A Dangerous Destiny: The Pure One Book I

Chapter Seventy-One

Ok, here's another shorter chapter. We kinda left Manna in a tight spot, and things aren't looking great for her at the moment, but lets go back to her POV. Remember that all she knows right now is that Simar was setting out to find Karina...

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MANNA

It had been nearly two days since Simar Temdin had come to her, and she had yet to hear any news regarding the Council's ruling on the fate of herself or her student. The confinement of her home had grown unbearable. Manna had been unable to eat or sleep as she waited with dread to hear her worst fears confirmed. 

Simar could not have failed to find her student. Manna was certain of it. And though she wanted so much to believe that Karina's power would be enough to convince the High Priestess to work towards sparing the girl's life, there were no guarantees.

What if Simar too had deemed Karina too dangerous to live? She had hoped that the woman's honor would prevent her from making such an unjust decision, but what if fear had won out instead? And then there was the Council.

 Simar Temdin was a persuasive woman, but Avery was exceedingly stubborn. Manna knew his desire for revenge was likely to close his ears to any talk of mercy for herself or the girl. A petty man, he might have sentenced Karina to death merely to make Manna suffer.

Manna tried to console herself with the likelihood that no news was in fact a good sign. If there had been a ruling made against them, Avery Trenton would have no reason to delay convening the assembly that would make her condemnation official. 

Still, as day passed well into night yet again, Manna sat awake at her kitchen table, an unfinished cup of tea clutched tightly in her hands, waiting for the dawn and a new chance that she might finally gain release from the prison of her thoughts with a concrete answer to her fears. She had nearly dozed off when she heard the voice.

"Elder Nita."

Manna looked up in surprise, blinking the sleep from her eyes. Her guards had long since fallen asleep in their chairs by the door. The room was otherwise empty. It took her a moment to realize the words she heard had not been spoken aloud.

It was then Manna noticed a shimmering patch of air by the light of the fire. As she stared, a strange translucent figure materialized. Manna bowed her head immediately in deference to the new presence in the room.

"I know you," she said in an awed whisper, fearing that she might wake her guards. "Though it has been long since I have felt your presence here in this place, long since you visited the child entrusted to my care. I am honored to once again invite you into my home though I know I am not worthy."

"Raise your head, Manna Sayers," came the response in her mind. "You are indeed worthy of my presence and I would speak with you."

Manna obeyed though she remained entirely awestruck. Of all the visitors she might have expected to enter her home, a spirit of such strength seemed the most impossible of guests.

"To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?" she asked, speaking to the creature wordlessly. She tried to rise from the table, but the creature held up a shadowy hand to stop her

"There is no need to rise on my account," the spirit said. "I can sense your exhaustion, Elder Nita. You have been put through great pain and I have no desire to add to your suffering in any way. Please rest yourself and I will answer all of your questions." As Manna sat again, the spirit came closer to the table, though she maintained her distance.

"As I did in the past," the faery continued, "I come here in service of your student, Karina Amoral."

Manna felt her heartbeat quicken, her fingers digging into the wooden table as she braced herself for whatever news the creature had come to bring.