The next day, as they neared Hilltop, they saw smoke rising in the sunset. When they got to the edge of town, they were greeted by a horrific sight: the village had been completely destroyed by a fire. Now it was just charred remains―the blackened wood and gray ash of the fallen structures were all that was left of what had, just two weeks ago, been a lively, friendly place.
Falcon wanted to believe that it was accidental, that someone had left something unattended. But his gut twisted, he had the sickening feeling that hadn’t been the case. A scroll that was nailed to a post in the center of town confirmed it: Here lie the remains of rebels. Accept Malluk as your one true god or share in their fate. It was signed by Kieran, the high priestess of Malluk herself―she wasn’t bothering to hide behind the king anymore.
He looked around at the unbelievable devastation. They still had two more pieces of the orb to find before they could face her. They were barely halfway there and attacks like this were already happening. Seeing it made everything so much more real than any boarded-up temple or creature they had encountered so far. The woman who had done this was worse than any monster.
“We have to stop her,” Julia said in a horrified whisper.
He took her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. “We will.”
“All the people, the―” She stopped abruptly, her eyes widening.
“What?”
“I heard something!” she said urgently. “Over here!” She let him go and hurried to a nearby house―rather, what used to be a house.
He followed, and then heard it too―a low moan.
They started shifting through the fallen, blackened chunks of debris, tossing them aside as quickly as possible. The pieces, still hot from the fire, burned their hands.
Julia gasped as three people were uncovered―a man, a woman, and a child. The little girl was only about a year old. Her brown hair was singed and her long, yellow dress had been burnt through in places, showing pink, blistered skin underneath.
Only the man was conscious. “Please… help my daughter,” he rasped.
Julia didn’t hesitate. She crouched down and held the child’s dirty face in her hands. Slowly, the blisters disappeared. She turned back to the man and tried to touch him, but he turned his head away. “My wife.”
She touched the woman’s face. “I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I can’t help her, she’s… gone.” She laid a hand on him and a small sob escaped her when his breathing stopped just a second later, his eyes now staring up, no longer seeing. He had been too badly injured, and her spell hadn't worked fast enough.
She returned to the child, scooping up her little body into her arms and standing. “Search for more survivors,” she commanded, her voice soft but very firm.
Falcon realized then that what Julia thought was her greatest weakness was really her greatest strength. It was her unyielding compassion that made her strong, that made her beautiful and amazing. If he hadn’t loved her before, he really loved her now.
She followed him, clutching the child in her arms as he dug through the rubble. Julia choked on a sob as they found more remains. Falcon pulled her into his arms as much as he could around the little girl when they saw the bodies of two children who couldn’t have been more than nine or ten. Julia cried so hard that she couldn’t breathe. He could have joined her, but forced himself to keep it together.
They searched the rest of the village. Two ginger-haired brothers were found in the wreckage that once was a tavern. They thanked them profusely after Julia’s healing. “We can go to Adris Hill,” Quint told them. “It’s not too far and we have family there.”
“Yeah,” Ryan added, his scruffy beard singed black in places. “So if you’re ever that way and need anything, look us up.”
“Thank you,” Falcon said. “Do you guys know this girl?” He motioned to the girl Julia was holding.
They shook their heads. “No, sorry,” Quint answered. “We pretty much know…” he paused to swallow hard, then take a steadying breath. “We knew everyone. So, she’s not from here.”
Falcon thanked them again and watched them head east for a moment before returning to his search. He found a teen boy in the main road—where he had been knocked out—and Julia healed him, too. Kadyn didn’t know who the girl was either. He thanked them for their help and set out toward Tadsville, where friends would take him in.
It was more than an hour later when Falcon found the last survivor. A familiar looking blonde was trapped under some sturdy beams in the stables. Beatrice had been their waitress when they had stayed at Hilltop Lodge. Julia was out of mana, so they gave the woman their last healing potion. Once it was finished, Falcon asked, “This child,”—he nodded toward the little girl who was still asleep in Julia’s arms—“do you know her?”
Beatrice looked, then covered her mouth for a moment as a tear slipped down her cheek. “She was with her parents at the lodge last night. They…?”
Falcon nodded solemnly. “They didn't make it.”
