Wings of Hope

Chapter One

The burn of the liquor that I sipped from my glass was a welcomed reprieve from the thoughts eddying in my mind, the music of a band on the other end of the tavern so loud that it tried to cover up everyone's misery. It had been a miracle my mother and I had even found this place. Spare tables and chairs had been brought in from nearby houses to help seat those who had fled from their own villages, to help at least get a meal and some water into their system. Candelabrum hung off of walls, casting an orange hue over the people from the fires that flickered on top.

More people entered as I surveyed my surroundings, carrying as many belongings as they could after fleeing from another village. They were just like me and my mother a day ago. Demornt Village was one of the safest places to be now because they were renowned for their Temple. The blessed healers inside had attempted to extend their magic to other locations to keep buildings safe from the shadowed creatures, and so far it had worked.

I would have gone over to help them, to ask the newcomers if they had seen any of the monsters or Dragon-borns on their way over, but I couldn't help but be dragged back down by the weight of what had happened.

The main reason for travelling with Zofia and Larc was so I could protect my sister and I hadn't been able to do it. By the end of the journey on the way to find the Lyre, I had even started to trust Larc with the smallest sliver of my soul. After he had saved my life when I fell down the mountainside, I thought he couldn't truly be the same as the rest of his kind. However, my original suspicions had been proven true and rightfully placed when he betrayed us to get his wings back.

Now, Zofia was high above the clouds and there was nothing I could do to help her.

I swirled the remaining liquid in my glass before downing the contents, watching as my mother returned to her seat opposite me.

"Slow down on the liquor, you'll need to be coherent in case anything happens," she warned as she placed two plates on our table. Both held steaming mashed potatoes that were freshly grown from Demornt Village.

My only answer was a shrug. Why did I need to be coherent when all I could think about was what the Dragon-borns were doing to Zofia? They were most likely torturing her and using her for fun in whatever ways they pleased, and that was just the guards. Who knew what Larc was doing to her and what he was capable of underneath all of his kindness?

"Eat. You'll need your strength for whatever is to come next," my mother ordered as she tucked into her own meal.

I slouched in defeat and shovelled a spoonful of potato into my mouth. The empty glass still sat in my hands, causing my eyes to wander over to the bar. Perhaps one more wouldn't hurt.

My mother snatched the glass away before I could think of getting up. "And no more alcohol for you either. If you want another drink, it will be water."

"Zofia is gone and there's nothing I can do about it. Let me forget about that fact at least for tonight." I could lose my senses to the cheap liquor being served and then drown in the music attempting to keep everyone happy. My feet could guide me to dance with the group of drunkards already trying to forget the pain and suffering they had been through in the past few days.