Chapter 8: My Escape
1084 Words
The air in the grand cathedral was thick with fear, anger, and accusations. Voices rose in a chaotic uproar, their words striking like arrows.
"Do you want to kill us all?" a frail old woman cried, her voice trembling as if the mere sight of me—no, the beast—was too much to bear.
"SHUT IT!" Naila's voice bellowed through my lips, low, hoarse, and filled with menace. The sound alone sent the crowd reeling back, their faces painted in terror.
"So, she's really a demon?" someone whispered, loud enough for the words to reach my ears.
"Could she have been the one who killed Elaine?" a man said from the back of the gathering.
Naila twisted my mouth into a cruel grin. "Yes," she hissed, her tone dripping with mockery. "I killed her. And every moment of it was exquisite." She licked my lips slowly, her eyes gleaming with malice. "Such a shame you missed it."
The crowd erupted in cries of horror.
"Kill her!" screamed a voice that cut through the chaos.
Celene.
There she stood, poised at the center of the crowd, her finger pointed at me like a dagger. "Let's kill this witch plaguing our peaceful realm!"
"What are you doing, Celene?" My father's voice boomed over the noise. He looked at her, appalled, his fists clenched at his sides.
"She's right!" one of Celene's friends shouted before he could say more.
"She's a danger to us all!"
I could feel the beast's fury mounting, boiling over as my father's face crumpled. He turned and walked away, his shoulders heavy with defeat.
'COWARD,' Naila hissed in my mind.
The pain of his retreat burned in my chest, but Naila pushed it aside with a surge of anger.
The crowd edged closer, their fear turning into rage. One of the newly awakened mages stepped forward, her voice rising above the rest. "Kill her already!"
Naila laughed, a sound that echoed like thunder in the chamber. "You fools. You're all so scared, and I haven't even transformed yet."
Before I could stop her, Naila lunged. She propelled me across the space, her inhuman strength carrying us straight to Celene. Gasps filled the room as the beast pinned her to the ground, the impact sending shockwaves through the marble floor.
Celene's eyes widened in pure terror, her mouth opening in a silent scream.
"I've always wanted to kill you," Naila growled, her claws tightening around Celene's throat.
A blinding flash of white light struck us, knocking us back. I hit the ground hard, Naila's snarl echoing in my head as I struggled to rise.
The High Priestess stood between us, her presence commanding the room.
"Everyone, calm down," she said, her voice steady, almost soothing. Her energy radiated outward, and the crowd stilled, their fear tempered by her sheer power.
Naila thrashed within me, but the High Priestess raised her hand. A web of light spread out, wrapping around me like chains and pinning me to the floor.
"Jade is not possessed," she said, her voice clear. "This is simply a lack of control. An extraordinary gift like hers requires time to master. Nothing more."
She approached me, her steps measured. "Be at ease, child," she said, her tone softening. The chains raised one of my hands, and she slipped something onto my finger.
The ring.
The silver band that had melted away earlier was now whole and cool against my skin. As soon as it settled, the beast receded, her growls fading into silence.
I gasped as control returned to me, the world sharpening into focus once more.
'The ring melted,' I thought, dazed. 'How does she have it? Does that mean she knows?'
The High Priestess' voice resonated in my mind, calm and knowing. 'The gods revealed you to me long ago. Don't be confused. Show your calmness—I've handled it.'
:~*~:
At home, Celene's shrill voice filled the air as she paced the room, her anger boiling over.
"She charged at mel" she screeched. "You saw it, didn't you? She wanted to kill me! That girl is a danger to us all!"
"And I'd rush to kill the person who incited a mob against me," my father said, his voice steady but cold.
Marie giggled from her corner of the room, her wide eyes peeking out from behind her father's chair.
"It's just like the High Priestess said," he continued, brushing off Celene's protests. "Jade wasn't herself. You're making this into something it's not."
Celene's face turned an alarming shade of red. "You're defending her? After everything?"
He met her glare without flinching. "Yes. She's my daughter. I suggest you remember that."
With a huff, Celene stormed out, muttering curses under her breath.
I watched her go, a strange mixture of satisfaction and sadness swirling in my chest.
:~*~:
The events at the cathedral left a scar on my already stained position in the village. Whispers turned into full-blown condemnation.
"I heard she became a demon in the cathedral. I always knew she was evil."
"The High Priestess only defended her because she's a merciful being."
"Those are the eyes of demons. She belongs in Kreel. She should be banished."
"She was there when Elaine was killed horribly by that monster. She's the reason she's dead. Should she be alive?"
The hatred was suffocating.
I thought of Naila, her strength, her power. If I could learn to control her, maybe I could escape this suffocating life.
That night, I stood before my father, my decision firm. "I'm going to join the Watchers," I said.
His face fell, his eyes heavy with worry. "Jade, no. I can't lose you to that place."
"I'm not asking for your permission," I said, my voice steady but filled with pain. "I need this. I need to prove myself—to them and to me."
"The Sky Border is dangerous," he argued, desperation creeping into his voice. "The forest near it is filled with monsters, and the people there . . . Jade, you don't know what you're walking into."
"I do," I said, packing my bag with trembling hands. "And I'm walking into it anyway."
Before leaving, I crept into Marie's room. She was already asleep, her golden curls spread across her pillow. I leaned down and kissed her forehead.
"Goodbye, Marie," I whispered. "Be good for Papa, okay?"
I slipped out into the night, my heart heavy but resolute. The journey ahead was uncertain, but it was mine to take.
- Writer
