Filed to story: The Chosen Saga Novel PDF Free
“Because we are sisters. Because your father demanded that you use your body, whether it was for power or not and you might be fine with it, but that leaves scars on the inside.” Araiya watched as a tear fell from her sister’s eye. “I couldn’t stop your face from being scarred, but I can stop your back from displaying the wounds on the inside that you hide from. My body is already ruined, it wouldn’t change anything for me. Plus, I’m used to being whipped. You are not.” Araiya shook her head.
Korine shuddered. “How do you know I hide from my scars, what if I am just fine with it?” she whispered.
“We all hide from our scars, Korine, the ones on the inside most of all. The ones we collect and never tell anyone about them until one night in a bath tub they bubble up. The ones you’re so disgusted by that you worry or wonder if you are ruined. Some just hide from them better. You may think me dumb, but I see things. I hear things.”
Korine looked at Araiya and slowly nodded as another tear fell. “I never thought you were dumb, Araiya, I just…” Korine trailed off.
“I-“
“Shush, lay down, Donal is coming.” She helped Araiya lay back down and once again started to wipe down her back.
“Wife, I see your pathetic sister is still holding on by a thread.” Donal stomped over and kicked her in the side lightly. “She had better wake up, if she dies, so do you. If she dies, we all fucking die.”
“Maybe if you hadn’t whipped her so much, or your guard had not stabbed her, she would have already been awake.” Korine’s hand stilled on Araiya’s back, probably just as surprised as Donal that she talked back.
“Well, well. Maybe I should give you all her lashings instead. Maybe…” Donal leaned over and grabbed her chin. “Maybe, when you’re out cold and on your death bed I will use your body over and over until you die. Maybe I will brag about fucking my little whore wife to death for the rest of my gods damned life, if you ever see fit to talk to me like that again.”
Korine reared back in disgust. Donal snatched her hair in his hand and yanked her off the ground. “Let me go.”
Donal laughed. “You think you have any power here? You’re weak, you’re useless, and I OWN YOU!” Donal screamed in her face. Araiya was about to jump up when someone called out to enter. “What is it?”
“General. There is a dragon incoming.”
“What colour is it?” Donal dropped Korine and walked out of the tent with the soldier following.
“I couldn’t see, it’s dark sir.” Their voices faded away.
Araiya sat back up and pulled Korine into her arms. “That will never ever happen. I swear it. Either we will escape, or we die together. He will not have the opportunity. If I have to kill him, I will.”
“You can barely stay awake after your lashes.”
“I don’t care, I will figure out a way. Help me up and get my top back on properly.”
Korine chuckled softly. “Your ridiculous, Rai. Your back is shredded. How are you supposed to have a top on?”
“I don’t care. Someone is coming and I refuse to be half naked.” Korine tore off a strip from her own dress, then went around to Araiya’s back and used the strip to tie the two sides of her ruined shirt together.
“I don’t know how long this will hold, but at least you should be able to move around.”
“Thank you.” Korine had just moved back from behind her before she froze. “How do you know he’s back; I can’t hear anything.”
“I don’t know, I just do. Shush now, they are here.” Korine stepped in front of Araiya and tugged her down. “You’re hurt, remember?” she whispered.
Araiya had enough time to drop to her hands and knees, like she was struggling to get to her feet, when Donal re-entered.
“See, I told you she was fine.”
“Well, our Master believed that she might not be fine, and he sent me here to check on the bitch.” Araiya froze at the voice. Please Goddess, no. “Move, whore.” Korine was pushed to the side and Araiya struggled not to look up. She forced her body to struggle and didn’t lift her eyes.? She kept her breathing ragged and rough and waited for the next move. “Hello again, Araiya. Did you miss me.”
Araiya didn’t respond, she kept up the act of being delirious with a fever. She even started mumbling. “They aren’t coming for me, I am alone.”
“Truer words have never been said, Araiya. Mac is dead, of that I am almost certain, and the others as well. I will get my revenge.” She just kept swaying and mumbling to herself. The voice from above grew annoyed. “Why do you ignore me, you stupid bitch, do you still think you’re better than me?”
“Please don’t hurt her, she’s just delirious from the fever. She doesn’t have long.” Korine watched on at her charade and played into it.
A hand gripped her hair and pulled up her head. She forced her eyes to unfocus and screamed as if it hurt. The pain blockers were saving her from truly feeling the pain that she would have been suffering if not for them. Thank you, Korine.
“Look at me, you stupid bitch, you don’t get to die in this sand pit. We have plans for you.”
Araiya kept her eyes unfocused but shifted them to the face in front of her and she whispered a name. “Zephyr. Why are you here? I didn’t call to you to say goodbye.”
“No, you didn’t. Remember, you shattered our bond after you took my power. But not to worry, I survived.” Zeph dropped her to her knees, causing her to scream again. “Save her or I will kill you myself. I have no need for you if you won’t do as I say.” The men turned to leave. “If she’s not healed by the time I come back, Chosen, you will regret it.”
Araiya stayed bowed, face on the ground where she was dropped, and Korine was there first. “It will be okay. She will save you. Right?”
“I may be a prisoner, but don’t fucking talk to me, you stupid bitch. I will never deal with you.” A woman whispered to Korine and Araiya felt hands pull at her, but she gripped Korine’s hand. “Leave.”