She wiped at her eyes. “I don’t know where they were from. They were just passing through. Didn’t say where to or anything. I’m sorry, I wish I knew more.”
“It’s okay,” Falcon said soothingly putting a comforting hand on her shoulder.
“Do you remember her name?” Julia asked hopefully.
Beatrice’s brow furrowed in thought for a minute. “They said Livika... or maybe Vivyka.”
Julia looked down at the child’s sweet face. “I think Vivyka.”
The waitress smiled a little. “I’m glad she has you, at least. Thank you again for your help. And… good luck.”
She turned to leave but Julia called her back. “Where will you go? Will you be okay?”
Beatrice’s gaze swept over the town of cinders. “I’m alive… so... My aunt is in Glendale. I’ll go there.”
“You shouldn’t go alone,” Falcon told her. “We can—“
“No,” she interrupted. “Thank you, but no. It’s not that far and…” She gave a wry shadow of a laugh. “The worst has already happened.”
They said nothing and watched her go. They only hoped Hilltop’s destruction was really the worst of it, but they both had the horrible feeling that it would get worse.
Falcon decided they should stop to set up camp a few miles away when a clearing was found and just like the troll child, Vivyka took to Julia immediately. The little girl stayed silent, not crying or making any noise at all. She didn’t smile or frown, she was just calm—except when Julia tried to put her down: then Vivyka screamed, cried, and clutched Julia’s shirt in her little fists. So, while Falcon set up camp and made dinner Vivyka stayed in Julia's lap. She kept staring up at her face, seemingly mesmerized by her.
“Do you want to eat?” Julia asked.
Vivyka shook her head.
“Just a little?” She asked coaxingly.
She shook her head again.
“Okay, then we’ll eat later. Can I brush your hair instead? It’s all tangled.”
When Vivyka gave no answer, Julia leaned over to get her bag, but the little girl fussed and clung, afraid of being put down.
Falcon grabbed the brush and handed it over.
Julia turned Vivyka around in her lap so she was facing Falcon and started gently pulling the brush through her long, wavy hair as she hummed softly, soothingly.
After a few minutes, Falcon scooted closer and offered Vivyka a bite of his stew. “Hungry now?” he asked.
She just stared at him and then at the spoon.
He gave her a warm smile and nodded his head, silently telling her that she really did want some. She finally opened her mouth and let him feed her.
“I swear you have a power over people,” Julia said. Her voice was sedated, exhausted after their experience at the village. She focused on the gentle strokes of the brush. “Is there anyone who doesn’t love you?”
Do you? he almost asked, but instead he smiled and said in a light tone, “Maybe.”
Later, while he cleaned up, he glanced over at her. She was lying next to Vivyka on her bedroll, propped up on one arm, and was gazing tenderly down at the child, singing softly to her.
Falcon was glad she had the little girl; it was something good to focus on after all the horror they had seen. At least for tonight, Vivyka was a wonderful light in the darkness.
He rolled out his bedroll beside Julia’s and lay down behind her, putting his arm around her waist. He didn’t bother waiting for an excuse; she liked being held, and he liked holding her.
“You said you wanted to have the whole family thing,” Julia murmured once Vivyka was sleeping, snuggled in her arms.
“Yes.”
“I was just thinking… you’ll be a wonderful dad someday.”
Her voice was so tender and sincere, it pulled at his heart. “You’ll be an amazing mom.”
He was unable to stop himself from picturing that future, from imagining himself in it. It was so easy to see it, and the mental image felt so right. He suddenly wanted to beg her to stay. He hoped something would change her mind before they found the rest of the orb, that she would find a reason to stay. He couldn’t go back to Earth with her; he just didn’t belong there. He hated this. No matter what he did, he would be losing something he loved: Julia or Kelstone.
“Did you fall asleep?”
“No,” he answered.
“Then what are you thinking about?” she asked in a bit of a teasing tone. “Must be good if you can’t even hear me.”
“It’s nothing,” he told her. “Sorry, what’d you say?”
“Just good night.”
He chuckled softly. “And you need an answer to that?”
She turned her head so she could look back at him. “Yes.”
He kissed her cheek. “Good night, Jules.”
She smiled before she turned away. “Good night.”
