Broken Forest: Book One of the Daath Chronicles (36 page)

She whispered my name, blood trickling out of her mouth. I couldn’t watch the life leave her eyes. I turned away and prayed she would live.

Derrick gently picked her up and held her in his arms.

I stood to face Lucino. “Go. I’ll take care of him,” I told Derrick. My body shook with fear, adrenaline and rage. I focused on the anger, letting its power fuel me. This creature was the reason my sister was dying. Everything happened because of him.

Lucino charged first with a powerful swing that threw me off balance when I blocked. He was stronger than I. This was going to be a tough fight. I adjusted my grip on the sword and stabbed forward. Lucino blocked the attack as if swatting a fly. I raised the sword, trying a different technique, and slashed down, stepping to the side at the last second, sending the weapon in an arc to Lucino’s stomach. Lucino blocked.

Blocking Lucino’s attacks were taking all of my energy and I couldn’t get any swings close to hurting him. I focused on breathing, and tried again, rushing forward. Lucino’s blade pushed the thrust aside.

Lucino sneered. “Do you honestly think you are going to win?”

I spit at him. “Whatever it takes, you die today.”

Lucino grunted and twirled his sword around at me with such power it knocked my own blade right out of my hands.

“It seems I was correct.” Lucino stepped forward, pointing his sword tip at my chest.

I can do this. I know I can do this. I just need time to think.

I stepped back attempting to put distance between us. Lucino lunged forward, driving his sword into my shoulder. I cried out in pain.

“You humans are so weak.” Lucino looked at his own wound. “Your little dagger barely scratched my skin, but it did seem to stop my transformation.” He glanced at the dagger lying on the floor. “You’re from The Order. I’ve always wanted to fight one of you.”

The Order? Why would he think I’m from The Order?

“Do you even have skin?” I panted, holding my shoulder. “Shapeshifter.”

His brows narrowed. “So you know the truth.”

Keep him talking.
“Yes, I know what you are and what you plan to do.” I dug my free hand into my pocket, pulling open the bag of marbles.

“Did you also know there are hundreds of my kind walking among you?”

Hundreds?

Lucino laughed. “Ahh, no, you did not. Of course you wouldn’t know the extent of our reach.”

My hand grabbed a handful of marbles. A few more seconds. “Why are you here?”

“Does it matter? Soon, we will rule.”

“You will never take over,” I said and ran, forcing Lucino to chase me. I threw the marbles at his feet. I checked to see if it had worked and ran straight to my sword, picking it off the ground. I whirled around and saw Lucino smirking as he drove his sword into my stomach.

He laughed. “You really are a fool.”

The sword fell from my hands, clanging as it hit the ground. Pain shot through my body and I pressed my hands against my stomach.
No, this isn’t how this ends. I won’t give up. I won’t.

Lucino turned his back to me. I looked around for anything I could use to stop him. One of the candelabras stood next to me. With the last of my strength, I hauled the stick at Lucino. The candles ignited his clothes, and he screamed. His arms flailed as he tried to put out the fire.

Since Lucino wasn’t human, I didn’t know if fire would kill him, or even hurt him. I knew I was dying. The life was already draining from my body, but I wouldn’t rest until I knew Lucino was dead.

Lucino was close enough to the pit, if I could summon the strength, I could push him over.

Creator, please, just a bit longer. Help me rid of this filth.

Grabbing the candelabra, I staggered towards Lucino.

“Go back to whatever cursed land you came from,” I growled, thrusting the stick into Lucino’s chest, driving him over the edge.

He fell, his screams fading on the descent. Then the whole temple exploded with a bright light.

I closed my eyes and waited for death.

“I’m so sorry,” Derrick said, his tears falling on my cheeks. “This wasn’t how this was supposed to end. We were supposed to save you.”

I held his hand. “It was an accident.” I winced at the pain; even talking took all my strength.

Derrick shook his head. “There has to be something I can do.”

It wouldn’t be long now. The pain had taken on a numbing effect. Tears filled my eyes. I would never see Calli grow into the woman I know she’d be and I’d never see Mother and Poppa again. And Avikar…There was so much that needed to be said. I don’t know when we grew apart, maybe after Jimri died, but now there was no more time. No time to talk about the past, or relive the memories we shared. All I had was a moment; a moment that slipped further and further away.

My eyes fluttered. It was getting harder to keep them open. Above Derrick’s head, I saw a blue light. The butterflies.

“Derrick, look.” It took all my strength to raise a finger to the blue creature hovering over us.

His voice dripped with sorrow. “It’s just a butterfly.”

The butterfly flew down, landed on my chest and then fluttered away. “Follow the butterfly,” I said to him.

“What? No, Jericho is getting help. I’m not chasing an insect.”

“Derrick … please, there is a place … a place … it can heal me.” I was losing consciousness. “Please, hurry.”

Derrick watched the butterfly. He lifted me. “Are you sure. You’re certain?”

I nodded, even though I wasn’t certain, but I hoped.

Time slipped to and fro. Had hours or minutes only passed?

I heard my name, a soft whisper on the wind, calling me back from this place of emptiness. I opened my eyes.

“I think we’re here,” Derrick said, his eyes wide. “What is this place?”

In the dark, flowers glowed vibrant greens and blues, dotting the enchanted pool.

“The water …”

He stepped into the pool. The water rose around me until I floated just below the surface, wading in his arms.

“Jeslyn.” There was so much anguish in his voice.

I stared into his eyes, wanting to say all the things I should have.

“What are those?” he asked.

The butterflies.

The blue swarm flew gracefully from the grotto, flying to us. They landed on me, in various spots. Their wings moved slowly as they sat, still and magnificent. A warm tingling spread through my body.

“It worked,” I whispered, closing my eyes.

“Jeslyn?”

“Jeslyn … don’t, don’t close your eyes. I can’t lose you!”

“You won’t,” I said, falling into sleep.

When I woke, I was lying on the grass. My hands went to my chest where Lucino had stabbed me, and to my surprise, the wound was gone. I looked around. I was alone, except for a tall man in brown robes. I got to my feet and cautiously walked over to the stranger. The ground sunk in with each step. A dense fog clouded everything but the few feet surrounding the stranger and me.

“What’s going on?” I asked.

“Peace, Avikar.” The man motioned to a nearby stump. “Please, sit.”

“I don’t have time for this. Where is everyone? Is Jeslyn alive?”

The man smiled. “Yes, your sister lives. Sit and I’ll explain.”

I paused before finally agreeing. The man’s scruffy appearance reminded me of my father.