CH. II     ✷    Ties That Bind You

         KYRAH lazily twirls her foot in the air as she stares back at the blank, twilight canvas. The wind provides a nice alleviation to the hot, humid weather that she's been dealing with for weeks now. She glances over at the cracking fire surrounded by six others, listening to their laughter and sounds of eating, but Kyrah quickly turns her gaze before any of them spot her movements.

Even though Kyrah has gotten even more familiar to all six of them by now, her heart wasn't into it. No matter the amount of dinners they have fighting over who got the better kill or sitting by the streaming river as they rest in the grass, a couple feet wayward of where they're located — there's an unshakable gloom that refuses to depart from her.

Her parents, Kyrah ponders. For all her life she's loved them, and they loved her too — or not she thinks. But, the turning point of when their views of her changed still remains a question in her mind. The night before her father did what he did, her mother kissed her cheeks before nightfall and prayed for her to sleep peacefully. So what is it that she's missing? Why can't she figure out the key to the puzzle that led to her demise? Was it something she said? Or maybe they were just gambling on their only child to prove if a prophecy was right? But what if it wasn't? What if she died for good then what?

Kyrah sits up with a loud curse leaving her lips as her hands frustratedly scrounge up in her hair. They wanted me dead, but why? Why? Anger flares up in her gut. She bares her teeth as she lowers her head. What did I do? Kyrah pinches the bridge of her nose as tears threaten to fall down her face. Soft, ragged breaths are formed through the exhale of her dried lips to control her overflow of emotion, but it doesn't work. Her throat stings painfully as her eyes become more blurry.

Adya rushes over in concern, kneeling softly in front of Kyrah's hunkered form. "Kyrah?" She queries. But, there's no response from Kyrah's end, only broken, battered breaths that indicate her given state.

The edges of a frown shape onto Adya's face as she reaches out to Kyrah with a stretched out hand. "It's okay. You're going to be okay." Adya placates. Kyrah looks up with red eyes, sniffling as she listens to her companion. The other woman beckons. "Come here, sweetheart."

There's nothing but care in Adya's brown eyes as she offers comfort to Kyrah. It almost frustrates her. From the first night she cried, Adya came over without question and stayed by her side that night until she fell asleep. Since then, she's repeatedly shown herself to Kyrah with nothing but kindness in her heart. But, Kyrah doesn't understand it. Not anymore. If her own parents, who were supposed to love her unconditionally couldn't even do just that, what more a stranger who she's only heard in dreams turned to nightmares?

"Why are you doing this?" Kyrah's voice wavers.

"Because I want to." Adya declares.

It shouldn't have cut through Kyrah the way it did, but it's a raw and uncut answer. It's honest. Too honest.

Solemn silence fills the atmosphere against the cracking sound of the flames. The rest of them sit and allow the fire to reflect from their eyes. Kyrah's quiet sobs in between Adya's arms speaks enough for the situation as is.

A deep sigh leaves Kyrah's lips as she leans into Adya's embrace, resting her face on the crook of her neck. The scent of rose fills Kyrah's nostrils, soothing her immediately. Warm arms wrap her in whole, leaving no room for her to run away from the present. "You're worth it." Adya whispers. "You were always worth it."

✷

        Kyrah's eyes flutter open to the outpouring rays of the Sun on her face. She's curled into Adya, the two of them close together as Kyrah fell asleep in her arms last night.

The drifting smell of smoke wafts towards her direction and she lifts her head wearily to see the source. Imogen, under the soft smoke, waves at Kyrah's awakened form.

Ezra, next to Imogen scoffs, "You woke her up with that horrendous grilling you're doing."

"Knock if off, Ezra." Mattias rolls his eyes. A low warning in his tone. "But... he is right. I suppose it wouldn't hurt if you left the meat as it is now." He scratches his head, giving Imogen a sheepish smile.

Imogen pouts, "Even you, Mattias?" She then glares at Ezra pointedly, "I was trying to cook some deer for Kyrah, considering she's been having a rough time lately and it's her favorite."

Ezra raises his hands in mock surrender. "I'm not discouraging your intentions — " Imogen levels her glare, causing him to pause, "I'm serious! ... I just think we already killed the deer once. It doesn't need to die a second time."

"I wanted it to be cooked!" Imogen growls. Taking the stick of meat away over the fire before placing it on the clean, large leaf they use for bigger meals.

