Evergreen [Book 1 of the Hierarchy Series]-Revising

Chapter 12

Chapter 8

            Aglaia, you can't do this.  A voice said, drifting all around me.  We need you.  We can't do this alone.  As my eyes adjusted to the darkness, I could see a face.  A young blonde girl, about four years old stood over me. 

            "You're awake," she said in a high, angelic voice.  Her green eyes looked down at me as she smiled.

            "What," I replied, rubbing my eyes to see her better.  Another, older girl appeared beside her.  She was a brunette, with matching brown eyes and looked about eight years old.  She smiled the exact same familiar way.  They looked alike, and something about them etched into my memory.

            "We thought you were gone forever," the brunette said.

            "What," I repeated.  'Who are you?"

            "Us," they said at the same time.  They looked at each other, concerned.

            "I'm Euphrosyne," the brunette said.

            "I'm Thalia," the little one said.  "We are your sisters."

            "I-I don't have sisters with those names," I replied.

            "Yes you do silly," the little one, Thalia answered.  "You just know us as someone else."

            "Who," I asked, but it was too late.  I heard someone yell my name in the distance, a man.  They slowly faded into the dark air around them until they were gone

. 

            I slowly crept back into consciousness.  Everything was cold, wet and sticky.  A warm hand lightly touched the square of my back.  It soothed my cold skin, warming me slowly.  I slowly fluttered my eyes open, looking up into the green eyes again.  My dry mouth went crooked in a small, hardly noticeable smile.  Then, I realized my situation.  My body flashed out, completely naked.  I just slipped into full consciousness on dry grass.  A knot pulled at my stomach, and made me immovable.  My hands lay under me, pressing against the knot, and I relaxed a little.

            "You okay," he asked in a soothing but worried voice.  I slightly nodded in reply, my eyes swaying from his crouching body to his brother behind him.  He stood a few feet away, holding the reins of each horse.  His face showed sadness and anger.  When I looked at him, he turned away, unable to say anything.  He must know something that he's trying not to show.  Maybe Dan doesn't even know what it is.  I swallowed blood that dripped into my mouth.  It tasted like dragon blood, meaty and honey sweet.  It almost tasted like dog, apples, and a type of meat I couldn't place.  I knew the dog taste was my own blood.

            "I'll get some extra clothes," Faeconi said, starting to walk back to the cottage, "we'll need them."

            I watched Dan as he took his hand away from my back, and placed his index finger against my forehead.  He slowly moved a strand of hair away from my wet forehead and smiled.  I smiled back, unable to resist.  Liebei walked over and put a sheet over me, so I took the corners and wrapped it around my neck.  I sat up and pressed my knees to my chest.  Daniel still watched me cautiously.

            I heard a loud shriek from inside the cottage.  Namung went after Faeconi as I heard the loud sobs from her.  I closed my eyes and sighed.  I felt a lump in my throat as Faeconi's cries turned into screams of agony for her father's life.  I could almost see her reaction under my closed eyelids.  She lay over her father's body, feeling sheer guilt.  I felt just as guilty, a tear swam its way down my cheek, and a rough thumb brushed it lightly away.  I opened my eyes again as Daniel brought his arms around me.