flow along to the songs of any singer—no matter her pitch. No matter her tone. A voice that bowed for others. A voice that strengthened and consoled.
“Hana.” I hiss. “Is that you?”
18. Silent Moon
“Yes—yes, is that you—Naia?”
I hear Hue's footsteps pause as Hana approaches me.
Shadowed hands open and I'm speechless as she comes closer. As I catch the glint of her eyes in the darkness. “Thank the Fates—I thought—”
When Hue's at the door, I find myself walking towards her.
“Whose out there?” Hana's voice changes. Deepens. Becomes more authoritative as I freeze.
“S-scullion—,”
“Peace, please.”
“One of my guys is in there, sir. Could he—,”
“Pea—”
But I'm flying at her—racing. Wanting her embrace—wanting to slap her across the face like Lore should have done that night Hana took the last piece of clothing I owned.
She threw you to the streets. Forced this misfortune upon you.
Hana…Althea..
If I had never left the Orthella…
If I had stayed there—stayed home —maybe…Akane…Chima—maybe they wouldn't all be…
I crash into her and she goes tumbling to the floor. Skids to a stop as I crawl towards her—my head a mess. An ache splitting my forehead in two as the brand upon my arm burns. Fury races through my blood—it's a howl that's deafening as it screams through my ears. My fingers feel numb—they twitch as I bring myself over her. As I straddle her from the waist and she slaps me. Cracks me hard across the face.
“What are you doing?”
My eyes burn. “Do you know what I've suffered?” I shake my head erratically as her eyes attempt to stare into mine—worried.
They become transfixed. Blank brown eyes blink—slowly. Too slow as my face aches. “What? Will you beat me, Naia? For things I cannot control? Will you punish me? Bring down righteous wrath—am I to blame for what's befallen you? The world? Am I to blame because humanity is broken?”
I blink once. Twice. I curl my fingers around her throat—loosely. My grip limp and weak. “You could have saved me—,”
And light explodes onto my back as the door behind me is shoved open.
“Kokoros—Oboro?! Oh gods—,” Rushed footsteps—
And I bring my hands from her throat—grinding my teeth, my jaw aching from the slap as pain erupts behind my eyes. As the headache worsens and worsens—and red becomes my vision. Bright scarlet—I curl my fist.
“Get off—,”
Hue's voice as my first rises—soars towards her and she's just staring at it. Daring me to ram it into her eyeball and in moments, I'm seeing the flash of her hand. A small black purse—her worried face. Her sad, dejected, face as she ushers me off. Never wanting to do it. Never wanting to see me go.
My fist stops. Halfway. Almost there.
I could do it.
But will this free you? Will hurting her help you?
Or will it only hurt you further, Naia?
Is she truly to blame?
I —I blink, my breathing unsteady.
Who truly killed them?
Who took them—Akane, Chima, Nyx and Shanti?
Who stole your sisters from you?
And I breathe—slow and controlled.
The Dawnlord.
He has stolen my sisters from me.
A man I have not even seen—only heard of. The man who invaded Felicity—forced thousands to join his ranks. He stole my sisters—my livelihood—my home.
Not this girl.
“Y-you helped me.” I murmur as hands curl around my shoulders. “You helped me—and I ought to be gracious for it.” Hue yanks at me and I shrug his fingers away. I heft myself up and offer Hana my hand. She takes it, grunting as she pushes herself to standing.
Hana glares behind me, staring squarely at Hue.
“Sir,” Hue comes to stand near me, a whole head taller than I am. “I'd like to apologize for my friend's poor manners tonight. But, please understand—he's a new conscript from Felicity, and—,”
“I deserved it.” Hana snaps, poking at the short collar of her tunic as she brushes dust from herself. “Be more mindful of your
“Hana.” I hiss. “Is that you?”
18. Silent Moon
“Yes—yes, is that you—Naia?”
I hear Hue's footsteps pause as Hana approaches me.
Shadowed hands open and I'm speechless as she comes closer. As I catch the glint of her eyes in the darkness. “Thank the Fates—I thought—”
When Hue's at the door, I find myself walking towards her.
“Whose out there?” Hana's voice changes. Deepens. Becomes more authoritative as I freeze.
“S-scullion—,”
“Peace, please.”
“One of my guys is in there, sir. Could he—,”
“Pea—”
But I'm flying at her—racing. Wanting her embrace—wanting to slap her across the face like Lore should have done that night Hana took the last piece of clothing I owned.
She threw you to the streets. Forced this misfortune upon you.
Hana…Althea..
If I had never left the Orthella…
If I had stayed there—stayed home —maybe…Akane…Chima—maybe they wouldn't all be…
I crash into her and she goes tumbling to the floor. Skids to a stop as I crawl towards her—my head a mess. An ache splitting my forehead in two as the brand upon my arm burns. Fury races through my blood—it's a howl that's deafening as it screams through my ears. My fingers feel numb—they twitch as I bring myself over her. As I straddle her from the waist and she slaps me. Cracks me hard across the face.
“What are you doing?”
My eyes burn. “Do you know what I've suffered?” I shake my head erratically as her eyes attempt to stare into mine—worried.
They become transfixed. Blank brown eyes blink—slowly. Too slow as my face aches. “What? Will you beat me, Naia? For things I cannot control? Will you punish me? Bring down righteous wrath—am I to blame for what's befallen you? The world? Am I to blame because humanity is broken?”
I blink once. Twice. I curl my fingers around her throat—loosely. My grip limp and weak. “You could have saved me—,”
And light explodes onto my back as the door behind me is shoved open.
“Kokoros—Oboro?! Oh gods—,” Rushed footsteps—
And I bring my hands from her throat—grinding my teeth, my jaw aching from the slap as pain erupts behind my eyes. As the headache worsens and worsens—and red becomes my vision. Bright scarlet—I curl my fist.
“Get off—,”
Hue's voice as my first rises—soars towards her and she's just staring at it. Daring me to ram it into her eyeball and in moments, I'm seeing the flash of her hand. A small black purse—her worried face. Her sad, dejected, face as she ushers me off. Never wanting to do it. Never wanting to see me go.
My fist stops. Halfway. Almost there.
I could do it.
But will this free you? Will hurting her help you?
Or will it only hurt you further, Naia?
Is she truly to blame?
I —I blink, my breathing unsteady.
Who truly killed them?
Who took them—Akane, Chima, Nyx and Shanti?
Who stole your sisters from you?
And I breathe—slow and controlled.
The Dawnlord.
He has stolen my sisters from me.
A man I have not even seen—only heard of. The man who invaded Felicity—forced thousands to join his ranks. He stole my sisters—my livelihood—my home.
Not this girl.
“Y-you helped me.” I murmur as hands curl around my shoulders. “You helped me—and I ought to be gracious for it.” Hue yanks at me and I shrug his fingers away. I heft myself up and offer Hana my hand. She takes it, grunting as she pushes herself to standing.
Hana glares behind me, staring squarely at Hue.
“Sir,” Hue comes to stand near me, a whole head taller than I am. “I'd like to apologize for my friend's poor manners tonight. But, please understand—he's a new conscript from Felicity, and—,”
“I deserved it.” Hana snaps, poking at the short collar of her tunic as she brushes dust from herself. “Be more mindful of your
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