Child of Blackwen (An Artemis Ravenwing Novel Book 1) by Melanie Rodriguez Page B

at the sight of the heels. She too carried weapons like Artemis’, only the jewels in the hilt were all onyx.
    Jack’s nerves worsened as he realized the woman looked as if she was related to Artemis.
    The woman lunged after Artemis and missed as Artemis sidestepped.
    “You’re still sloppy, Arlina,” Artemis said, her weapons raised.
    Jack frowned, noticing her eyes as well as the voice difference. The eyes were violet, not hazel. And the voice…the voice was much older and so soft. Artemis’ voice was soft only when she spoke to Shadow.
    You’re not Artemis
, Jack realized.
You’re the other side of the mirror—her mother
.
    The woman named Arlina snarled as she pointed the sharp, thin blade in Artemis’ mother’s direction.
    “Your time is ending, Tamina!” Arlina spat. “You and your halfbreed brat are all that’s left in my way before I can claim my right as Mistress of Blackwen City.”
    “Killing off the Ravenwing clan doesn’t give you the right to be leader, Arlina,” Tamina said, disgusted. “It only makes you a common animal. Even pigs have more honor than you do.”
    “They have more honor than
you
, dear sister,” Arlina answered, equally disgusted. “You brought a diluted bitch into the world after mating with that human.” Arlina dramatically shuddered. “I wouldn’t enjoy the kill as much as I could if she were a full-blood.”
    “Watch your tongue,” Tamina threatened, her irises shifting to red. “You won’t find Artemis. Even when you think you have, just remember that not everything is as it seems.”
    She was Talisa’s friend all right
, Jack smiled.
    “Spare me the drivel.” Arlina rolled her eyes as she ran after Tamina with raised weapons. Her gray eyes made the shift to red as well. “Tonight, you die.”
    Oh, that’s original
, Jack mocked. The two began to fight, and another thought came to him.
Wait a minute, the mirror is supposed to show me one of many possible futures. Artemis’ mother is dead. She
is
dead, right?
    Then he remembered the mirror’s words—
you will see what no other has seen before
. Jack felt his stomach churn.
    He knew what the mirror planned to show him.
    Jack watched as Tamina dodged Arlina’s strikes with a fluid grace, almost as if she were dancing. You could tell she spent time with the elves with the way she moved. The dance went on for some time before Tamina’s weapon hit her mark. Arlina backed away as she clutched her shoulder. Crimson blood dripped from her claw-like fingertips.
    “Do you yield?” Tamina asked while twirling the weapon to rid it of Arlina’s blood.
    Arlina glared at her sister, and she spat saliva, which landed on Tamina’s feet.
    Tamina sighed. “You are a fool, sister. I truly wish it didn’t have to come to this.”
    Despite the shoulder injury, Arlina dashed after Tamina and resumed her barrage of attacks. Tamina dodged them with more ease, and struck at Arlina’s other shoulder. The odd weapon went much farther in than the previous strike, and the blade now protruded from the other side of her sister’s body.
    Jack cringed, rubbing his own shoulder.
    Arlina retreated once more, and she fell to her knees while clutching the other shoulder and Tamina’s weapon. Tamina twirled her free weaponand walked toward her sister. Her face showed no signs of remorse; Jack wondered if Artemis would be the same if she were to fight.
    Returning his focus to the scene, Jack noticed Arlina’s hand slipping inside her jacket. Tamina continued to advance and did not seem to notice the gesture as he had.
    Tamina stood before Arlina and grabbed the hair from the back of her head, forcing her to look Tamina in the eyes.
    “You can answer for your crimes to Avilyne herself,” Tamina whispered. “Let the goddess of death cast her judgment once I send you to the pathways.”
    “Not before I send you there first,” Arlina declared with a smug expression.
    Before Tamina could deliver the killing blow, Jack was startled