Embrace the Twilight Read Online Free Page A

Embrace the Twilight
Book: Embrace the Twilight Read Online Free
Author: MAGGIE SHAYNE
Pages:
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Katerina could pull the fabric through.
    They did a good job of it, Sarafina thought. The body rested almost perfectly centered on the open bolt of scarlet cloth.
    Sarafina laid a small bit of fabric, cut in the shape of a perfect circle, upon Belinda’s chest. Then, she took one side of the cloth, and her sister took the other, and they wrapped Belinda in it as carefully as they would have wrapped a baby, leaving only her head and her bare feet uncovered.
    â€œI intended to use that bolt of cloth to make a dress for her,” Melina whispered. “Now it becomes her shroud.” She unfolded the clothing she had brought, turning the blouse and skirt inside out before refolding them carefully and stacking them beside her daughter’s body.
    The little fire had died to smoking remains by the time they had finished. Katerina leaned over the water pail to scrub her hands.
    â€œThere should be more light,” Melina whispered. “We mustn’t let her lie in the dark this way.”
    â€œMy work here is done,” Katerina said, straightening and wiping her hands on her skirts. “I’m returning to camp. I’ll send someone back with lanterns.”
    Melina only nodded, not even watching her go. When the sounds of her footsteps died away, she glanced at Sarafina. “You may as well go, too. I’ll watch over her until morning.”
    â€œI’m staying with you,” Sarafina replied. “I won’t leave you alone.”
    Melina lifted her head, met Fina’s eyes, and for a moment seemed to be searching them. Almost as if she were not entirely comfortable staying alone with her. It was dark in the hardwood forest. Oaks and elms towered around them, and the ground was thick with ferns and weeds. Only that single torch spilled a circle of pale light around the two of them, and it was burning low. The night was silent, eerily so.
    Then Melina glanced past her, at a sound from one of the young men who stood guard, and she seemed to relax a bit. Sarafina sat down on the ground beside the slender body wrapped in red cloth and wondered why anyone, even a demon, would want to murder her cousin so cruelly.
    I didn’t kill her, I set her free, and deep down you know it’s true.
    Sarafina’s head rose with a snap at the clear sound of a man’s voice. A man she knew full well was not her beloved spirit. “Who is that?”
    Melina paused in her rocking. “What are you talking about?”
    â€œThat voice. Didn’t you hear it?” She got to her feet, brushing the twigs from her skirts and staring at the woods around her, every sense on full alert, her very skin prickling and aware. There was laughter then, deep, ringing laughter. “There,” she whispered. “Don’t you hear that?”
    â€œI hear nothing, Sarafina,” the old woman said. She got up, as well, backing a few steps away from the younger girl. “Perhaps…you should go back to camp.”
    â€œNo. It’s out here. I can’t leave you alone.”
    That’s right. I’m here. But you know deep down it’s not the old woman I want. It’s you, Sarafina. It’s always been you. Leave this band of traitors and come to me.
    â€œNo!” she cried, pressing her hands to her ears. “Leave me alone! Leave me alone!” She turned to run away, but collided instantly with a hard chest and looked up and into Andre’s concerned eyes. Sobbing, she clung to him, burying her face against his chest.
    But she stiffened when she heard the voice of her sister. “What is going on?”
    Blinking, Sarafina lifted her head from Andre and looked around until she spotted her sister standing a few feet away, aglow in light. She sniffed and hoped none of the tears remained on her cheeks. “I thought you were staying in camp.”
    â€œI decided to help Andre bring the lanterns.” She glanced down at the glowing lanterns she carried, one in
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