Everly~
It was an impossible sacrifice that suddenly didn't feel impossible as my feet carried me out into the open air, freeing me from the sea of panic that surrounded me. For a split second I felt a sense of peace, peace that my mother had most likely experienced before she died. To know I was doing the right thing, that I was protecting my family...it settled my soul enough to raise my voice and answer the monster who threatened my village.
"It was me. I conjured the vine."
A sadistic grin spread across the soldier's face as I stepped forward and he jumped down off the stone wall. Taking hold of the hood that concealed my face, he ripped it from my head and grabbed my chin harshly, forcing me to look upon his gruesome face.
"There you are little witch." His lustful eyes roamed my face and body and he licked his lips at the sight of me. "Immortality suits you."
Before I could speak he flung me to the ground with a thud and yelled loud enough for the hushed crowd to hear his every command.
"You acted alone?"
"Yes." I replied softly, my hands on the wet ground to steady myself.
"Show me. Prove this wickedness was your doing and no harm will come to your people."
Lifting my eyes toward Gwendolyn in the crowd, I watched a single tear roll down her cheek at my sacrifice and she gave me a subtle nod of her head. We both knew if I was exposed as a liar that violence would ensue, that those soldiers would trust no one and burn the village to ash. If I was to claim her gifts as my own, I would need her help, otherwise we were all dead.
"Ev." Aiden whimpered from behind me. It was the smallest plea and it broke my heart.
Forgive me.
I steadied my shaking hands as I hovered my palms over the cold damp ground, trying to control my emotions enough to keep my true gifts at bay.
Please Gwendolyn. Do it now.
As if Gwendolyn had heard my silent plea, deep red vines sprouted from the ground and started to spread all around me in every direction. Beautiful red blossoms opened and fluffed around me as the vines erupted from the ground and wrapped around the town square in a beautiful yet terrifying display. My heart sank at the sight, knowing that my fate was sealed as the twisted vines emerged from snow and stretched across the ground in all directions.
"No!" Aiden wailed, but it was too late. He couldn't change my fate.
The soldier took hold of my long hair at the scalp and yanked me to a standing position, holding a knife to my throat forcing tears from my eyes. He flung me toward a wraith who shackled my wrists nearly breaking them in the process.
My brother's rage was uncontrollable, but before he could lunge at the soldiers, I held my hand out, seizing the muscles in his legs and stopping them from contracting. Tears streamed down my face as I locked his muscle fibers and tendons, forcing him to remain still and compliant as I was harshly drug away from the only family I'd ever known.
Panic spread as my body was slung across the cold ground, but Malcom...the only father I'd ever known, stood stock still, unwilling to remove his eyes from me. He was the calm through the panic, a pillar for me to focus on as my entire world came crashing down around me.
Find your peace. You are strong.
