Reapers - Master of Souls (Reapers Chronicles Book III)

7-Change of Heart

NP: The Pretender by Foo Fighters

Amyr and I just made it past the borders into the labyrinth when I heard footsteps approaching. Carefully, I set Amyr behind a large tree and held onto the Helcium shard tight. As I saw it, no help was coming for us. Not from Vincent at least.

My hands shook as the footsteps became louder. I pressed my back on the trunk and peered behind it.

A cloaked figure came running. It was Sharifa.

She caught her breath, placing her hand over her mouth to keep the whimpers from coming out. Tears lined her face and she looked scared witless.

I stepped out from my hiding place.

"Sharifa," I hissed.

Hurriedly, she ran to me. "What are you doing here? It's very... dangerous."

"Cairo did it."

Her steel-gray eyes widened, her lips parting before she frantically shook her head. "N-no..."

"I wasn't asking. I know he let the monster out."

"You should not have come here, Aramis. Irvine is trying to stop him, but he will not stop until he finds me. And if he sees you..." She retreated, tears welling from her eyes.

"I know you're scared, Sharifa. But you don't have to cover up for him anymore."

Her eyes went blank as she looked behind me. "He's coming. Hide."

I ran back to Amyr and found him a spot in between the tortuous roots that protruded out of the ground. For some reason, my touch wasn't poisoning him.

Sitting on my heels, I waited.

Sharifa still hadn't gone far enough when Cairo showed up. In no time, he got to her and barred her way out of the woods.

"I've been right all along, haven't I, Sharifa?" Cairo said, his face void of emotions. He stepped towards his sister. "You never learn. Always the meddler."

"P-please..." she cried, eyes frantically searching for an escape. "I will not tell Father that this is your doing. I swear."

"Of course you won't, you traitor," Cairo nodded. "You won't tell anyone anything anymore. Because you died in the hands of the abyss monster immediately after you have reversed the barrier enchantment. That is how everybody will remember you."

Sharifa stepped back, whimpering. "No... please."

Cairo reached out for her face. He thumbed on the tears rolling down her cheek, allowing himself a fleeting moment of sadness.

"You'll always be our precious little sister, Sharifa," he whispered affectionately. "I've seen these tears a million times before and I don't think I'll ever be less pained seeing you shed them again. But you have done many things; so many unforgivable things. This time, I simply cannot let them pass."

"Help!" Sharifa begged, looking at me from the side of her eyes. "Help me, please..."

The boy coolly shook his head, a single tear falling making its way down his cheek. "I am help, Sharifa. I'm trying to help you. You've done enough. Now you must rest."

He summoned a scythe as tall as his shoulder. It had five pointed fingers, each a foot long.

I draughted behind him. Before he could strike, I thrust the Helcium shard into the small of his back.

Yelling in pain, he reeled towards me while trying to yank the shard out. He began hacking blindly. And though he was being reckless, it was hard dodging a five-bladed weapon.