Isaura by Ruth Silver Read Free Book Online Page B

three
syringes remaining.
    “Henry.” I pushed it towards him. “If he's still got a
pulse, you have to try and save him.”
    Joshua took the box and disappeared with it, back over the
rubble to where he'd left a dying Henry.
    “We found Elsa!” Cate called from thirty feet away. “She'll
be okay!”
    How had they gotten separated? Had Adelaide needed
Mindonsiphan to travel through the portal? Obviously it was unstable, tossing
us in different directions, but I was the one to blame. I should have protected
her. I should have done more, been there for her. I wiped the last tear as I
held Adelaide in my arms. I didn't know if there were any other survivors
buried alive or dying. I didn't have the energy to sift through and search for
loved ones. I should have, but I was unable to move from the very spot with
Adelaide in my arms.
    “Get up!” I heard a woman's voice, sharp and crisp,
commanding. I sniffled once, turning my head to see who it was. Her raven hair
and emerald eyes I could never quite forget, Isaura. Standing with her were six
goons as she carried a long blade. A sword of some kind. I recognized her.
She'd been in Torv at the representatives meeting. She'd spoken to me when I'd
come for help. When Joshua had been taken.
    “I know you,” I breathed carefully putting Adelaide down as
I stood, holding my arms up in surrender. “Why are you here?”
    “For you, dear princess,” she mocked and my eyes moved over
her men. Two of them I recognized as well. They'd been the outlaws who had
accosted us on our way to Haven, the other four I didn’t recognize. All looked untrustworthy.
“Come with us,” she demanded and I felt two sets of arms on me, one at either
side as they lifted me off the ground. I kicked and flailed.
    “Put me down!” I demanded, my eyes narrowing as I whipped my
arm out and around knocking the one man to the ground before kicking at my
assailant. Two were down. It didn't take much until I felt the tip of the sword
at my throat.
    “Try that again and I will slice you open. Orders were to
bring you in alive. They didn't say unharmed.” Her tone mocked me as her
emerald eyes glowed.
    “What are you?” I hissed, watching as two other men grabbed
my arms and pushed me down onto the rubble on my knees.
    “Your only ally,” she smiled wickedly. She gestured towards
the men as they lifted me to my feet.
    “Put her down!” I heard the tiny, fragile voice, but it was
commanding and defiant. Little Adelaide wasn't afraid. For almost seven, she
looked a few years older. Adelaide came running at full speed towards the men who
held my arms tight. She ignored the ash and debris as she ran with bare feet kicking
down one man and the other, grabbing my arm but I was unable to move.
    Isaura laughed, eyeing Adelaide. “Nice try, child.” She
smirked, stepping towards me with a dark smile on her face.
    “Adelaide, run!” I screamed. I wanted to move, to kick and
scream and fight, but found my body incapable. Grateful I could still speak, my
eyes found hers. “Run!” I told her again, hoping Joshua could hear me and at
the same time wishing he couldn't. Isaura would likely hurt him, too. Joshua,
this is bad. Get out of here, now! I thought to him, hoping he'd listen to
me.
    Adelaide's eyes widened in horror as she saw Isaura take
after her and she ran fast and hard disappearing further into Shadow.
    Isaura smiled turning back towards me. “Very well. It's just
you and me, for now.” She beamed quite proudly.
    “What do you want?” I asked, trying to move, but still finding
it impossible.
    Isaura waved a hand and I felt my body no longer trapped. I
eyed my surroundings. “Don't even try it,” she warned me. “You may have been
given a drug to heighten your abilities, Olivia, but I've been given something
much more powerful.”
    “What?” I asked not knowing if she'd confess what she was up
to and who she was precisely. “Why are you here? Why are you doing this?”
    Isaura laughed.