Chereads / When The Sky Bled / Chapter 18 - 18

Chapter 18 - 18

Dusk descended quickly on this side of the mountain, the shadows lengthening like grasping fingers. Below, lanterns winked to life, illuminating the village nestled in the valley. Though smaller than their last home, a different atmosphere permeated this place. Back then, amidst the bustling crowd, only Resi and Fezar offered warmth. Here, a sense of belonging lingered in the air.

But as figures emerged from the forest, returning hunters reuniting with families, a familiar pang stabbed at Sera's heart. Delena, her precious daughter, was absent from these joyous encounters. She wiped away tears that hadn't fallen, the emptiness settling deeper. How long had she been lost in thought?

"Mother?" Delena's voice broke through the fog. "Are you alright?"

A choked sob escaped Sera before she managed a nod. "How is he?"

"He's… good," the little girl murmured, a simple garland adorning her hair. "He cried all afternoon, then went silent."

"You didn't peek inside, did you?"

Delena stayed silent. "Do you like my garland, mother? I made it myself."

Sera recognized the white mountain flowers, growing wild across these slopes. But the truth lingered beneath their delicate beauty. Delena, never comfortable with deception, used the offering to shift the conversation. "Delena," she began, her voice heavy.

"Yes, mother. I did." The child met her gaze, unwavering. 

"He's dangerous." Sera's throat tightened. How could she explain? A village lost, her husband taken, her own hands stained with blood. Should Delena fear her own mother?

Suddenly, a different fear gripped her. "Did you speak to him?"

"No. He sits outside, silent like—"

"He's outside?" Alarmed, Sera rose, sending Delena stumbling back.

"Mother, calm down," her daughter urged, pointing down. "He hasn't moved from that bench, just stares at the ground."

Squinting through the gathering darkness, Sera saw a lone figure slumped on a stone bench. Nearby, another figure held a torch, its flickering light revealing the village chief. He tossed the torch aside, and the centre of the village erupted in flames.

Delena tugged at her mother's hand, excitement bubbling forth. "Come! I forgot to tell you, it's month's end! The chief narrates the story!"

"The story of what?" Sera's voice trembled. "And please, slow down."

"He tells about the Creator and His Sons and Daughters!" Delena's voice echoed with childlike glee.

Suddenly, Sera's legs gave way. Her hand slipped from Delena's grasp. The Creator. The word reverberated in her mind, a haunting refrain.

 "What happened, mother?" Delena's voice, full of innocent concern, pierced the veil of her terror.

Sera forced a smile. "Nothing, my love. Nothing at all." The lie tasted like ashes in her mouth. But for now, the story remained untold, its truth buried beneath the flames.