He Used Me for Her, I Walked Away

Chapter 6

Deep in the night.

Sharp, biting pain woke Zairine, every inch of her flesh felt as though torn asunder.

With great effort, she opened her eyes, and found herself gazing upon the familiar bedroom in the private wing of the Veridian family estate.

An unfamiliar woman's voice spoke beside her. "You have awakened, Miss."

A housekeeper she had never seen before helped her sit up slowly, and explained, "Yesterday, a powerful earthquake struck the entire downtown district. Master Rynell's riverside apartment was badly damaged. The Veridian estate sustained lighter harm, so Master Rynell brought you here to recover. The Second Miss and Master Cyprian have also returned."

At once, Zairine asked, "Where is Veyra?"

Veyra had always been at her side, inseparable, yet now a stranger stood in her place.

The housekeeper's face blanched. She hesitated, trembling visibly.

A terrible dread rose sharp within Zairine. "What has happened to her?"

The housekeeper could not keep it from her. "When the building collapsed yesterday, Veyra rushed inside without regard for her own life to find you. She was struck by falling debris and grievously wounded. There is no way to secure the finest physicians right now, so she has been placed temporarily in a storage room on the ground floor.

"Those who pulled her from the wreckage said she was covered in blood and had long since lost consciousness, yet her body was curled over yours, her hands clasped fast over your head, shielding you…"

Zairine's heart gave a violent, wrenching lurch.

Veyra was the same age as her. She had entered Zairine's service at eighteen, and for ten years they had been constant companions, closer than sisters bound by blood.

In the face of death itself, her own half-sister had cast her toward destruction. Her husband had thought only of his beloved and fled, leaving her behind.

Only Veyra had rushed into ruin, risking everything to shield her.

Zairine's eyes burned with tears she would not let fall. Fighting the agony that tore at her, she stumbled from the bed.

She must go to Veyra, the one who shared no blood, yet had proven more true than any of her kin.

But when she reached the door of the ground-floor storage room, her heart felt crushed in a fist, so tight she could barely breathe.

"Veyra!"

The night was bitter cold. Veyra lay alone upon the unforgiving concrete floor, her body streaked with blood and wounds, her breath faint and shallow, slipping away.

"Call a physician! Bring someone at once!" Zairine shouted urgently.

Heedless of her own injuries, Zairine bent and gathered Veyra into her arms.

Veyra heard the voice she knew so well, and struggled to lift her heavy lids. "You are awake, Miss."

Zairine's voice trembled beyond her control. "Foolish, foolish girl! Buildings fall and people die because of such things. Why would you rush into danger like that?" she asked, tears close.

A faint, fragile smile touched Veyra's lips. "Because you are worth it. I came to serve you at eighteen. You were never harsh, never unkind. You sent money home to my parents so my father and mother might receive care. You were always like the soft, gentle stars above. You were never meant to be extinguished. I am but a servant… my life is of little worth."

At that moment, Zairine trembled from head to foot, tears spilling over at last.

"Do not grieve so, Miss. It pains me to see you suffer," Veyra whispered. She tried feebly to lift her hand, but it fell back, trembling, limp and heavy.

Her breathing grew rapid and shallow. Life was slipping fast away.

Veyra spoke with a fading, breathless whisper. "I could not stand to see you free of the Veridian name… to see you live as you truly are… but I have arranged everything. When the poison reaches its final height… someone will come to carry you away…"

Her voice softened to a ghostly murmur, barely audible. "And hereafter… I shall be the wind at night… the falling snow… always with you… in another form…"

Her voice faded completely. The hand that lay at her side fell still, no longer trembling, no longer warm.

Zairine's mind went blank. Her heart seemed to stop beating.

"Veyra!"

*****

Zairine's face was ashen. She forced back the overwhelming tide of grief and set herself to arranging Veyra's final rites.

She stood before Veyra's simple grave, her voice rough and broken. "In a few days, the venom in my veins will reach its end. When I have cast off the chains of being the Veridian family's eldest daughter… I shall take you away from this city. We shall go where no one knows us."

On her way back toward the bedroom, she passed the door to Seralyn's room, and overheard the voices of Rynell and Seralyn within.

"Rynell, on that day… I left my sister behind. I ran, and I even pushed her. Everyone saw it. When she wakes, she will hate me with all her heart," Seralyn spoke with apparent remorse.

Then came Rynell's voice, soft and soothing. "It was a terrible thing to behold. You are young and afraid, that is only natural. And Zairine is the elder sister. It is her place to shield you first."

Zairine caught her breath sharply. Through the casement window, she saw clearly, Rynell sat at the bedside, feeding Seralyn tonic with a spoon, slow and careful, infinitely gentle.

When he had finished, he held out a pale blue glass bottle with a frosted surface.

"Seralyn, this was prepared by a renowned healer at my request. It will heal bruising and swelling, calm the spirit, and soothe pain, to help your wounds mend."

Seralyn made a show of guilt and pushed the bottle gently away. "My sister lies grievously wounded and unconscious. She has a far greater need of this than I."

Rynell pressed the bottle firmly into her hands, his gaze soft with tenderness. "You are the younger sister. You need not always be so dutiful. Zairine is the Veridian family's eldest daughter. She is broad of heart. She would never begrudge you this."

Seralyn held the bottle, and then slipped her hand to clasp his. "Rynell… all those years you went away to the church for my sake… lit thousands of tapers and offered celestial petitions for me each day… broke your vow of celibacy to return… I have always known what was in your heart. It is only that I am wed to Cyprian. I can never give you what you desire."

Rynell lifted his hand gently and touched her cheek. "I ask for nothing. To see you happy is enough for me."