When Darkness Fell: An Elemental Enchanters Story Read Online Free PDF Page B

Corbin.”
    “I do not know what to do.”
    “I have to tell George.”
    “Savina, I do not think you should leave tonight.”
    “I must warn him to leave. I do not know what Corbin and Veronica have planned, but I can assure you they will not leave anyone alive.”
    “If you go, the villagers will take you.”
    “They will not harm me. They know me.”
    Colden hesitated. “Savina.”
    “I must go.”
    “Then I will come for you and save you if they take you.”
    “Do not put yourself at risk.”
    “Do not worry. Be careful, Sister. I will make sure Father and Veronica do not see you.”
    I hugged my brother and then left for the night. As I made my way to George’s home, two men grabbed my arms.
    “Savina Geddes, you are hereby ordered to court as you have practiced black magic and killed dozens in this town,” William, one of the prison guards said as the other one shackled my arms behind my back. As they escorted me to the prison, bystanders shouted and threw pebbles at me. 
    “Burn her!”
    “She deserves to die!”
    I passed by my two friends, Danielle and Graham. They looked at me as if they feared for their lives. They were not among those who cried out their fears or threw things, but the terror in their eyes was enough. I could not believe they turned their back on me with such haste. Corbin was right. But had he not spread the disease and placed fear in the villagers they would not feel this way. I held back my tears. I felt so betrayed.
    George rushed up to us. “You cannot take her,” he said.
    William gruffly pushed him back.
    “She is innocent!” George screamed.
    The other guard grabbed him. “If you do not stop, we will take you to the prison.”
    “Please leave, George,” I said. I kept the tears at bay. I did not want him to see me like this, but I also needed him to leave the town. I met his brown eyes. “Please. For your safety.”
    The guards continued to escort me. We reached the courtroom where everyone from the town packed inside together, filling each corner and taking every ounce of oxygen. It was hot not only from the bodies, but from their anger.
    They forced me to sit before the entire village. The magistrate hurled questions at me so fast I could not think. “Are you a witch? Do you practice witchcraft? Did you murder the people with a disease?”
    “No, I am innocent,” I said.
    “I have testimonies from several people claiming you are the one who made them ill. There have been sixty-seven deaths in two weeks.”
    “She is innocent!” I heard George scream. “She has not done any harm and she has healed many of you.”
    “Savina, are there others to blame for this?” I could not bring myself to tell them Corbin was at fault, because they would send us all to our deaths, which would only anger Corbin more.
    “It was me and only me.”
    Gasps and shouts sounded in the humid room.
    “Savina Geddes, you are hereby sentenced to death by hanging for killing hundreds.”
    The courtroom erupted with cheers and I clenched my teeth, still holding back the lump in my throat. No one but George had defended me. I stared out into the riotous room and met George’s forlorn eyes. My heart sank, and I felt so hollow. 
    The guards threw me into a dark, clammy cell with cold stone walls that had a barred window too high for me to reach. I was not a very strong Enchanter then, so I did not think I could escape. I did not want to think about how many died in the same cell that I lay in. I prayed Colden would end this and come for me.
    The door opened and George darted toward me. His hands cradled my head as he kissed me. “They cannot kill you,” he said with tears in his eyes. “Why did you confess to such heinous crimes? I know you did no such thing.”
    I gazed into his blue eyes, for what would be the last time. “You know the truth and yet you still love me.”
    His expression softened. “Of course I do. But you did not do this.”
    “No, I did not.”
    “Then, why