Of Hoarfrost and Blood by Scarlet Tempest

Author:Scarlet Tempest [Tempest, Scarlet]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Evenstone Press
Published: 2024-11-02T00:00:00+00:00

The days were starting to blend together in the shack in the desert. Wake up, eat, sleep, repeat. And thinking, just endless thinking.

At first, training until my body ached and my lungs burned dulled the pain. Until it didn’t. This day was one of those days. I ran many miles as fast as I could, and it still wasn’t enough to fix the pit in my stomach that threatened to swallow me. I collapsed on one knee outside the shack, sobbing and gasping for air.

I wiped my wrist across my forehead until the sweat and tears mingled on my forearm. They highlighted the silver scar from the shard of ice that had embedded itself in my arm in the counterattack from Zaghav. The idea came to me in a flash.

Panting, I clawed at the dress on my back while I sobbed.

I let ice shards the size of porcupine quills pour from my hands. It was awkward at first, and a couple melted before I figured it out, but soon I was able to slowly maneuver the shards, so they hovered around me protectively, suspended. Then, I was able to turn them around, like a halo hovering across my upper back.

They hovered, and like an exhale, I released them fast, just fast enough to let them dig themselves into the thick flesh on my upper back. Pain sliced down my spine as they hit my shoulder blades. That was like an exhale too.

The sun and my back melted the ice quickly. I stood, and as I did, I felt the fluid trickle off my back, forming a constellation of blood and sweat on the ground. I wouldn’t put on my shirt just yet—blood stains would alert Zaghav to the injuries. He’d probably lock me in mithrylite if he thought I was risking harm to the baby.

I flopped into the bed face down, relishing the cool air of the indoors on my burning back. The sun was rising, solidly midmorning, then. Zaghav liked to check on me in the evenings, so I had enough time to heal my back and clean myself up before he came in.

I repeated the same question I asked every day, “When can I leave? When can I see the others?”

He was keeping me here, isolated. I could leave only when he trusted me, which hadn’t happened yet. The same answers I got every day. By my calculation, I still had half a day until he would appear.

BANG!

The door didn’t so much as fly open as it did splinter into several chunks. A shock of red hair fell into the wall with a thud.

“Berret!”

I jumped up, covering my chest with my arms and turning my back to her. I threw on my dress quickly, but not quick enough to prevent her from seeing the damage.

She exhaled through her nose, almost like a snort. Her nostrils flared, as she demanded, “What did he do to you?”

My cheeks burned hotter than the sun outside as I shook my head.

She frowned deeply.

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