The Last Daughter of Elysia

Chapter 17

There was a faint cry from the Resnim Forest, and Aelys ran towards Morgana, dress streaming behind her like a silvery fish darting through dark anemone. Fatigue fell on Morgana like a heavy weight, and she collapsed onto all fours. The magic had taken its toll. But she didn't care. The chill from the frozen lake swept over her like a wintery breeze.

Aelys knelt in front of her. "What happened? I went looking for you and then I saw ..."

Morgana stared at the frozen lake behind Aelys.

Aelys shook her by the shoulders. "Speak to me!"

Morgana shrugged her sister's hands off and stood up. A coldness had spread over her heart just like the frost over the lake. "What did you see, Aelys?"

Aelys stood up, brows knitting with confusion. "I saw you covered in water, and then you pushed someone into the lake with it. But that's impossible ..."

Morgana closed her eyes, trying to slow her hammering heart. "I've absorbed too much of Elysia's magic. It's been out of control. Damon's been training me to help stop it." Her breath was coming in short gasps. "You can't tell anybody. I'm not supposed to tell anybody about the magic or the training."

"Morgana, you need to calm down." Aelys grabbed her shoulders again. "Don't worry I won't tell anyone."

"I couldn't help it, Elvenia tried to drown me."

"She what?" Aelys's hands went to her mouth in horror. "Oh, this is my fault. I should've stayed with you or had a guard escort you. I'm such an idiot!"

"You're not an idiot. Elvenia's bullied me for years."

"You were lucky that the magic protected you somehow, which must mean that the elixir isn't working as well as it should, right?"

"I don't know."

"Is Elvenia still in the lake?"

There was a tense moment where Morgana and Aelys gave the icy lake a grim look. Morgana knew that it was too late to save Elvenia. She shuffled over to the lake's edge, small pebbles clattering underfoot. She felt numb as if her blood and flesh had frozen over. There were soft footsteps from behind and a warm hand went through hers. Aelys's comforting freesia scent coiled around her like a hug, and something in Morgana's chest defrosted.

"We'll check together," Aelys murmured.

Morgana nodded, and they walked out onto the ice where the cold seeped into their shoes and up their legs like icy needles. Aelys waved a hand, blowing aside a layer of frost. What they saw made Aelys's hand tighten around Morgana's hand.

Frozen in the middle of the lake was Elvenia. Her mouth was open in a scream, lips blue, eyes glassy. Her hair was a tangled snarl.

What surprised Morgana was what little she felt. She'd just killed someone, but all she could feel was relief. Relief that Elvenia would no longer harm her. Or try to kill her. Vaguely, she wondered if that made her a bad person.

"I'll have to get rid of the body and make up a reason for why she died." Aelys chewed her lip.

"Damon made a decree that they weren't to bully me under punishment of death."

"Right, I forgot about that."

Silence fell.

"I know that you said the magic is out of control. But that doesn't explain why it did this to Elvenia and left you unharmed."

"I don't know why it didn't harm me. I was so angry and afraid, and for some reason the water did what I wanted. Maybe the elements respond to emotions?"