Free Bound By Blood by C.H. Scarlett

embers inside the hearth until dying down to a much heartier glow. "Too many foreboding chills. " And she had, had her fill. " I don’t know about you but I could use a different sign of sorts.” She knew this one was confirming Dezarãe’s vision. Again, nothing to celebrate, as far as she was concerned.              
                  "You should not have stopped me. It ’ s time we made sense of the dreams we share. I want my Awakening , Samanthŕa . I do not fear it as you do." Dezarãe , frowning with unhappiness, touched her cheek softly.              
                  Samanthŕa pulled and turned away sharply .
                  No one understood why Samanthŕa wished to avoid something so mystical and natural. To Dezarãe and the others it was only Samanthŕa’s pride. They knew nothing of the prophecies that Dĩas and Samanthŕa feared . Samanthŕa wanted it this way. She did not want her sisters fearing their A wakenings or worrying for her. Her reasons were her own. This was one bond they did not share, thankfully , and s he was determined to make sure of it. She even worked hard to hide the sickness that Dĩas’ potion caused her , and the pain, which grew worse with each dose.
                  She also tried to find ways to prevent this impending doom from befalling her sister s in case she failed at preven ting the Awakening . She had consulted the Oracles and the Vestibule of Scrolls many times in the upper realm s. Like clockwork, she reread her sisters’ scrolls--written prophecies concerning their lives-- searching for any secret that m ight hint of any harmful doom concerning them after their time of A wakening. The only thing she traced was her own cursed fate, which would affect her sisters in its closing stages. It all seemed like one big frightening domino e ffect beginning with Samanthŕa . Therefore, the beginning must never be allowed to begin . . .
                  “ Bring him to me , Goddess. Bring me my A wakener. I am ready and so weary of waiting.” Dezarãe sighed and swooned, clutching and holding herself while staring into the fire burning f everishly and even more so from her emotion and words .              
                  Quickly Samanthŕa waved a hand of magic and silent spell t o block any prying ears. If Dĩas knew Dezarãe was trying to call forth her Awakener then she would be gone by dawn for sure .
                  “ Enough Dezarãe. Who ’ s to say the vision was a part of your A wakening ? With this storm, who can tell? Pra ctice some restraint until the realm s have calmed, shall we? ” Samanthŕa was nervously blunt.
                  “You practice rest raint enough for all of us.” Dezarãe sounded edgy now.
                  “What ?” Samanthŕa turned, brow raised.
                  “Oh please , s ister, we all know you are against your own Awakening , which is why we refuse to allow you to coun se l us concerning ours , ” Dezarãe confessed without tact .
                  Samanthŕa played the tune they expected of her as she proceeded to mix candor with lies . "Anyone having power over you can only mean your doom." Samanthŕa acted as if it were a matter of nothing more than pride . It was better than having Dezarãe’s sharp instin cts hone in on her true reasons . She moved back towards the balcony windows , staring out beyond the castle into the terrain of night.
                  The trail of fire was brighter. The flames were feeding off the fury of the storm and its wind s . Dezarãe moved behind her and put her arms around her sister. Samanthŕa felt Dezarãe’s energy tangle gentl y into her own to the level where her thoughts pour ed off in waves , concerning the things she worked very hard to convince herself of , false reasons concerning all of this. Her sisters were E