Witch Born by Amber Argyle

Was she somehow responsible for all this devastation?
    “Go help the others Senna. There’s nothing we can do right now.”
     

9. Secrets
     
    At a loss, Senna watched as dispirited Witches fanned out to search the island for any injured. And then she remembered Arianis. She wove through the other Witches, searching for the girl’s beautiful face. “Have you seen Arianis?” she called back to Joshen.
    “No. Isn’t she here?”
    Trying to generate some warmth, Senna rubbed her arms. “I don’t think so. She was upset.”
    Joshen studied her with a knowing look. “Upset about what?”
    Senna winced. “Coyel offered me the position as her Apprentice.”
    Joshen’s eyes widened. “Arianis’ position?”
    Senna nodded. “I’m pretty sure she overheard Coyel offer it to me.”
    Anger flashed in his eyes. “Coyel should know better than to treat people so poorly.”
    Senna glanced around. “Let’s check the Ring. If she’s not here, we’ll search the island.”
    “I can’t. Reden gave me permission to check on you, but then I was to report back to the other Guardians.”
    Senna steeled herself. “All right. Go.”
    Joshen didn’t move. “This chaos would be a perfect chance for someone to attack you.”
    Senna shivered. “You can’t be with me every moment.”
    “Did you bring your knife?”
    Hesitantly, she shook her head. “I forgot.”
    Grumbling under his breath, Joshen reached down and pulled a knife from his boot. He slapped the hilt against her hand. He checked the powder in her pistol’s pan and cursed. “Damp. I’ll have to dig the ball out and clean it before you can use it again.” He blew out in frustration. “But you still have the knife. Will you use it?”
    She stared at it grimly. “Yes.”
    “Don’t go off by yourself—stay in the Ring of Power and let someone else find her.”
    After tucking the knife in the loop in her seed belt, Senna started asking other Witches if anyone had seen Arianis. No one had. Joshen had told her to stay with the others, to keep safe. But the look on Arianis’ face haunted her.
    Knowing Joshen wouldn’t be pleased, she lifted her skirts and hurried in the direction she’d seen Arianis go. She passed many Witches and Guardians, all of them helping injured Witches or clearing broken trees and debris from the path.
    Senna asked every Witch she passed. Called out to Guardians. No one had seen Arianis.
    If the girl was hurt, Senna would never forgive herself.
    Just when she’d truly started to panic, she heard someone sniffling. She tipped her ear toward the sound, trying to figure out where it came from. Behind her was the onion-shaped tree house. The noise came from inside. Afraid of what she might find, Senna started up the steps. Arianis was inside, her arms wrapped around her knees.
    Senna glanced behind her, looking for another Witch who could help. There were none to be seen. Cautiously, she stepped into the room. “Are you hurt?”
    Arianis’ head jerked up. Her eyes were swollen from crying. She wiped her nose with the back of her hand and looked away. “No.”
    Stopping in the center of the room, Senna swallowed. “Arianis…I’m sorry.”
    Arianis chuckled bitterly. “I have always been the best singer, the fastest learner. Trained from childhood to defeat Espen. And then you came along.” She pulled her sleeve over her palm and wiped her cheeks. “And now I’m the one thing I’ve always been afraid of—average.”
    Senna was rooted to the spot. She wanted to be anywhere but here. “You’ll never be average.”
    “Average, above average. It’s still not the best.” Arianis pushed herself up and strode toward the door, but she stopped when she drew level with Senna. “Just remember it’s harder to stay at the top than it is to get there.”
    Senna listened as the other girl’s footsteps slowly faded behind her. She closed her eyes. She didn’t want the responsibility, the attention. But somehow it wanted her. Shaking