Broken

She tried to blow it off and enjoy the contrast between the warm sun beating down on her skin and the cool breeze wafting up from the distant lake. Unfortunately, the line moved agonizingly slow and the stench from the birds soon became unbearable. After several minutes of trying not to breathe, she decided her thirst wasn’t worth sacrificing fresh air. She slipped out of line and began making her way back to her seat near Cade. As she rounded the corner of the basket weaver’s tent-almost tripping over the guide wire-her focus shifted to the cemetery. Lydia’s final resting place called to her as if they still shared the magical connection of the Crystor.

Kira twisted the tiny thread of silver between her fingers, being careful not to kink the bracelet. It had no powers now-even its magical qualities couldn’t connect her with Lydia beyond the grave-but she was sure the reason it hadn’t fallen off was because of Altaria. Their connection seemed more important now than ever.

“Would you like to visit her grave?” she said aloud so Altaria could hear.

A warm sensation filled her heart. She wasn’t sure she could endure the grief that visiting Lydia’s grave would bring, but if that’s what her new kindred spirit wanted, she’d do it. She lifted the hem of her skirt and began the walk up the slight incline to the cemetery.

“Kira!”

Kira released her skirt and let out a deep sigh. Octavion. So much for visiting her friend. She slowly turned, making no effort to close the distance between them.

“Where are you going?” Octavion said as he came close enough for her to see into his eyes. Happiness shone in his countenance-more than she’d ever seen before. He brushed an unruly strand of hair away from her face and tucked it behind her ear. “Cade said you were thirsty. You should have said something. I would have gone for you.”

Kira smiled up at him, trying not to reveal the disappointment in him finding her. She felt the pull of Lydia’s grave even more strongly now that she’d been interrupted. “I wanted to go for a walk.” She motioned toward the cemetery. “Please don’t tell me there’s some stupid law against visiting her grave. It’s bad enough not being able to talk about her.”

Octavion closed his eyes for a moment, as if praying for help to find the right words. He opened his deep blue eyes and took her hands in his. “I need to talk to you about something, but. .” He glanced in the direction of his father, then turned back to face her. “Not now. Not here.”

Kira pulled her hands from his and wrapped her arms around herself. “Look. I know you can’t talk about her. I know you can get in trouble if you do. Fine. I get it. But you’ve had time to grieve. You went to her funeral. You said your goodbyes. I need to see her grave. I need to tell her how much I miss her.” She turned away from him to hide the tears streaming down her face.

His warmth engulfed her as he wrapped his arms around her from behind. His lips brushed her ear. “Then I shall take you.”

“Alone.”

Octavion stiffened. “Kira, I-”

Kira spun around, breaking his hold on her. “Don’t say no. I need this.”

Their eyes locked for a few tense moments before he finally spoke. “Very well, then. But I want to stay here where I can see you if you need me.”

“But-”

He pressed his lips to hers, most likely to keep her from protesting. When they parted, she leaned into his arms and let him comfort her. She inhaled, her breath catching before her lungs filled with air. He smelled so good- felt even better. She didn’t want to leave the security of his arms, but she had no choice. She needed to do this-for herself and for Altaria.

Chapter Nineteen

Kira let a handful of dirt sift through her fingers. She thought kneeling by Lydia’s grave would be unbearable, that she’d break down in gut wrenching sobs, begging her for forgiveness. Instead, she felt nothing but emptiness. The body that lay beneath was not her friend, but a hollow shell where a loving spirit once lived. In her heart she knew Lydia hadn’t left them-not completely. She felt her everywhere and knew she would always be with her-like Altaria.

That’s how she’d survive this, knowing Lydia’s spirit still lived and watched over them. It gave her hope. Hope that one day Altaria and Lydia would reunite-in death.

She wondered if they believed in heaven on Ophira. She hoped so. “We’ll see her again, Al. I promise.”

This time, no warmth burned within her, no sign that Altaria even existed. Only a cold chill buried deep beneath the surface of her skin. She ached to see Lydia’s face, crooked smile and those beautiful green eyes with their flicker of Altaria’s icy blue behind them.

A soft whimper filled Kira’s ears and for a brief moment she thought it was her imagination. After all, she’d heard and seen things in her mind before. But then it came again-a girl’s muffled sobs.

Kira looked to see if Octavion still watched. He crouched in front of one of the boys she’d seen him with earlier, a piece of rope tangled in the youth’s fingers. Octavion laughed, then took the strand of rope from him. It warmed places in her heart she didn’t know she had-places where even Altaria’s sorrow couldn’t reach.

Another heart wrenching sob filtered through the trees. As much as she didn’t want to intrude, she felt pulled toward the sound. She knew all too well what it felt like to be alone with your grief. Maybe she could give some comfort or at the very least make a new friend in this wild and dangerous world.

Kira stood, brushed the dirt and grass from her skirt and started through the trees toward a stone structure, its walls crumbling from age and neglect. She followed the whimpers through a wooden door sagging from a single rusty hinge. Her heart clenched when she recognized the plain tan dress and brown hair hunched over a stone bench.

“Ussay?” Kira rushed to her side, the cold damp stone pressing against her knees as she knelt. “What it is? Are you hurt?”

The girl laughed, then slowly turned to face Kira. “Looking for someone?” Everything about the imposter felt evil, right down to her sinister grin and black eyes. A female Darkord.

Crap!

Kira tried to stand, but her feet tangled in her dress and she fell back to the ground. The girl reached out and grabbed Kira’s leg, but Kira dug her heel in the dirt between two stones and pushed as hard as she could, trying to break the girl’s hold. The girl lurched forward and grabbed a handful of Kira’s dress. Kira managed a good kick to the girl’s face with a thrust of her foot. Blood sprayed onto the girl’s dress-Ussay’s dress. Panic gripped Kira’s heart as she quickly scanned the room. Where was Ussay?

The girl buried her face in her hands, giving Kira the freedom she needed to escape. “You broke my nose,” the girl yelled. “Get her!”

Kira jumped to her feet and ran full force into a solid mass of muscle, a man’s chest. Before she could change directions, he wrapped an arm around her waist and grabbed her braid, yanking her head back.

“And where do you think you are going?” he asked.

“Let go of me!” Kira drove the heel of her hand up under his chin and thrust her knee into his groin. The man released a guttural groan before doubling over, pulling her to the ground with him. She’d forgotten about her tender back until it slammed onto the stone floor. She rolled to her side and tried to catch her breath.

The girl stood next to Kira and sliced the blade of her knife through the front of Ussay’s dress, letting it fall to the ground at her feet. Underneath, she wore black leather pants and a thin blouse that left very little to the imagination. She kicked the dress aside, then used the same boot to kick Kira square in belly.

Kira grabbed her stomach and drew her knees up. “What do you want from me?”

“Get up!” the girl said.

“Not until you tell me-”

The girl delivered another kick, cutting off Kira’s words. “I said get up!”

“Okay, okay.” Kira choked out the words, then rolled to her knees and pull herself to her feet-the pain in her stomach made it almost impossible to straighten. She stepped back from her attackers. “Now what? Torture? Poison? Or maybe you just want to mess with my head.”