Shadows of the flying transports whizzed past the overcrowded metal contraption that contained the ten of us. It hummed in perfect synchronization with the slight vibrations it exerted.
Being the smallest passenger on board this odd, and frankly downright terrifying, machine had distinct disadvantages. Such as Melinah relegating me to some storage closet—with the door remaining open of course. It currently held a few boxes and a pair of cyan tinted heels that kept me company along for the bone-shaking ride.
The only good thing about this seat, if one could even deem sitting on a ledge as a seat, was the view. This vantage point allowed me to watch in utter awe as a steady stream of vibrant blue puffs of smoke trailed behind us. They circled like wisps of clouds, joining the other wafting aimlessly color filled hazes until they would combust and shoot sparkles in every which direction.
A rush of bumps rose on my skin as a slight chuckle of excitement emanated from the back of my throat.
All of it was simply unbelievable.
I, Astra Greyson was flying! Of all things!
The large forms of metallic and glass buildings littered the skyline. They met the fading indigo horizon as one of this realms sun was setting. The other, still cast glaring reflections off the cloud-high windows angling from underneath.
My eyes already burned and itched. That was thanks in large part to Melinah forcing me to wear this matching tinted film over them to complete the disguise. I was a light cerulean blue from the tips of my now non-existent long blond hair to the nails on my toes.
I even checked the bottoms of my feet, and they were deep blue too!
After a twenty minute flight, the transport started descending.
"Hold on, everyone. This might get a little bumpy." Melinah's booming voice reverberated off the already rattling windows.
She wasn't kidding. With a jolt, the transport jerked upwards and wrenched sideways. Well, she warned us at least.
As we lowered, straight down, the walls wobbled and shrieked from the pressure. The air inside lessened as if every ounce was sucked out and left me struggling to breathe.
Slight gasps escaped my lips. Slowly in and then out. Idal, sensing my distress, bolted from a nearby seat.
"It's all right, Astra." A consoling hand of hers patted my back while grappling for air herself. "Just a few more." The pause was elongated by her need to inhale, deeply. "Seconds."
And with an abrupt jounce, sending everyone shifting off balance, we landed.
Melinah jumped from the "captain's seat" as she termed, and spun to address our small crowd, "Is everyone still alive back there?" Her amused gaze skipped the lot of us, finding Idal. "Oh well, I tried."
Idal turned, fidgeting with the lacey scallops at the wrist length end of her sleeve. "I don't have a good feeling about tonight," she murmured soft enough so only I could hear. "Make sure you stay close."
Before I had a chance to respond, two arms wrapped around my waist and yanked me to a standing position. I cut my shielded blue eyes to my mother's pale pink and found myself meeting nothing. Just a void of pure silence.
Idal shook her head in a conspiratory understanding.
Being able to read her eyes was one thing. But without my ability to converse with Idal or Killian, and not actually having to speak aloud was another thing altogether. And then there was the whole matter of my mother's inability to heal herself—or anyone else, here in this realm.
Every single advantage I assumed we possessed was seemingly gone.
My muscles were already twitching, anticipating the tightness of my chest as every part of me constricted.
What was I going to do? What were any of us going to do?
It only took one Azeed to lift my stiff body from the closet and planted me beside the exit. Two had to handle my mother as she thrust an arm and jabbed an elbow, trying to escape. Killian was no better. He squirmed and thrashed against the three others until finally, Melinah snapped her fingers, and the bleached men pinned him to the hard metal floor.
She leaned over, pressing a hand, roughly against his golden skull. "I thought I made myself abundantly clear. You will behave." Her extended fingers spread across the back of his head and tilted it so he could see. "Or a very horrible, awful demise will not only come to you but them as well."
"I understand," Killian shamefully uttered, and a cold tremor zipped down my spine.
I could only stand there, mouth dry and heartbeat thundering. Killian always had a plan, a way out. An escape. He prepared for these things. Scoping our exit strategies out while running through every possible scenario that we would ever encounter. That's what Blood Reapers did—their job. Their role in our blood driven society. One of their sole purposes for living.
But not his. Not now.
That was the whole point of being able to freeze time. Reapers could jump realms. They could skip forward through decades in a blink of an eye and reverse them back just as quick.
Only Killian didn't emit one sign that any of this—the duress we were currently all under—was expected. If anything, by the straight-lipped way he pursed his lips and clenched his fists so tightly that the knuckles blanched, it was so amply clear.
We were in serious trouble.
With Melinah apparently in full control, whatever semblance of life we had before was over.
Sure we ran, and hid and had to stay ten steps ahead of the Blood Guard every moment of every day. But that life meant choices that were our own, not someone else's. And especially not someone as vile and vengeful as Melinah.
Melinah's clapping of her hands drew all of our attention. "Chop. Chop. What are we all standing around for?" She smirked, reveling in the wafting aroma of fear that the three of us apparently emitted.
I did have to agree; there was a noticeable acrid stench that wasn't present before.
In utter quietness, the Azeeds escorted us captives outside the metal transport to the bottom step of a grand staircase. A gold Killian, followed by a pink Idal and ending with my blue form, we stood.
Each waiting for what came next.
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The Blood Reader
FantasyA life spent on the run, Astra understands they are hiding to save her future and possibly her life. But what 17-year-old wants to be stuck with their mom day and night jumping realms to keep them safe even if their mom has cool magical powers of a...