A tense silence follows as everyone stares at the charred piece of deer. Kyrah's face grimaces at the sight, her heart however swells in sympathy at Imogen's attempt of doing something nice for her.

"Oh, it's cooked alright." Ezra speaks out. He pokes at the meat with his forefinger, staring at the ash now coated on his finger. "... Really cooked."

Mattias lightly laughs at Imogen's dejected form, "It's alright, Gen. You tried. I'll make something really quick for all of us to eat. How about that?"

Imogen quietly grumbles something under her breath, close to an agreement, so Mattias gets up to go find their replacement meal.

After a second of internal debate, Kyrah carefully gets up without disturbing Adya too much, and walks over to Imogen and Ezra bickering over the burnt meal. Their discussion quickly comes to halt when Kyrah hesitantly stands in front of them.

"I hope it's not too much of a bother if I join you both." Kyrah smiles.

Imogen scoots over, patting the seat next to her, "Not at all. Make yourself at home."

Kyrah lowers herself down, sitting side by side to Imogen. The heat of Imogen's body being so close, it warms her more than the burning fire in front of them. She nudges Imogen against the shoulder, "It was nice of you to do that for me."

Imogen blushes, coiling her hands graciously, "You didn't eat last night. I thought you may have been hungry."

Ezra turns to her fully with an eyebrow raised. "And how exactly does burnt food scream appetizing to you?" He turns his face to Kyrah, "If you ever want an actual meal, don't ask Imogen..." His eyes suddenly dark, " — I mean that."

Imogen rolls her eyes with a scowl. Kyrah places her hand on her knee, "It was still pretty sweet." She covers her laugh with her other hand, "Burnt but sweet."

"Where is Mattias anyways? I'm starving — " Imogen raises her hand to cut Ezra off when he opens his mouth to comment, "Do not say anything, Ezra."

He sighs, "Questionable cooking aside. I was going to say that he probably went to find Esmeralda and Kian. Those two left out to hunt earlier."

Imogen hums a sign of agreement.

Looking up at the sun, Kyrah tilts her head, protecting her eyes away from some of the harsh rays with her hand. The Sun stares right back — unwavering and mocking. Something burns within her, almost like hellfire. A sigh leaves Kyrah's lips as she brings her head down.

Her eyebrows knit together before she speaks low, "Does the Sun... ever make you feel angry?" She feels Imogen and Ezra's confused faces, so she goes more in depth, "Like ... something in you just burns. Every time I look at the Sun, it always reminds me of fire. The fire that I used to experience in my dreams."

Multiple footsteps approach the three of them, but Kyrah focuses her eyes on the grassy terrain, staring down at her feet.

"Are you alright, Kyrah?" Mattias asks.

Kyrah looks up to see him, Esmeralda, and Kian placing down their fresh food. She looks over to her right watching Adya wake herself up out of grogginess.

She gives a dry, bitter laugh in response, "No. I suppose I'm not."

Kian settles down across from Kyrah. He purses his lips before speaking, "You saw fire in your dreams?"

Kyrah furrows her eyebrows, "... Did you?"

He sends a fast, scrutinizing gaze her way. His eyes scanning over Kyrah's anxious ridden face before responding, "Yes, I did." Kian runs his hands through his hair, then adding on, "Why would the Sun make you angry though?"

"I don't know." Kyrah shakes her head. She picks at the bottom of her lip with her teeth. "I don't know," she repeats.

"It's probably because you associate the Sun with fire." Mattias starts. "So, all your emotions are going to be full of rage. That's what you associate the fire with, isn't it? Rage." He looks at Kyrah more carefully. "You haven't let go from that yet."

Kyrah tenses. The thought of her parents rushes to her consciousness, and all she can feel is the heat of a thousand boiling suns rising in her. It takes every will in her body to relax.

She fiddles with her thumbs. "I don't think I can." Kyrah resists the urge to physically scream. "If I let go of that, what would I have left?"

"Something." Kian begins. "I am not saying you're not permitted to be angry, but you have to let go of the things that bind you before it becomes bondage."

Anger flashes in Kyrah's gut. Imogen tenses, watching Kyrah shake with fury right besides her. She speaks in place of her friend, placing her hand on her shoulder to ground her, "While I know you are right, Kian. I just do think it's a little harder considering not all of us died to get where we are."

Kyrah pauses in her thought, her head shooting up at the words of Imogen. "Have you all had dreams of fire?"

