The Life and Death of Isabell by Hannah Lyles (digital e reader .txt) 📖

“Isa” Zoha whimpered with her last breath as she caught flame and burned in a matter of minutes. Through my tears I saw my mother’s skirts. She spit on me and held my face in her hand.

“You are a disgrace and exiled from our family. Be thankful the Norns are still willing to take you or you’d be dead too” she said with a cruel smile as she walked away.

“You bitch” I yelled through sobs. I had never seen her move so quickly in my life. Her shoe sending me into the darkness as she kicked me with all her might.

Someone shook me awake, my head pounding I could hardly hear the quick whispers.
“Isa, we have to go, come on” Ike whispered urgently. He unbound my arms and I stumbled onto my feet forgetting my wound and falling into Ike’s open arms. He carried me to my horse and secured me to her.

“Go, go, I got it.” I slurred unable to make my mouth work properly. He got in the saddle of his and took off at a fast canter. I urged my horse to do the same. We raced from the village not running into anyone. Zoha’s death had replayed in my mind over and over again. Every single thing that was done to her was burned into my mind. We had made it as far as the fork in the path for the mountain village and the river village. By the time I made up my mind.

“Ike” I said as loudly as I could. He halted his horse and looked at me.

“I’m not going with you.” I said.

“You need to go and marry Ann. Never go back to the village, and don’t look for me.” I told him solemnly. He dismounted, and helped me down. He hugged me for a long moment.

“I love you my sister. Be safe, and if the time comes again, don’t be afraid to love.” he gently patted my hair.

“I love you too. Don’t forget me please.” I hugged him back ignoring the ache in my bones.

“Never.” he told me, he released me and helped me back onto my horse. I watched as he mounted his. We said goodbye to each other, and I watched him ride off into the distance. Killer sat beside my horse on the ground. I hadn’t realized he had followed us.

“Go with Ike, you can’t come with me Killer” I told him. He seemed to smile at me, but stayed still. I took a piece of meat from my bag and threw it in the direction Ike went. While he was distracted I quickly maneuvered my horse away from him.

I rode for a long time in circles. Calling out the name “Diata”. I had finally found my way to the cliff face where the cave was. I called out once more and she appeared, angry and glorious. Instead of the soft cloud of curls, she had her hair tightly braided to her scalp, making her fiercely beautiful. Her eye’s weren’t the golden color her sister had, hers in contrast were ruby red and shined with an ominous glow. She wore a short animal skin around her hips but was otherwise naked. The moon illuminated her dark skin, and she was taller than I or her sister.

“Why have you come?” her voice was deep, powerful, and her accent not quite apparent. I tried to dismount but faltered once my foot hit the ground. Diata caught me in a strong grip.

“I need revenge. I need to destroy those who took her from me. I need you to help me.” my voice cracked while I spoke and I could feel the tears falling from my eyes. Her expression softened.

“Do you know what you are asking?” she spoke softly now.

“I do, please help me.” I begged her. She gave me a once-over and lowered me to the ground. She held her arm to her mouth and tore the skin from her wrist. She put the bleeding wound to my mouth and urged me to drink it. I gagged trying to down the thick liquid. Diata took my wrist and bit hard on it. That was when the fire started. My bones broke, and my muscles stretched and moved into there new places. My blood boiled, and I tried to scream, but Diata’s blood filled my mouth and choked me. It filled my lungs and I couldn’t breathe. The pain wouldn’t stop, and it seemed to go on for hours.

I awoke stronger, though I didn’t remember falling asleep. My eyes could see more clearly than ever, and I could hear the ant crawl across a leaf a mile away. I realized my head was in Diata’s lap. I sat up and felt a burning thirst in my throat.

“Let’s go.” Diata said standing up. She held out a hand for me, and I took it. We ran for a moment before we reached the village. I came upon Rim, he startled by my appearance.

“Run Rim and never, ever look back” He didn’t help kill Zoha and he didn’t deserve this. Diata growled at his loss as he ran, but Everyone else would suffer, and that would have to be enough. We knocked out the guards and dragged them to the middle of town. We woke them by slicing their skin, and watching them bleed. Diata went through the houses and dragged the adults to the middle as well. I never saw the kids or what Diata did to them but to the rest, we feasted on their blood and screams. We tore off limbs and brought them to the brink of death. Making sure they suffered, Diata shoved a stake through my fathers’ chest and I lit my mother on fire. Then we stood back and watched the village burn. Their screams filled the air and the burning sensation in my throat stopped.

We went to the river to cleanse ourselves. I let the water rush by me taking away the blood and sins of the night. I looked at my reflection in the river and noticed my golden hair had become an icy blonde. The blue pools of my eyes had become red. I let go of my humanity in that moment, I had no need for it.

“Let’s go Isa.” Diata told me holding out her hand I took it and said,

“Call me Isabell.”

Publication Date: 06-20-2019

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