Crescent (Book 1)

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I recognize the white birch trees that surround us. They're the same ones that surround the castle. They're nearly impossible to see in the blizzard-like winds that blaze around us. My red-stained dress flares wildly around me, and my eyes strain to adjust to the light. Gabriel still firmly holds my hand, and I can see the taller lad, Weylin, just ahead of us. He trudges toward the peak of the cliff we're on just as a crash sounds behind us.

When I turn, I find the blond male, Rin, has materialized behind us. His long hair and lengthy black coat whip in the wind as he trudges toward us and eyes the cliff that leads to nowhere. He squints at Gabriel, yelling so we can hear him. "Isn't this where Harlow said to meet?"

As if in answer, a figure appears at the edge of the cliff. A woman stands on the ledge above us. Her white hair nearly blends in with the snow, and it's her glacial silver-blue eyes that strike me first. Rosie. My heart clangs.

She acknowledges Weylin, whose plain onyx uniform and bandolier are riddled with blood. "You're late," he says.

She frowns. Her eyes hardly pause on Rin, who seems all-too-pleased at her seeming distaste. But her eyes flicker over me, over the remnants of my family on my dress. She looks toward Gabriel, grinning. "Better late than never, boys."

It's then that we hear the soldiers nearing from the distance. Whatever magic transported us here didn't get us far. The group jumps into action. Gabriel gathers me against his side, and Harlow stills as Rin and Weylin take each of her arms. The world bursts into white again.

My temples throb as we reappear beneath the sweeping branches of a willow tree. Winter has melted into spring, and a pitted stone path carries the smell of freshly blossomed peonies right to us. Songbirds chirp merrily from trees, and a river walks nearby. The peacefulness of it feels so at odds with the rioting in my stomach. With the numbness that's beginning to settle in every bit of my soul. Rosie. Mom. Dad. All gone.

"You're welcome for saving your ass, mutt," Harlow shoves Rin off her. The group has gathered in a lopsided circle beneath the tree, but Gabriel watches me with eyes that leave me feeling all too bare.

I feel ready to break. My breath is building in waves inside my chest again. Faster and faster, higher and higher, harder and harder to breathe. "O-O-Out," I gasp.

One word and we whirl away into another world of white. This time, no one follows. It's quiet- one of the only things I notice. There are blue walls and a bed pressing against my legs. Gabriel's hands still grip me, grounding me, holding me upright. He wipes the remnants of blood from my hands. The blood- gone. My family- gone.

His hands are warm and rough, and I try to focus on watching them as they grab a wet rag and wash the red away. Thayer's Brigid cross is still in my hand. I hold it so tightly that when Gabriel peels my fingers back, blood pours from my palms. "N-no, no, no," I tell him when he reaches to take it from me. It's all it takes for him to stop. He wipes the blood away, pressing the center of the cross until it folds into the necklace it once was.

My dress is still covered in snow, in blood, but I only feel his hands. Only let myself feel him as he continues to clean me. He whispers something to me, something I don't care to hear, before he gently dabs my cheeks, my neck, my arms. My dress is all that's left. Gabriel says something else. But it isn't until he clasps my face, forcing me to look at him that I hear him: "Brenna, I'm going to undress you."

I nod, I think. I can't tell what's what anymore. The dress slides down my shoulders, and the cold air makes my limbs lock up. He slides the softest shirt over my head, dragging the dress all the way down. I grip his thick forearms as he slides a pair of pants over my legs. He disappears, taking the dress with him, and when he comes back, the blood is all gone.

I try to stand upright, I really do, but I'm shaking when his arms come around me. He lifts me, burying me with warm downy blankets as he lays me down. Warm. So warm, I think, and his hands stroke my hair as he stands to leave. "No. No-" I shake my head furiously. And then he lays down on the bed next to me. I hold his hand to my chest, clinging to it as I quiver and hiccup.

Sleep is such a far away concept. I desperately want to close my eyes and forget, but I don't even know how to begin. How can you forget when your entire world gets taken away from you? How can you forget that you have nothing left?

I don't cry for my loss. I don't cry for anything really. Silent tears just stream down my face, and I can't stop them even if I tried. I don't want to. I can't. So I just lay like that. Crying and quivering and desperately trying to sleep.

I'm tired. So damn tired... but sleep will never be enough.