"I have." Esmeralda speaks up. "I'm sure all of us have. We never spoke about it prior to now. But, it would make sense — "

"I've heard all of your voices before in my dreams." Ezra says, cutting Esmeralda off before apologizing, "Sorry, Esme."

"It's fine." She leans against a tree, crossing her arms, "I was about to say the exact same thing. We most likely all dreamt similar dreams to one another."

"Then why didn't you guys die like I did?" Kyrah questions.

The group is quiet for a moment before Adya comes over to lean on Mattias and speaks up. "I died."

Kyrah's eyes widen as she looks at Adya. It makes all the more sense why she stayed by her side the way she did. She would know the repercussions better than anyone else of what it meant to die and come back to life.

Kyrah's voice shakes, "May I ask how?"

For the first time ever of knowing her, Kyrah sees a flash of anger in the depth of Adya's eyes. It almost excites her seeing that rage come to life. She almost wants to test how far that anger goes, but Kyrah shakes her head and wills herself to pay attention when Adya speaks.

"I was a fool." Adya sadly smiles, her eyes downcast on the ground. It almost pains her to speak. "I was married. My husband, he was simple to say the least. But, I couldn't really complain — not when other women had it far worse. Over time, we had grown to love each other and I suppose my marriage was making a turn for the better." Her breath hitches. Mattias steadies his hand on her shoulder to ground her. Adya continues, "I confided in him about my dreams. I told him what I was seeing. He told me to pay it no mind and that it was just of something at the moment."

Kyrah frowns, "But it was more than that."

Adya smiles at her. "It was."

She shakes her head. "I wasn't aware of the rumors going about the village at the time. I never really paid much attention to them, but my husband heard of a prophecy concerning me. It had all kind of details of me being a devil and the ruin I would cause to society. My husband didn't tell me of the rumors. I just remember that hours after I told him and it was time for us to sleep, he waited till I had rested..." Adya trails off. Her lips slightly tremble as tears run down her face.

Mattias holds her, "It's alright, Adya. You don't need to —"

"No." Adya cuts him off. "I need to say something. He took my life." Something flares in her eyes, so dangerously close to Kyrah's own anger. "He stabbed me in the chest. Watched me as I bled and cried. I trusted him!"

It's a volatile thing, Kyrah notes. Anger. How it comes and goes, washes over someone in waves. It reminds her of a month like March, desperately hanging on by the threads of winter and spring, each day unpredictable. Or even, the month of July, hazardously sewn on a choppy line of stitches, swinging wildly from the temperament of a blazing inferno to unwinding storms.

But, it's something that Kyrah loves picking at. In all it's messiness, it's been so beautiful in her eyes. She's never really been allowed to have it — not until recently. Not as a person, certainly not as a young girl — a woman. But, concealing something doesn't mean that it's no longer there. Not something like anger. It waits and it waits patiently, hoping for the right moment to strike — to let loose.

There's something darker in the atmosphere. A shiver comes down her, Kyrah feels it. She straightens her posture, watches Adya with baited eyes. Anger to anger. A lesson she'll happily sit hours for. She whispers, "But then you came back. " Her eyes not leaving Adya's own as she asks, "So...what did you do?"

Maybe to anyone else, the question would not have felt as loaded as it was. But, there's only so much one can say when someone dies — even less when the person who died is themselves. Grief, loss, and anger to a low extent are all present — they're the most common responses you'll get out of someone. But, go beneath the surface? Scratch past the normality and there it is, waiting to be heard: Hatred. Vengeance. Despair.

Such rare cases, hidden in the shadows, driven by an even heavier desire of what death has done in their lives — it exists. And, it's that understanding that flashes between Adya and Kyrah's eyes. That acknowledgement of something deeper and darker swimming within them is what binds the both of them together. All of them.

Adya smiles darkly, staring back into Kyrah's equally iniquitous eyes, "I killed him." She crosses her arms, digging a well manicured nail into her skin. "He killed me, so I killed him back."

Leaning on her own weight, away from Mattias, she paces back and forth, laughing maniacally under her breath. "You know what's even funnier? He begged me to not do it. He told me it was a mistake — that he was only listening to what the servants of our gods wanted." Tears roll down Adya's face. She clicks her tongue against the roof of her mouth, "But, I didn't care. I told him that this was a mistake too—" She mimics the motion of a slit throat, "And slit his throat right there. Watched him as he bled out right in front of me."

