Serene kept a slow pace, gnawing on Taya’s words. They may watch over our world, but they didn’t save me.

  The air felt heavier than before—each of her footsteps echoing louder against the walls. Then, a spear of light was whipped into the ground, a crack screamed across the city. The heavens stole the people’s attention.

  “Someone upset the gods…” she muttered to the rain. “I hope they aren’t angry with Taya.”

  She turned onto her street. Her house came into view, and with it, a crashing wave of cold fear.

  Torchlight in front of her home revealed the faces of five guards. And her father.

  Henry stood in his nightwear, calm-faced, though she knew better. She slipped closer, hugging the shadows between the houses. The rain muffled their voices as she strained to hear.

  “As I told you before,” Henry said, “my family isn’t home. They left for Fort Tarasian about a week ago.”

  “Then you won’t mind if we take a look?” the guard sneered.

  Two men shoved past him. Henry moved to follow but the head guard caught his arm.

  “Get your men out of my house!” Henry snapped, his calm act breaking into fury.

  “If it’s empty, we’ll be gone soon enough.”

  Serene’s gut tightened. She knew her mother and brother were inside, hiding behind the closet wall.

  Staterra, help them. Serene asked in a silent plea.

  Windows creaked open, doors cracked on either side of the street. The neighbors peered like it was a theater.

  Serene took a step forward, but Henry’s eyes caught hers across the street, his intent obvious.

  Stay a stranger. Don’t get involved.

  “How much longer will you allow your men to—”

  A thud from inside. Then a scream.

  “Mother…” The word left her before she could swallow it.

  Serene felt something inside herself split.

  The window she’d always watched the world through was cracking at its corners.

  “It sounds like your family made it back from their trip!” The guard grinned.

  A guard pulled Theon into the rain. His face was red and wet with tears.

  Henry snatched Theon’s hand from the guard and held him tight.

  Thera’s screams ripped through the street as another guard dragged her out by the hair.

  Henry, still holding Theon, drove his shoulder into the man. The guard hit the ground hard.

  “You whoreson!” the fallen guard spat, slamming the butt of his spear into Henry’s jaw.

  Ushil, stop this…

  Henry staggered, dropping to set Theon down.

  Thera and Theon cried out—not in fear, but now in pain, their skin blistering under the night sky.

  Henry helped Thera to her knees, shielding both behind him. The head guard said, “So the report was true. Mother and son, both marked. Where's the daughter?”

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

  “What daughter?” Henry said, spitting blood into the streams below him.

  “Keep spinning around your lies,” the head guard said.

  “Henry Neward, you’re being detained for examination. Thera and Theon Neward will be executed at dawn for living in Thios Reach, illegally, as afflicted. Serene Neward will be taken for examination as soon as she is found. You’ll come silent, or not at all.”

  Henry knelt, pulling the doorway carpet over Thera and Theon to cover what he could of their burning skin. Their cries cut through the downpour.

  Mortuus, please…

  Henry said nothing.

  He stood and reached into the house one last time, pulling a sheathed sword from the blackness.

  Orange torchlight twinkled over the steel as he drew it. The sheath hit the ground with a wet slap.

  “Have it your way,” the head guard said, their weapons being drawn.

  The first guard swung light, testing him. Henry parried, missing his neck by an inch. Another guard cut deep into his arm. Henry spun, stabbing the man’s stomach.

  The wounded guard stumbled back, another taking his position. Henry blocked two swings, but took the third to his side.

  Serene ran.

  Nia, I need you… They’re rejects, but save them for me.

  His sword slipped from his grip, blood slicking the hilt. Henry bent to grab it, his hands shook.

  He closed his eyes and stood, ready for what would come next.

  A weight crashed into him. Small arms locked around his waist, desperate and shaking. He dared to open his eyes and saw golden hair, wet against a familiar hood.

  “Father, why aren’t the gods helping us?” Serene sobbed into his shirt. “Did I do something wrong?”

  His hand pressed to her back. “You didn’t do a thing. The gods must be busy.”

  Thera’s trembling fingers touched Serene’s. “Find Taya. She’ll help you.”

  Serene clung tighter, wrapping her cloak around Theon. His shrieks clawed at her ears.

  “Take her,” Henry said, his voice empty. “You’ll find she’s without affliction.”

  “No, Father! I’m staying.” Serene interjected.

  The head guard seized her arm. Serene threw frail punches, useless attempts to break free.

  “We’ll take her,” he said. “Kill the rejects and their protector.”

  “No!” Serene protested, nails digging into his skin.

  “It’s alright, Serene.” Henry said, time and the rain slowed with his words. “We’ll meet again. Just… take your time before we do.”

  Three blades raised over her family.

  Her breaths were rapid. Her heart throbbed in her chest.

  “Theon!” she cried, grabbing for a hilt on the guard’s belt. She yanked it free and drove the knife into his thigh.

  His grip released. “You miserable cunt!”

  She spun toward Theon.

  But she was too late.

  The blades fell. Henry’s and Thera’s smiles shined brighter than the torches on her. Theon’s face was buried in their mother’s chest.

  Blood spilled like wine.

  The water beneath them dyed red.

  She could feel it. The window she had watched the world from shattered.

  She gave no words. No further tears. Just a distant stare.

  Serene wasn’t sure why, but she fled.

  “You two, kill the girl!” the head guard shouted in pain, limping as blood ran down his leg.

  She ran down the street and ducked into a dead-end alley. The stone wall at her back was cold and ragged. She sat and listened to the sky’s tears crash against stone.

  Not long after, wet footsteps drew near.

  “There she is,” one of the two men said walking toward her, weapons in hand. A third man’s shadow trailed a few paces behind them.

  “It’s a shame,” the first guard said. “A few more years and she would’ve been my type.”

  “Keep your perversions to yourself. Now do it,” the second said.

  “Why me?”

  “Because I’m not killing a kid.”

  The first guard chuckled and lifted his sword, Serene’s expression unchanging. “I guess I don’t mind.”

  Serene stayed motionless. Rain ran into her mouth, but she didn’t bother to spit it out. She was busy replaying the memories of their family dinner.

  The third figure was now behind them, his steps soundless. One moment, the guard stood ready to swing; the next, his head was hung at an impossible angle and his body dropped to the ground.

  “Who are—” the other man began, but a dagger cut the words from his throat. Blood bubbled at the corners of his lips as he slid down the stone wall.

  Serene watched from somewhere far behind her own eyes. The body she wore felt too heavy to move, so she didn’t try.

  It was hard to make out the man in the shadows, but his emerald-green cloak caught her eye. A few sizes too small for him, but bright against the dark.

  Like her brother’s cloak.

  Without a word, he lifted and slung her across over his shoulder, and started walking.

  “Did the gods send you?” Serene asked, her voice monotone.

  “Fuck the gods,” he scoffed. “As if they and I have anything to discuss. The heavens didn’t save you, girl. I did.”