message. “What does Ramien want you to tell me?” I had a feeling it had to do with my comment about him not being able to hurt me. Knowing my irrihunter was in pain twisted my gut s . If I didn’t do what I promised he would also make my parents souls’ suffer.
Sadraden let out a strangled growl. Don’t give in to him . I sense he’s afraid of you, which is why he wants to control you.
Her body came apart in chunks. Head. Body. One of her wings fell off, striking me in the shoulder before it vanished. As each piece disappeared , so did my sadness, my fear, and my guilt, as though Sadraden t ook them with her. One emotion remained. Anger.
I needed a plan.
One where I kept those I loved from any more agony.
I didn’t know what part Michael played in his father’s plan . It still baffled me he was the same as Ramien . And what was his mother, Catherine? Was she human or something else? Ramien was right about one thing. I’d been naïve. I wouldn’t be again. And if Michael came against me, I wouldn’t hold back. I was done being the victim. It was time I became a destroyer . Annihilate those who killed my parents and anyone who came against those I cared about.
A secret part of my mind lamented all the crap happening in my life. I shoved those thoughts away, knowing it was out of my power. Accepted it, even. With acceptance came a deeper resolve. I would control how I responded to the bad. No longer as a cowering kitten. I’d be like the fearless irrihunter.
Tortevia roared inside my head.
8. Virtual Insanity
The walls of our tomb shook , sending chunks of dirt and rock down on my head. I spread my feet apart for balance. Readying myself for whatever Ramien saw
A scraping sound, like claws across concrete, brought me out of my reverie. I took the opportunity to examine my sparse surroundings. It certainly wasn’t luxurious , like the dining hall, or the bedroom. Peering through the darkness I searched for the owner of the noise. And let out a cry. “Sadraden.”
A small roar answered, followed by heavy breathing. Jumping up, I ran over. “Sadraden!” My irrihunter. My b est friend since I was little. I hesitated to touch her. The syrupy smell I was beginning to associate with Ramien emanated from her. “Where are we?” I whispered. Then added with a desperate sob, “You’re dead, aren’t you?”
Hush, child. You know I am. Her voice scraped through my mind the way her claws scratched along the solid floor.
I swallowed another sob. “I’m so sorry.” A tear trickled down my cheek. I brushed it away; astounded I heard her thoughts. “ Were you always able to do this?” I mumbled.
What? Speak into your mind ? She gave a rattled roar, shaking her dull black mane. Of course. But you weren’t able to hear me. Her legs shook from the weight of her body. She fell forward, onto her knees . With a sigh, she rested her head on her paws, licking them.
“Let me get you something to drink.” I scanned the room for some water. Our room was nothing more than an earthen container. A death box, I thought, momentarily terrified.
It’s no use. Water will do nothing to refresh me. My soul is impri soned in this body just as we are confined within the dirt . Ramien has a message he wants me to deliver. She took a ragged breath.
“If this body isn’t part of you, why are you in so much pain ?” I asked, rushing over to her, leaning my h ead against her jaw, the way I used to. I stroked her behind the ears, noticing her once soft fur was scruffy , and felt wiry beneath my fingertips.
Ramien feeds off a soul ’ s agony. Don’t worry yourself , it’s temporary . Sadraden closed her eyes.
S he said Ramien had a message. “What does Ramien want you to tell me?” I had a feeling it had to do with my comment about him not being able to hurt me. Knowing my irrihunter was in pain twisted my gut s . If I didn’t do what I promised he would also make my parents souls’ suffer.
Sadraden let out a strangled growl. Don’t give in to him . I sense he’s afraid of you, which is why he wants to control you.
Her body came apart in chunks. Head. Body. One of her wings fell off, striking me in the shoulder before it vanished. As each piece disappeared , so did my sadness, my fear, and my guilt, as though Sadraden t ook them with her. One emotion remained. Anger.
I needed a plan.
One where I kept those I loved from any more agony.
I didn’t know what part Michael played in his father’s plan . It still baffled me he was the same as Ramien . And what was his mother, Catherine? Was she human or something else? Ramien was right about one thing. I’d been naïve. I wouldn’t be again. And if Michael came against me, I wouldn’t hold back. I was done being the victim. It was time I became a destroyer . Annihilate those who killed my parents and anyone who came against those I cared about.
A secret part of my mind lamented all the crap happening in my life. I shoved those thoughts away, knowing it was out of my power. Accepted it, even. With acceptance came a deeper resolve. I would control how I responded to the bad. No longer as a cowering kitten. I’d be like the fearless irrihunter.
Tortevia roared inside my head.
8. Virtual Insanity
The walls of our tomb shook , sending chunks of dirt and rock down on my head. I spread my feet apart for balance. Readying myself for whatever Ramien saw
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