Adya stops in her tracks, her back facing the rest of the group. It's soft, but all of them can hear her when she says it, "I killed his father, made his mother a temporary widow before I killed her too. Then I killed his brothers." She turns around, her hands move down from across her chest to her hips. "I slaughtered my entire village. I killed almost everyone in it."

Kyrah turns her head. It feels too much like a confession. Something that should only be said between God and the depths of one's grave. But, their graves are empty. Seven holes of dirt dug six feet deep with no one inside of it — where they're supposed to be. A never ending booth of confession — Adya's damned on the wrong side of it. All seven of them are.

Adya shakes her head, brown skin shimmering in the light of the Sun. "I'm sorry. I— I shouldn't have said all that." I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. She mumbles under her breath repeatedly. But, there's nothing to be sorry for — at least not in front of the rest of them.

"We're just as equally moral as you are." Esmeralda sighs. "You can drop the apologies, Adya."

Ezra speaks, eyes downcast — almost as if he's hiding something important he doesn't want anyone finding out, "I'm sure they all deserved it."

It's a statement Kyrah believes is true, but she's not sure whether Ezra really means it or if he's convincing himself to believe in it. His body is caved inwards, attention directed to playing with the ring on his finger. He's hiding something.

"Are you okay, Ezra?" Kyrah looks confusingly at him. "Did something—?"

Ezra stands up, teeth bared. "What the hell is this? Some game of questions?" A dangerous look flits across his face just as quickly as it comes.

Kyrah's heart fastens in her chest. She's seen a similar look on him before — the first time they met. His eyes were so lustrously dark, but it's resemblance to a wolf's own eyes was uncanny. From how his temperament changed from a saddening calm to an exasperating annoyance... almost how a wolf shifts from its stance to hunt its prey.

Kyrah swallows her thoughts. "I'm sorry." She says blankly, praying that the beat of her heart isn't audible to anyone else.

Ezra and her lock eyes with one another. Neither of them backing away from each other's gaze, and all Kyrah can think of at the moment is: Why did I say something? He only tolerates me — He doesn't even know me — He doesn't care about what I have to say.

Ezra breaks their gaze. He looks down with a sigh, scratching his head. "No, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to snap like that. It's not you."

His last sentence, unknowingly, shoots a wave of relief over Kyrah.

He continues, "It's just that ..."

"—You don't need to say anything you don't want to." Kyrah objects.

Ezra sends her a grateful smile. "I know." His smile slips away. "It's just that I died too. I got burnt alive in my own home. I couldn't make it out on time."

From the look on everyone's face, Kyrah could tell that they were told something else, most likely not the full picture of what happened.

Imogen tilts her head and gasps, "But you said—"

Ezra holds a hand out, "I know what I said. I just ... couldn't come to terms with it at the time so I lied."

Mattias opens his mouth but waits for Ezra to continue his story.

"It was a celebration for my day of birth. My parents, almost everyone in my land was there. It was a glorious day, they told me." Ezra shakes his head. "I thought it was too, but it was all a lie. Truth be told . . . I must have eaten something that they slipped to me because when the fire came about I was nearly delirious and then I didn't remember anything else but my pain."

"When we came to meet you, everyone was dead. We assumed you killed them." Mattias reluctantly speaks. He raises his gaze to meet Ezra's. "You're saying it wasn't you who did that?"

Ezra raises his eyebrows, "You all showed up within the mere minute I just came back from being burnt to death. I couldn't have killed that many people."

"He's right." Imogen hums. She crosses her arms over her chest before tilting her head forward. "There's no way he could've had them all by himself — none of us are that advanced in our capabilities."

"Hm," Esmeralda starts, she looks directly at Ezra. "They probably killed each other. If you didn't kill them, and neither did any of us... it would make sense it happened among them."

Ezra jerks his head back in astonishment. "You mean ... my entire village slaughtered one another?"

Esmeralda nods. "That is what I mean, yes."

Kian adds on, "Think about it. When we arrived to meet Kyrah, the old man was talking about how she came back to life." He narrows his eyes, thinking. "They probably suspected you would have come back to life and decided to take matters into their own hands."

Ezra strokes his chin, "I guess both of you are right." He sits back down with a sigh. Bastards, he curses under his breath. Imogen pats his arm kindly in condolence.

A moment of silence kicks in as everyone takes in the gravity of their situations. The sound of nature sings all around them, but there's a darker force holding all of them bound — protecting and keeping them — but at what cost?

