The Azimar Archives Book One- The Book of Death

Layle

Layle started awake, eyes snapping open to see only darkness around her. It took a moment for the unfamiliar surroundings to make sense. We're in Etritia, in a cabin mother rented for us. We should be going home soon. Back to the Coven... Layle sighed, the thought of returning home relaxing her startled mind. But something woke me...

There was a soft sniff near the foot of the bed, and Layle sat up to find the shadowy form of Arella. "Layle?" The girl whined, voice thick with tears. "I had a bad dream."

Layle sighed again, accustomed to her sister's nightmares and the crying that usually ensued. "Come on up, there's no need to be afraid anymore." Layle pulled the covers back, motioning for Arella to slip into bed next to her.

"But Layle, it was bad!" Arella cried, climbing onto the bed and clutching Layle.

"Can't you shut her up?" Millie moaned from the adjacent bed. "I'm trying to sleep."

Layle ignored the older girl's complaint. Millie was already asleep again, there was no point in saying anything. Instead, she clutched Arella close to her chest as the little girl wept quietly against her. "Hush, Arella, it's alright." Arella's veil was missing, as it so often was, and hot tears dropped against Layle's neck. She rocked Arella gently, stroking her tangled hair and whispering comforts in her ear.

After a few moments, Arella quieted, only the occasional sniff coming from her.

Layle continued to stroke her head, knowing the motion soothed her little sister. "Do you want to talk about it?" Layle whispered.

"There was a scary man..." Arella began slowly. "He came for us, and took us to the castle. There was a dragon, and it ate someone..." Arella paused as a hiccup caused her shoulders to jump. "The Matriarch was scared. She couldn't help us. The man hurt us. He hurt you." Arella looked up at Layle, and in the dimness Layle could make out the bright wideness of her blue eyes. "And then I died."

Arella's last words sent a chill over Layle, but she only pulled Arella closer and continued rocking her. "It's alright, Arella. It was just a dream."

Wasn't it?

Arella was prone to nightmares, and most of them were of the silly sort that Layle knew children had. But, every so often, there was one that Arella talked about that sounded more... real. Perhaps more prophecy than dream.

And sometimes, Arella's dreams came true.

Arella once dreamed that the stray cat the Coven girls took care of had died, and sure enough, Kall and Layle had found the thing cold and dead in the bushes a few days later. Layle had buried it, without telling Arella.

Another time, Arella told Layle that a girl following another Coven sister would break her leg, she'd had a dream about it. Later the same day, the girl fell and twisted her ankle. It hadn't been as serious as Arella had said it would be, but it had happened.

Arella's retelling had felt just as real as those dreams had sounded.

But a dragon? Eating someone?

The dragons were extinct. Even Arella knew that.

"Can I sleep with you tonight?" Arella whispered, her breath warm against Layle's chest.

"Of course you can." Layle turned to her side, depositing the girl in the bed beside her. Though it was cramped, Layle pulled the blankets over the both of them and wrapped an arm around her sister, pulling her close to her body. "How's that? Good?"

"Mm." Arella murmured, already drifting off to sleep. Her tiny hand found Layle's and clung tightly to it. "Don't leave me, Layle."

"I won't, I promise." Layle kissed the back of Arella's head, settling down to sleep again. "Not until morning, anyway."

Arella said nothing, her breathing hitching as another hiccup shook her.

Layle listened for Arella's breathing to change as she fell asleep. The girl's grip on her hand slackened, but Layle didn't move.

A dragon? Was it possible?

Had Arella Seen a vision of her own death?

Finally, Layle fell asleep once more, her dreams filled with winged beasts and the sound of her sister crying.