The Warrior, the Healer, and the Thief by Diana Jean

Author:Diana Jean [Jean, Diana]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: lesbian, Poly, Historical, Fantasy
Publisher: Less Than Three Press, LLC
Published: 2016-01-19T23:00:00+00:00

PART FIVE

Ari looked to the early sunrise, giving the room warmth after a long night. Her neck and back ached, having slept in the stiff wooden chair next to the bed. Not that she slept long, probably only an hour at the most. She stood, stretching and walked to the window. She wished she left it open, but it had snowed last night and she didn't want to bring in the cold. The air in the room was so stagnant, reeking of sickness.

"…Ari?"

She turned, smiling at the woman lying in the bed. Dark skin ashen, lips pale, eyes red and watery, her mother was not the beauty she had once been. Ari practically ran back to the bed, kneeling at its side, taking her mother's weathered hand. They always seemed like impossibly strong hands, unbreakable, calluses so thick that nothing could slice through them.

"Mama, feelin' better?"

She lowered her eyes, rasping, "Sun risen?"

"Yeah, mama, can't you see it?"

"I don't see much anythin' anymore, Ari… my dear… I'm so scared, so scared all the time…"

Ari felt tears pressing against her eyes, but she couldn't cry. Cause then she wouldn't be able to see through the tears and she wanted to see her mother, even sick, even frightened and weak. "Mama, there's nothin' here. You'll be all right." She didn't believe her own words.

Her mother gave a long, airy sigh. "Ari, you need to do somethin'. It's important. It'll save your life."

"Mama," her voice was cracking. "I gotta stay here with you an' once you're well—"

"I'm not gettin' well, child." Her voice was a whisper, but it was harsh all the same. "There's a woman… Her name's Io, a witch. I… I don't know where she is. New Orleans, last I heard. But she'll save you. She'll give you a chance, child." She coughed, chest rattling and Ari flinched at the sound. "S'too late for me now. When I left the South, promised myself that I wouldn't ever go back… my mistake… too much pride, too much fear, didn' know real fear, didn' know what was followin' me. Oh… Ari, I'm so sorry."

Ari reached up, wiping the sweaty hair from her forehead. "Don't say you're sorry, Mama. You've dun nothin'—"

Her mother reached up, weak fingers pushing her hand away. She kissed her fingers. "I don't have much power anymore. Used most of it to run north. But I have enough for this one gift, I think."

Ari's felt a strange tingling sensation. "What is it, Mama?" It had been so long since she'd seen her do magic.

"Just know, child, if you find yourself alone, you can hide. You can hide in plain sight. You can hide from anythin', if you need to."

Ari didn't understand, pulling her hand away, examining it closely.

Suddenly, her mother's eyes went wide, crazed, seeing something that Ari couldn't see or comprehend. "It's here, Ari; it's come for me."

"No one's here but me, Mama."

"It's come… oh, Goddess, it's come for me!"

Ari looked around, the room illuminated by the rising sun. But then… the corner, near the door, there was a shadow.

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