Jeanne G'Fellers - No Sister of Mine, Jeanne G'Fellers [best summer reads TXT] 📗

of the drugged haze, Krell pushed a heavy pleasure phase, praying LaRenna had enough remaining strength to accept it. She did. Pure light energy encased them both, bringing them together in a form beyond the physical. Where one ended, the other began. LaRenna’s pain was Krell’s, Krell’s strength LaRenna’s. They drifted somewhere between life and death as LaRenna’s body began to fail. Krell breathed for them both, sustaining LaRenna’s existence. Concepts of time and space, Autlach and Taelach faded from their reality. All that remained was their one spirit, their one being, one voice, one heart. They were soul phased.

Chapter Thirty-Four

Painful memories, though deeply suppressed, are never truly forgotten.

—Taelach wisdom

They floated between realities, Krell’s entire being wrapping LaRenna’s, shielding her from the consuming cold of Death.

Wren bird? Krell’s thoughts rang inside their common existence, warming them both. LaRenna pushed at the black as she struggled to respond.

Krell?

Darlin’ mine, let me hold you safe while we fight this.

I . . . I can’t see you.

I’m all around you. We’re soul phased. Can’t you feel me?

Silence. I hurt.

I’m here, Wren bird. Let me take away some of the pain. Give me the weight in your chest.

No, you’ll hurt too . . . I won’t lose you, can’t lose you.

And I won’t lose you either. Give me the weight. LaRenna’s smothering pain became manageable. Better, sweetheart?

No. You hurt now.

I’m fine. We’ve divided the pain. Push away from the blackness. Give it a phase to force it out.

Silence. A weaker, pleading call. Kkrreell.

Darlin’, what’s wrong?

They won’t leave me alone . . . the more I fight, the stronger they become . . . help me.

They?

They’re crushing me.

I’m taking some of the weight from you. Breathe, LaRenna, breathe. Again, the pain released. Better?

Yes . . . Silence. No.

Wren bird?

Not again.

LaRenna?

Silence.

LARENNA, SPEAK TO ME!

LaRenna managed a tiny hollow hole of a whisper. Why, Krell, why?

Share with me, Renna. I’ll make them go.

It’s too much.

No! Let me in!

Silence, deafening silence punctuated by a single sob.

LARENNA! HOLD ON!

Krell’s grip slipped and LaRenna began to fade. Instinctively, she focused a phase that reached far beyond the limits of their joining. Krell’s energy entered LaRenna’s mind, braced for a struggle but unprepared for what she found—vivid images of the Creiloff twins that had been imbedded by the prock. Their images overwhelmed LaRenna’s psyche, crowding her until little of her strength remained.

Cance’s image lashed out first. She’s gone, guardian, gone. Leave her with us. She’s ours. We’ve ruined her for all others.

NO! Krell replied as she searched for any sign of LaRenna. I feel her presence.

Back off, bitch. Brandoff’s specter joined the fray. She’s ours! Cut your losses before we take you, too.

You’re dead, continued Krell as her search became frantic. You’re both dead.

We live in her mind, in her fears. Cance swept forward, blocking Krell’s path. She sustains us in her nightmares. We’ve scarred her. She can’t escape our touch.

Krell swung out to strike Cance, but her blow passed through the image and she fell forward, beyond Cance and onto the ground near where LaRenna’s injured psyche lay. Renna, they’re not real. They can’t harm you anymore. Renna! Listen to me!

Cance’s image stepped up again, blocking the distance between the lovers. Stupid whore, do you honestly think she can hear you now? She’s too weak.

LARENNA! They’re dead. Krell reached through Cance to touch LaRenna’s arm. I can’t help if you won’t listen. Please, Wren bird, please!

LaRenna shifted but wouldn’t look up. Krel . . . no . . . save yourself . . . go.

Brandoff drifted behind her twin’s image to stand beside LaRenna. She doesn’t want you. The choice is yours, join her in service to us, or die alone.

Renna! I won’t leave you. I can’t live without you. Fight them baby, make them leave you alone. They’re in YOUR head. It’s up to you.

But how? I’m so tired.

See? Brandoff bent to stroke LaRenna’s hair. She’s given up. Prock does that, you know, makes you more willing, submissive even when it hurts. And believe me, guardian, we make it HURT.

Krell shivered but held fast. LaRenna, darlin’, heart of my own, I will not stand here and argue with specters. You belong to me, beside me, with me. Me and only me. No matter what anyone else has done or said, you’re mine. If you won’t fight them, I must remain here with you. My place is by your side. Better to die beside you than live without you. She lay beside LaRenna and curled around her, demonstrating her defiance.

Immediately, the twins’ images solidified. Brandoff grasped Krell by the hair and pulled her head back. Let’s find out just how strong you are.

She’s yours. Cance descended on LaRenna. I’ve a lesson to teach.

No, Krell. LaRenna opened her eyes. Don’t let her.

Krell resisted the urge to cry out in pain as Brandoff pushed her to the edge. You stay. I stay. You are my intended and I will remain by your side. If this is the fate you choose, so be it.

Krell, no. LaRenna struggled to free herself of Cance’s hold, but Cance pinned her shoulders to the ground.

Shut up, LaRenna Cances.

LaRenna rallied the last of her strength. I’m not yours. You can’t have my guardian and you can’t have me. LaRenna heaved Cance from her, sending her sprawling on the ground a distance away. Krell, help me. I need you. I want you and only you!

Wren bird! Krell called out above Cance’s angry scream. Fight with me?

With you, for you, because of you.

This is the LaRenna I know! Krell laughed bitterly and turned, grabbing Brandoff by the hair.

Stronger than you thought, aren’t I?

Brandoff screeched and fell back as her image became transparent once again. Cance!

Idiot! Cance turned from her fading twin