lily harper 04.5 - the bladesmith Read Online Free PDF

Oonderground City.”
    “And you chose the city over me,” she finished in a small voice.
    I nodded. “By that time, ye were already lost tae meh.”
    She did not reply for the span of a few seconds, but the pain in her countenance was raw. When she glanced up at me again, something passed in her eyes. She was no longer a wounded woman. Her strength had returned, and along with it, her anger.
    “No more reminiscing,” she started, her lips tightening. “Let’s get on with it,” she finished as she held the blade up.

 
    FOUR
    “What is that?” Persephone demanded as she looked upon the wound she had just inflicted on my right pectoral with obvious distaste.
    “Donnchadh’s contaminants,” I replied, my lips tightening. Having not bled myself in so long, the sludge that bubbled from the slice of her blade hurt like a bloody bastard.
    “Revolting,” she continued with a frown before turning away.
    “Ye moost continue tae coot meh,” I said between deep breaths. The pain was no longer centered only on the area around the wound. It began radiating outward, seeping into every crevice of my body and burning like fire.
    “Why?”
    “Ye cannae drink frae meh oontil ye cleanse mah bluid,” I answered between clenched teeth. Digging my fingernails into my palms, I added, “An’ the only way tae cleanse mah bluid is tae allow meh tae bleed more.”
    She nodded and leaned forward again, creating another slice with the sharp blade directly above the previous one. The burn became a searing jolt that jerked through my chest before burying itself in the back of my head. I inhaled sharply and suddenly felt wobbly, as if I could pass out right there. I had no doubt my feebleness was due to my unreliable diet. I was malnourished, weak.
    “Wait,” I said when she made a motion to cut me again. “Ye moost squeeze the filth oot first,” I finished, clenching my eyes shut tight against the agony growing inside me. Of course, I was already aware that she was not bleeding me in the proper location. Donnchadh’s poison emanated from the center of my back. It originated at the radius of the tattoo that spanned my shoulders and tapered down to my waist. But since she had already cut me, I figured she might as well cleanse the wound.
    Persephone took a deep breath and dropped the blade behind her, carefully placing it beyond my reach. Then she leaned forward and set her hands on either side of the first incision she made. She squeezed, and almost at once, the dark sludge burst forward, oozing like a landslide of black mud.
    “Ugh, repulsive,” she said before pulling away again and shaking her head, her hands and lower arms saturated with the vile goo.
    “Keep goin’!” I reprimanded her. She leaned forward again and continued to squeeze her hands together.
    “I cannot do this,” she protested, while adamantly shaking her head.
    “Squeeze harder!” I insisted, needing nothing more than to cleanse myself of Donnchadh’s loathsome impurities.
    Persephone did not respond but did as I ordered. I closed my eyes as the filth exited the wound. Even though the pain was excruciating, the relief at finally releasing Donnchadh’s toxins exhilarated me; it filled me with nothing less than encouragement.
    “Your blood is running red now,” she announced between breaths.
    “Go oan tae the next,” I answered. When I opened my eyes and focused on her, I found it difficult to speak.
    She nodded and moved to the incision above the one she just emptied. Placing her hands on either side of the wound, she squeezed her fingers together. Moments later, she stopped. “This cut must be too close to the other one. None of that dark stuff is coming out of it.”
    I nodded. “Ye need tae bleed meh oan mah back,” I said. “The true depth o’ Donnchadh’s bile is concentrated in the lines o’ the tattoo oan mah back.” His corruption and greed penetrated every branch and root of the tree that stenciled my back with its black