Mattias rubs his hand over his face, breaking the silence, "For us to be where we are now, I think we all needed to be in a deathly situation." He meets the gaze of everyone present. "My people used rocks to tie me down as they threw me into the water. I thought I was going to die. I even felt like I was going to — my body had burned so badly. I remembered seeing darkness and then Adya had saved me seconds before dying."

Mattias shakes his head. Blue eyes resembling the depth of the seas. It almost amazes Kyrah on how stoic a man can be as he goes into details of the day he nearly died. But, a look of sadness fleets through him when he shifts. And Kyrah meets his gaze before looking away.

Mattias looks at Esmeralda and asks her if she too, had died before they arrived.

Almost reluctantly, Esmeralda speaks. "No." She bites her lip. Looking into Kyrah's eyes before opening up to the others, "I had a choice to die on my own terms or allow whatever poison they had in my body to spread." Esmeralda looks up at the Sun, shadows casted down on the angles of her face. "I wanted to die on my own terms. Mattias and Adya came in time."

Kyrah knows for certain that's all she's getting out of Esmeralda, but a small smile plays on her lips before mouthing thank you. Esmeralda gives a small, nearly imperceptible nod as a response.

Kian stretches, cracking a joint in his back before speaking. "I didn't die. I was nearly seconds away from getting hanged — but nothing more." He presses his lips together, giving an exasperated sigh. "There's no point in me dwelling over the past when all I have is gone."

He walks away before anyone even thinks of stopping him. A somber silence falls over the group.

Kyrah lowers her eyes to her feet. The ghost of the past is no stranger to her. It haunts her as she opens her eyes at the rising of the Sun, as she warms her heart to smile, as she rests her eyes for what she hopes is the final time — like a parasite it refuses to leave her. But, as Kyrah looks up and watches Kian's retreating figure disappear into the shadows of the woods, she realizes that this ghost is no stranger to the rest of them either.

It haunts all of them in more ways than one.

✷

        In the middle of the forest, a frustrated cry leaves Kian's mouth. He squats low, burying his head in hands and mournfully cries.

Hatred. Vengeance. Despair.

The ghost of the past sits with him in misery like a friend.

✷

        "I'll go check on him." Mattias comments. He leaves all of them with a half-smile, rushing on the opportunity to leave the burdensome atmosphere.

Esmeralda watches him go. She whistles something close to sounding sorrowful, then her eyes find Ezra. "We still need to eat. Help me with the food." She pushes her body off a tree, bending down to reach the recently killed fawn before holding it over the shoulder.

"I'll join the both of you." Adya jumps up at the mention of food.

Esmeralda nods before heading off south of where Mattias and Kian walked. Ezra and Adya briskly walk after her, careful to not fall too behind her footsteps.

Kyrah turns to Imogen. "You didn't say anything."

Imogen stares forward ahead, unmoving, "What is there left to say?" Kyrah's narrowed eyes feel sharp in her peripheral gaze. She adds on, "The others already know."

"Not me." Kyrah speaks, voice grave. "Not me."

Imogen stands up, stretching her long-rested body from sitting for too long. She reaches her hand out for Kyrah to take, "Come with me. I'll explain to you only."

Kyrah smiles, taking Imogen's hand into her own. She blushes at the warm contact between the both of them before removing her hand to drop it back to her side.

Imogen's eyebrows curl down at the action, but says nothing of it.

The two of them walk north of where they stand. Imogen takes the lead while Kyrah follows only slightly behind her. The path had been worn down. Kyrah could tell they've walked this path numerous times before she did. It would only make sense for the lack of hanging branches cut off from the sides of fully grown trees.

Her eyes dart around warily, taking hyper-notice of the details in the forest. The leaves are the only things that move besides the two of them walking. But, the Sun hunts down on Kyrah as if there won't be another sunrise to occur and it only aggravates her as a drop of sweat passes down her eyebrow.

Cool wind breezes against Kyrah's skin and it's all it takes to get her mind off the irrational anger lingering in her head. She picks her feet up, pushing herself to be on pace with Imogen.

As the slope of the path falls downwards, the sound of waves lapping comes into Kyrah's earshot. She glances a sidelong look at Imogen who continues forward past the viridian foliage on the dried, crumbled soil.

"Why did we come here?" Kyrah questions.

Imogen shrugs, "A change in scenery never harmed anyone." She walks deeper into the forest, pushing past the bundle of leaves in her sight. "I thought you would like it."

