Twin Eyes

Chapter 6: Caerin, 1885

My heart froze, what did he just say? "You're lying!"

"You'd like to think that, wouldn't you? However, I am telling you the truth. Like I said, Nathaniel is my second greatest creation. You, my darling daughter, are my greatest creation. If your brother hadn't died shortly after his birth, he would have been just as powerful as you. Your stupid Grandfather never realized what I had done to Nathaniel. The only person who knew was your mother. She was his first kill."

"Why don't I remember you if what you claim is true?"

"You were just barely three when I was forced to leave," he whispered.

"Forced?"

August nodded. "Yes, your Grandfather found out what I had done. He is the reason my Lorraine died. So I had my son kill him."

My eyes widened. "No..."

"That stupid butler Richard told you it was me, didn't he?" he asked in his chillingly soft voice.

"He said you slaughtered him just five years ago and then you..." Wait a minute.

"And I kidnapped your brother, forcing him to work for me." He scoffed. "Your brother killed that stupid man as soon as Richard took you away."

I shook my head; I couldn't believe any of this. "But we just found out!"

Nate laughed behind me. "He lied to you. I let him know as soon as you were settled in."

"No, no, no!" I screamed. "You were only ten!"

"Age means nothing to a Grae, especially since, unlike the others, I was raised by Father for eight years. We then continued my training after we met up again. Plus, we didn't need you to be raised as a fighter, so we made sure that man never told you. Unfortunately, he did tell you. That encouraged you to fight. If we didn't get you back, we would have been in trouble. Now I've got you in my arms."

The feeling of thousands of bug legs crawling across my skin filled me as I shivered. "Let me go!" I struggled against his hold. My hand grazed the cool hilt of my dagger that Nathaniel had in the waistband of his pants. Gripping the dagger I spun around, swinging the blade up and made contact with his face. I caught him on the side of his left eye. Blood began to rush from the wound, covering his eye.

He slapped my cheek with his hand. A growl-like moan escaped his lips as he cupped his left eye with his other hand. "You will pay for this, sister. I will make you regret doing this."

"Enough Nathaniel, let her go crawling back to the resistance. She will join us once again."

As soon as Nathaniel released me, I ran. My legs burned with each step I took. It had been so long since I had run as fast as I was. I needed to go back. Get back home. To Nalia, to Kai, to Anderson, to Garrett, and to Will. I began my run through the Shaerin Forest towards Ila. When I arrived back in Ila, I barely had the strength to make it to the door. My legs wobbled as I trudged across the grass. Stretching my hand out, my vision started to blur. The door looked so close and far at the same time. Huffing out whatever air remained, I made it to just outside the door when my body gave out and I fell to the ground.

"Will..."

***

Ila, 1885

"When will she wake?" a female voice asked somewhere above me.

"Hopefully soon." A male voice answered. "Her entire body is covered in cuts and bruises. Just what happened to her?"

"...Au...August..." My voice croaked in my throat as I answered.

"Garrett, go get her something to drink," the man said.