And then she was plummeting downward, feeling wind blasting against her hard enough to steal away her breath… if she was still breathing. When she hit, she screamed, and all at once her senses returned to her. The world was dark, and high above glittered a field of stars. She felt no sensations of heat, or cold. All she felt was pain, a constant ache from every part of her pale, naked body. Looking about, she realized she was beyond the Gulch, instead at the distant shrine where she had met Karak’s prophet.
When she took a step, she fell. Forcing herself back to her feet, she took another, this time watching her naked body to see what betrayed her.
When she moved, her body lost all color, texture, and became a swirl of shadow.
You have your most heartfelt desire, that cold voice spoke once more. Find him. Kill him. I will not wait for my prophet’s return to bring punishment to my most unfaithful servant.
“As you wish,” Valessa whispered to the stars. Near where she awoke, she saw her daggers lying there, as if calling out to her. When she brought them into her hands, they swirled with darkness and power.
“Thank you,” she prayed, and she would have cried if her body remained capable of tears. “Thank you so much.”
Her heart’s greatest desire.
At her hands, Darius would die.
