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My stomach was heaving with pain now.
“But don’t fool yourself into thinking he’s superior somehow,” Vesper warned. “He wants the sword. And you and Lancelet weren’t just going to hand it over.”
For a split second I considered the words. Was that why Draven had let Lancelet be dragged off? Had he let her die so it would be easier to take the sword?
No. If that were the case, why save Odelna? Why not come after Vesper and I immediately if all Draven cared about was the sword?
I remembered the look in his eyes. It had killed him to have to choose. But he’d made the right choice.
He’d trust me. Because I had trusted Vesper, he thought I would be safe with him.
If only he knew how wrong I’d been.
Now Draven was coming for me.
And if he wanted the sword, I was ready to give it to him. Anything was better than Arthur getting his hands on it.
I stumbled forward a step and Vesper’s expression became annoyed. “He’s almost here. Stay back. I can’t have you distracting me. I’m not going to tell you again.”
I gritted my teeth, blood trickling from my lips. “I'm not going to let you kill him.”
I waited for him to say something flippant like “What are you going to do to stop me?” but instead he simply ignored me and peeked his head around the pillar to peer down the dark corridor.
Evidently he didn't see me as much of a threat.
To Vesper, I was just a dead girl walking.
I could feel the warmth of blood spreading across my tunic.
Was I a threat?
That remained to be seen.
Slowly I raised my hands.
At first, nothing happened. Just like back at the crossroads.
I felt disappointment fill me.
But I didn’t drop my hands.
I watched as they trembled. I was so weak, I could hardly hold my arms aloft.
I closed my eyes. Draven. I had to do this for Draven. And Odelna, if she was with him. Then we would go find Lancelet. Together.
The air around me grew silent and still.
I waited, channeling all my energy towards summoning the magic that had appeared without warning once before.
I felt a trickle. A slow and steady current building up inside.
Something was happening. I needed it to happen faster.
I put everything I had left into calling it forth. Begging whatever it was, this dormant part of myself, to come to my aid. Not for me. But for him.
In my mind, I whispered words of apology for pushing the power away for so long. I didn’t know. I didn’t know what you were. I’m sorry. I said it to myself, with my heart wrenching. I said it for myself, with a sob in my breast.
I would never deny it. Never again deny who I was, what I was. Never try to hide myself away for another person’s comfort ever again.
