Page 15 of The Starlight Savior

“Pleasure to meet you, Saige.” His smile was warm. A dimple appeared in the left corner of his cheek. Her weakness. She favored the way he said her name, pronouncing it slowly, drawing out each melodic syllable

Gods, how did she get so drunk?

With a quick nod, she turned towards the village square to head back towards Judith’s. She paused after one step. Realizing she didn’t know his name, she looked back. But the man was no longer there, leaving behind the thick scent of smoke that felt like a lost memory.

Chapter 7

Denholm was blissfully quiet as Saige walked along the empty path. The soldiers had abandoned their posts, surrendering to a final evening of music and booze. A full moon hung in the air above, illuminating the way home. Brimming bushes and oak trees lined the dirt road. Crickets and bird cries echoed in the distance. Her boots crunched against the dirt, soft wind licking at her face. It was blissful to feel such stillness.

But tomorrow the sun would rise, and Saige would be left with no direction.

Her mind drifting, Saige didn’t notice she’d reached her destination, her shack hidden behind the bramble. She stumbled through the door, falling into bed, embracing a deep slumber.

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

Boom.

A loud crack echoed around Saige, rattling her skull. She clutched the kitchen table, fingers running over knife carved divots. Bright light flooded her peripheral, blocking any sight around her. She cried out, but her ears sounded full of flying insects, buzzing against her skin.

“Mama!” she screamed, “Papa!” Hands reached out. She flexed her fingers until she grasped something familiar. The scent of lilies and dirt surrounded her as she was scooped into her mother’s arms. She buried her face into her mother’s golden hair, the color of wheat swaying in the wind. A hand pressed against Saige’s head as a soothing melody was cooed into her ear.

“Breathe, little one. Just breathe. It’ll be okay.” Her mother’s lips pressed against her, yet her voice sounded distant.

“It hurts!” Was all Saige could muster. Her skin burned all over. Each inhale was hot coals searing her lungs.

“We need to calm her down, Oscar!” her mother yelled as Saige wriggled in her arms. “They’ll come after her if we don’t! Terrus help us; she’s burning me.”

Another pair of arms wrapped around her, firm and strong. Her father grasped her tightly, clutching Saige towards his chest. She inhaled the smell of soot and ash. Touch and scent were the only things grounding Saige as she grasped to anything recognizable.

“She—” Her father sighed. “She does not have the training. We have to wait this out.”

“And whose fault is that?” her mother murmured.

“Make it stop!” Saige sobbed again, confused by the pain in her father’s voice. The frustration in her mother’s words. Were they mad at her? Had she done something wrong? She grasped his chest as he rocked Saige with a hiss. She buried her face deeper into his shirt, screaming until her throat was raw. Why did this hurt so bad?

“It’ll stop soon, little one. It’ll stop—”

Boom.

Saige awoke to the sound of cracking earth. Choking on a scream, she outstretched her hands to reach for her mother and father. All she felt was sweat soaked sheets and empty air. Smoke and lilies tickled her nose, tugging at an aching part of her chest. Dreams and memories were often mixed up in Saige’s mind, the liquor stirring everything she tucked away. When she awoke each time, it was difficult to decipher what was true. Their faces would often fade with the day, along with the feelings of safety and anguish that came along.

But this dream…it was so vivid. Her hand gripped her throat. Had she experienced—

Boom.

The room shook again. Cooking pans rattled against the wall. Books tumbled to the floor with a thud. Saige sat straight up, gripping the sheets in terror.

That hadn’t been part of her dream.

Rising from the bed, she was surprised to find she was still dressed. Her cloak sat upon her shoulders, boots remained fastened.

Striding to the small window near the door, she tugged off the wood plank and heavy curtain. The sun hadn’t risen yet. Stars glittered across the sky, full moon casting light upon the gardens. She had slept for only a handful of hours.

Suddenly, the floor moved. Grasping onto the window ledge, Saige struggled to find her footing. Without a second thought, she pushed through her doorway and ran through the trees and shrubbery. The vines and tree limbs ripped at her body as she tumbled through, striding toward the backdoor to Judith’s cottage.

She needed to make sure her caregiver was okay.

Flashes of lightning, accompanied with the roar of thunder, lit the sky in hues of purple and white. Saige froze, brow furrowing as she looked up. Storm clouds rolled in with a gust of wind, extinguishing the moonlight. She raised her cloak’s hood quickly as fat water droplets fell.