A strange wave of power rushes over us, and the glances between us tell me it’s not just me. It’s similar to the sense of power we receive on a full moon, where our power is at its height, when Aslendrix is at her strongest. But we’ve just passed a new moon, and our power is only just returning.
Just as quickly as it started, it fades, leaving us in darkness.
“What was that?” Crimson asks.
“No clue, but we need to go.” Kalan leads us in the opposite direction to the origin of the light.
“Ever! We’re not leaving without her.”
“She told me to get you safe.”
“And I’m not leaving without her.” My hand wraps around the hilt of the blade he’s only just returned, and I draw the knife, ensuring the tip presses right under Kalan’s jaw. He raises his arms as the pressure grows and nods.
“Come on.”
We break into a run, heading right for camp.
But as we get closer, we find people lying on the floor. Crimson’s next to one of them in a second, checking for a pulse.
“Alive,” she calls.
We venture farther towards the main camp and find more and more people on the ground.
Bodies, all unconscious. I use the hum of my magic to cast out a web to sense for anyone else. There are slight vibrations from people, a presence, but nothing more.
Was this because of Ever? Did she do this?
The connection between us is still dormant, like it has been since she ran away. Kalan said that Ever wanted us out. Tonight. Is this her plan? Clear the way for us to escape?
But where is she?
Finally, at the edge of a clearing of sorts, near a line of trees, I see a body on the ground with nobody around it.
My stomach sinks, because before I’ve even reached her, I know it’s Ever.
I race towards her, and my knees hit the dirt as I lean over her, and use all the energy that’s now come to life in my veins to break through to her, but there’s nothing.
Cold.
Icy.
“Ever!” I scream.
There’s a dark mark at her throat, and I swipe my fingers over it, hoping it’s not blood. But it’s not. It’s hot. A burn. And there’s no sign of her necklace.
“Kalan!” I shout as I lift Ever, pulling her up against me. “Come on, Ever. Wake up. Wake up. Show me those eyes.” I’ve seen her like this before. It doesn’t mean anything. She’ll come round. She has to. The words tumble into one another as my mind whirls.
Kalan stands over us, an ominous shadow in the dark.
“She’s not wearing her necklace.” I saw what it did to her when it was taken from her in her cell. I brush her hair back, desperate to feel her. Desperate for her touch, and for her to wake up and to feel the inevitable pain of our connection once again.
We’re not in the snow. It’s not cold. I cling to those thoughts, finding myself hoping that there might be a future that shows the truth, only so I know this one won’t lead to her death.
“Well, seems like you’ve chosen which sibling to support, Kalan. Have you finally picked a side, or are you still looking out forbothof us?” Fenix’s voice drifts from the tree line, the darkness of the night still cloaking much of the detail.
“What did you do? What did you do!?” My anger unleashes, and I feel a surge of power, casting out towards him. I want to know what he’s feeling. I want to know what he did.
But a tug at my back and a blur past me tells me Crimson’s snatched my blade from the holster and is heading straight for Fenix.
