Hunted Sorcery (Jon Oklar Book 2), B.T. Narro [digital book reader txt] 📗

“I’m sorry, Remi,” Eden whispered. “I’ve always appreciated you for your independence. I thought perhaps one day I might convince you to join us. This really is a pity.”

“As soon as it’s done, return to your room,” Valinox said. “I’ll get the guard’s attention afterward to make it look like I did this. Use the callring when the king is dead, but don’t wait too long.”

So she plans to kill the king. That’s why she hasn’t left yet.

“I know. I just need a little more time to figure out how to break the harbinger’s contract.”

“Just kill the harbinger, and it will be easy. I have spent too long here. You’re on your own as soon as you kill the girl. Do it now.”

Eden flicked her wrist. The dagger drove into the side of Remi’s neck.

The pain was unlike anything she’d experienced before, but it didn’t compare to her crushing despair.

Life had been so cruel to her. Only recently did she finally have something to live for.

At least her death would be quick as she felt her blood gushing out. Soon all her pain would be over.

Everything went hazy, but she could’ve sworn she saw Aliana charging up behind Eden. Yes it really was her!

The ranger must’ve sensed people on the roof. Thank the gods Aliana had been awake and thought to use her ability! Remi’s life was over, but at least Eden’s true nature could no longer remain in hiding.

“Guards!” Aliana screamed. “Help!”

*****

I awoke to the sounds of Aliana shouting for the guards. At first I thought it was a drunken dream, but then her voice became clear as a bell.

“Help! Help!”

Suddenly wide awake, I darted to my window. Aliana sounded to be on the roof, and there was no other way up than to climb from my windowsill.

I got up there quickly, but I was stunned frozen by the sight. Remi lay near the chimney in a pool of blood. She didn’t appear to be alive. Valinox held Aliana in the air as a floating dagger seemed ready to pierce Aliana’s neck.

Eden noticed me, her eyes wide. “Stop Jon, Valinox!”

“Kill the girl already!” Valinox shouted.

He closed his hand, constricting me with dteria and hoisted me up. I pushed against his mana with my own spell as I watched his face change from the strain.

“Hurry up,” Valinox said. “He’s not easy to hold.”

I could hear shouting in the distance, guards taking notice.

“Just get us out of here,” Eden said. It looked as if she was hesitating, her hand out, the dagger floating near Aliana.

“If you are loyal, you will do it!” Valinox demanded. “I might not get a better chance to kill these sorcerers! Do it!”

Aliana screamed as she lifted her legs to protect herself. The dagger went into her thigh as if Eden made a mistake, or perhaps she just couldn’t bring herself to kill Aliana.

An arrow sailed over everyone’s head, Eden and Valinox flinching as they ducked.

“Get us out of here or I’m dead!” Eden shouted.

Aliana was shouting, her hands near her wound. “How could you do this, Eden! I thought we were friends!”

“We were. You don’t understand.”

Two more arrows barely missed everyone.

Reuben charged out in front of me, heading straight for Eden. He must’ve climbed up soon after me.

Valinox dropped me, then tossed his hand up. Eden shot into the sky. Reuben fell onto the roof as he dove at her too late. Valinox seemed disappointed as he looked us over. Then he shot into the sky as well.

“What is happening up there?” I heard Kataleya calling from her window. But it was Aliana’s voice that I followed.

“Jon, save Remi!”

I was already darting toward her, but it looked like I was too late. There was so much blood—from a gaping hole in her neck.

I fell into the puddle of red not knowing exactly how to begin. Was it even the wound in her neck anymore that was killing her or had her heart stopped?

I put one hand over her neck and the other over her chest. Reuben held her wrist, his thumbs feeling for signs of heartbeat, as I started to heal.

His words passed through one ear and out the other. “I’m not feeling anything, Jon.”

I closed her neck wound quickly, repairing the broken tissue beneath her skin soon after.

“Still nothing!” Reuben said with a whimper in his voice.

What now? I frantically moved my hands around her body and pushed out my mana to search for injuries, but I didn’t feel anything else that I could heal.

“Jon, she still has no pulse!” Reuben said.

Aliana crawled over as she cried. “No, Remi.”

“Get back both of you!” I snarled as I pushed them away. I needed space.

Remi had to live. I just required a little help from her heart, just a tiny bit of life to give my mana something to work with.

I pushed hard on her chest over and over, trying to simulate a heartbeat.

“Jon,” Aliana cried.

“It’s not over!”

I pushed harder, cracking the bones of her small body in the process.

I stopped to let my mana course through her, looking for anything it could heal. It repaired her broken bones, but then nothing else came to mind. I pushed harder, pleading with my mana to speak to me. Remi was dying.

I was almost shocked at how much information my mana suddenly gave me. She needed blood, but more than that, she needed air. They were both things my mana could not offer, though.

“She’s dead, Jon,” Reuben stated sadly.

“No!” I shouted, refusing to give up.

I opened her mouth and breathed air into her lungs. Then I pushed on her chest again. I kept this up for a short while, but soon I had to stop because my tears made it impossible to see. I wiped my eyes with one hand as I hopelessly allowed my mana to feel for life with my other.

There was a spark. I couldn’t believe it at first, but yes, there it was! Her heart was beating very weekly, but it was beating.

I supported her