"There's not much I'm —," Kyrah cuts herself off, taking in her new surroundings. The water of the pond gleams beautifully under the luminosity of the Sun. Sharp rocks lay west of Kyrah's feet, and as she looks up, the trees hover in front of the Sun like moths, enclosing the area just enough to feel secluded but still allowing its presence to dictate the temperature.

"I'm sorry. What is it you were saying?" Imogen smirks, a tease falling on her lips.

Kyrah doesn't even pay much mind to her words as she steps forward, looking around in awe as small, pretty flowers dance on the edges of the pond. "Has this always been here?" She turns around, pointing excitedly at the water.

"Yes," Imogen watches her carefully. "We don't come here often though. Only when we feel like we truly want to. I thought it'd be best if you knew about it. One of us was going to show you sooner or later."

Kyrah's eyes dance with light, "This is beautiful."

Imogen laughs, warm and soothing, "I'm glad you think so." She steps in front of Kyrah, turning around so her back is facing Kyrah's direction. "Do you mind unloosing the tie for me?"

"Wh—What?" Kyrah's eyes bulge, heart midway stopping in her chest. "Why?"

"So, I can get in the water?" Imogen replies, a tone of amusement hidden in her voice as she envisions Kyrah's face.

Acknowledgement registers in Kyrah's head. She bites her tongue in embarrassment, "Yes, of course. I'm so sorry. I thought—" But wills herself to stop talking as she unties the back of Imogen's dress. Her fingers daintily touch Imogen's skin as she does so.

"Thank you." Imogen hums.

She makes quick work of undressing herself in front of Kyrah, but every inch of skin bared feels like minutes passed. Cheeks burning, Kyrah clears her throat as if it were to help get rid of the heat burning inside her, but all she can muster herself to do is look away to protect her mind from going any further.

Sounds of footsteps in the pond bring Kyrah back to the present. Imogen calls out behind her, "I'm in the water. You can join me if you're comfortable?"

Kyrah turns around, a little disheveled, "If it's only not too much of a bother to you, then sure."

Imogen stares expectantly, waiting for Kyrah to join her.

"Oh— now," Kyrah quickly reaches for the hem of her garments before pausing, "Do you mind, um—?"

Imogen blinks, "Right, sorry—"

With wide eyes, Kyrah panics. "No— I mean if you wanted—"

"Would you like me to?" Imogen teases with a grin.

Frustration bubbles within Kyrah. Crossing her arms, she levels Imogen with a glare. "You're messing with me."

Imogen laughs in response. Kyrah hates the way her heart secretly jumps to it every time. "Sorry. You're so cute sometimes." She waves her hands nonchalantly. "I'll turn around."

Sometimes? Kyrah silently scoffs before shaking her head and willing her focus on getting into the water.

She strips herself bare before taking a small, hesitant step testing the warmth of the water against her skin before walking in.

At the sound of Kyrah's movements, Imogen asks, "Can I turn around now?"

"Hm," Kyrah playfully contemplates, "I'm not sure you can actually." Imogen rolls her eyes, splashing water at Kyrah's face. "You're the one who asked!" She gasps, sputtering water out of her mouth.

Imogen splashes more water on Kyrah, "I won't ask again next time!"

Kyrah protests, sending an even larger wave of water back. The two of them swim and chase each other, hoping to avoid the other's attacks. Sounds of laughter echo in the winds, and it nearly gets rid of the memory of their conversation just moments ago.

Kyrah's arms burn from the intensity of her movements but she pushes the feeling aside and swims her way towards Imogen, who looks at her coolly. Blinking away droplets of water coursing down her face, she brushes stray hairs sticking on her cheeks away.

Within arm's length she reaches out, placing a tepid hand on Imogen's shoulder. "What was it you were going to tell me?" Kyrah chews her bottom lip, trailing her fingertips down the length of Imogen's arm until she intertwines her fingers with Imogen's own.

Imogen squeezes her hand before letting go to brush Kyrah's hair behind her ears with both hands. She implores, "Are you that eager to hear of my ruin?"

Kyrah knows it was meant to be something lighthearted but the softness in her face leaves in place for a more serious demeanor as she replies back, "Your ruin is still mine."

"I suppose it is." Imogen steps back, closing her eyes in the face of Sun to gather her thoughts before speaking, "My troubles were nearly similar to yours. My whole village had planned to stone me to death. They had purposely taken my parents away so they wouldn't have interfered with the trial."

