A Gift from the Goddess

Book Two – Ch.# 35

“My name is Rheyna…,” I said. “Rheyna Knight.”

How strange to say it after all this time. It wasn’t something I felt all that connected to nor had any particular fond memories of. It was simply the only thing I could recall when the orphanage had asked me who I was. Just my name and nothing else. Not even my parents.

“Allison?” I asked when she still hadn’t spoken.

Something about the whole situation seemed off. The alarms in my head were still screaming at me to run… and yet I did my best to keep ignoring it.

Only… Allison now hadn’t moved. Almost as if she were frozen in place.

“Allison? Did you hear me?” I asked. “Aren’t you… aren’t you going to check your book?”

But with her eyes cast down, her lips started to whisper something very quickly that I couldn’t hear.

“…Allison? What are you….”

And it was as I took a step towards her that her eyes then suddenly snapped upwards, staring at me with an expression that took me aback. A hatred within them unlike anything I had ever seen.

“…A Devil of the Mist,” she finished quietly.

“What? What do you mea-.”

But before I could ask, she then stood up and began talking as if reciting from an old book.

“Beware the Silver Saintess, her hair as silken thread. With her consort mate of power, the people wept and bled.”

“Alli-.”

“And beware the Siren’s call, his eyes as gold as ore. With whispers of manipulation, they’ll hold you in their thrall. And if you breathe despite this, a devil still awaits.

Because forever lives another, the deathless angel mate.”

“Allison!” I yelled, beginning to panic. Stop!”

And I took a step back in confusion, unsure what was happening.

“You were meant to be dead,” she hissed. All of you.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. Just stop and-.”

“NO!” she screeched. “Your words won’t work on me. I should have seen it earlier, the signs were all there. But I see you now. I see what you’re doing. Your power won’t work so long as I stay true to the Goddess’ path.”

And before I could do anything else, she then walked over to a glass cabinet, only turning back around to face me once she had retrieved a dagger.

“You’ve been influencing all of us to accept you. You with your silver tongue and golden eyes,” she spat. “Is this some sort of infiltration mission? Here to finish us off in revenge? Because I already lost my mother because of you. I will not go down easily.”

She moved into what looked to be an amateur defensive position, shakily holding the dagger up towards me. Me… who was still frozen in shock over what the hell was happening.

Because my mind was trying to piece together what she was saying… why she suddenly wanted to attack me… and the reason slowly dawned on me.

My family, the pack I must have once belonged to….

I was… a Devil of the Mist.

The same pack who had gone to war with Ashwood, who had apparently caused countless deaths and tarnished their traditions. Who were all allegedly insane.

…The ones who had caused the death of Kieran’s mother.

But there were bits I didn’t understand.

of manipulation… only I wasn’t sure

or I was like some distant, twice removed cousin. Maybe I didn’t even share the same

sure if that mattered

had made up her mind… and she took a few steps towards

this,” I warned. “I don’t

screamed at

get along with, somehow feeling as if we were always meant to be best friends. Sisters. But it’s… it’s all a lie. Everything.”

not intentionally doing anything, Allison, I

just another trick? Does he know? Did you bewitch him as well, Child of

out of room within the small space of the

…Fight or flight.

of which felt right.

“Stop, Allison, please.”

shelf, I knew

attempt if I ever saw one, but

me, forcing me

as she almost

the hell was I meant to do here? Attack her? She was blocking the exit now so running would mean more

as the archives door then swung open, I was relieved to see the

shocked by the sight he was seeing. “Allison? What are you…”

“Help me, plea-.”

advance. And before I could plead for assistance, her dagger then came swiping towards me. Something I didn’t have time to properly deflect… and I caught

cried in pain, persevering through it to pull it

but it had been worth it.

the Mist!” Allison yelled to the guard. “Her real name is Rheyna Knight.

Mist was prior to a few

Finn’s face immediately changed. A darkness falling over him as he listened to Allison’s

Devil…,” he said, taking a step closer, and I cursed under

screwed. Based on this reaction, it was clear that it wasn’t just Allison who would prove to be a problem once the

this was

longer safe for me.

And now…

needed to leave. Leave quickly and hopefully with my head

gasp left Allison’s lips then, drawing my attention back over to

cut was dealt by a dagger of blessed silver. Such an injury should take hours before our ability to heal works. And yet for her, merely minutes were needed.

on medication to counter it ever since I

she tried to grab at

this time I’d

of here by any means. And so, with one injured hand, the other holding a book and dagger, I did what I

kick to her gut, sending her flying

“Allison!” Finn yelled.

to me, a warning growl rumbling through him

said. “Just let me go and

alive,”

Goddammit.

girl who had clearly never experienced any sort of combat herself. Finn

attacks, manoeuvring around them, but I knew at some

brought my hand up to prevent a jab from hitting my shoulder, it momentarily left me in a defenceless position. Because the wound instantly opened back up, causing me to cry out in pain. This was my first time experiencing a silver

advantage to grab me and throw me to the ground, using

go…,” I

of course, that wouldn’t

he said, pulling something out

of the shiny silver cuffs as they came out, dangling with a threat before

him put those on me. Whatever else happened, I could not