Kyrah follows Imogen's gaze up at the sky before setting her eyes back on Imogen, "Did your parents know of what you were?"

Imogen smiles. "They did. I would've died months prior if they had not kept my secret."

A slimmer of jealousy boils within Kyrah's gut but at least it's a pain that only she gets to keep — better her than everyone else. She lowers her eyes to the lapping waves, waiting for Imogen to continue.

"My brother was the one who told on me. He wanted money." Imogen tells, almost close to a snarl as she mentions the word 'brother'. "Fortunately for me, my village priests killed him before they got to me. But as for my parents ..." she trails off, biting her lip before continuing, "I don't know if they made it or not. They probably killed them."

"Why not search for them?" Kyrah questions.

Imogen shakes her head, "I did for a little bit, but our priority was getting to you first." She exhales shakingly. "Then, I figured it was best if I didn't see them again. My presence would only bring more trouble to their lives."

A part of guilt fills the empty crevices in Kyrah's mind. It's not her fault. She knows that. But, they could be alive at this very moment and Imogen has already concluded that it's best to never see her parents again for their safety. She resists the urge to look at Imogen fully, something in her brain wears her down: It's my fault — If only I had — I should have been quick—

"Kyrah," Imogen calls out, breaking her line of thought, "It's not your fault."

Tears fall down Kyrah's face. Her heart breaks at the sight of Imogen, "Then why not go back for them? I'm here now, aren't I?"

"And that's all that matters." Imogen whispers. She lifts Kyrah's face gently. Warm hands on both sides as she wipes the cascading tears from Kyrah's face with her thumbs. "Some journeys are meant to end abruptly, but that doesn't mean the path you've taken should not be cherished."

She brings Kyrah in by the back of her neck, tenderly guiding her to the crook of her collarbone. Imogen rubs her back fondly. She continues, "I would not be here without my parents, but I was meant to find you. Our end was only the beginning."

Kyrah sniffles, holding onto Imogen tighter as she comforts her.

Skin to skin contact has always nagged at the back of her mind when Kyrah was younger. The ability for one to hold the other in all of their flaws and imperfections and be able to accept it as something beautiful was something she always dreamed of. But, her dreams as she began to grow, experiencing more of life, started to feel less like the unbecoming of fall and more like the dead, silent nights of winter.

She holds onto Imogen. It is not love, she thinks. But, it's something treacherously close to it — like the becoming of new seasons giving way to another stage of life, or how the Sun gives light to the Moon — from eventide to daybreak, or how Life mourns the ground of Death.

It is not love — Surface to skin; Anger to rage; Pain to aches; Heart to soul — It is not love but it is something close.

Her beginning starts with Imogen's and the others, and their end is also her demise. Like an inevitable, harrowing cycle is how she sees their bond, born from the ashes of all that they've been deemed to lose.

Our end was only the beginning, Imogen's words echo in Kyrah's head.

Kyrah supposes it is.

       ❧  AUTHOR'S NOTE:

this chapter took so long to publish and i just want to say im so sorry :/ when i published this fic, it was during the middle of school but beginning to write for chapter one would've taken time away from finals — and god knows i needed to pass those exams so i had to put all my energy in that

this book will still be slow updates but hopefully it's bc of summer i plan on publishing like every two weeks? depends on my energy on how much i like the chapter or not and i plan on writing at least 4k words for each chapter so none feels too short in comparison to another

in my honest opinion of how this chapter turned out: i kinda hated it?? LOL ?? it's exactly how i planned it go out but i think my writing is throwing me off so im just going to keep silent so that way i won't even think of unpublishing this fic (i don't think i ever will, kyrah and elijah haunt my every day life)

im just going to hope and pray that this chapter was at least interesting to some of you. (im always happy to read comments/feedback!!)

i think i tried to do my best with acknowledging kyrah's emotions and feelings bc i think it'll definitely highlight the reasoning behind some of her actions later during the story especially with the way how she views her love towards others which i think is in a very painful, twisted way!!

she shows most of her love to the other six so im desperately trying to make the best of their characters because all of them are so crucial in kyrah's story (if part one doesn't turn out the way i need it to be, i will literally riot)

but im rambling now so i will end my notes here!! chapter two on the way next !!! thank you for reading 🫶

OLD DEVILS (2023)
© romanoiogy