Sacrifice of Darkness: A Guardians of Eternity Novella

Or maybe it was her influence among the younger healers who shared her desire to reach out to those in need that angered the elders. In any case, they tended to regard her with cold disdain.
“I have been searching for you,” the female said.
Terra blinked in surprise. “Really? Is there a petitioner?”
“Not exactly,” Cyra said.
“I don’t understand.”
Cyra reached into the pocket of her robe and pulled out a medallion that hung from a delicate golden chain.
“I was given this by…” Her words trailed away as if she were reluctant to say the name. “By a sister. She claims that it appeared on the doorstep this morning.”
Terra frowned in confusion. Nothing could get through the barriers around the temple.
“How did it get here?”
Cyra arched a brow. “You tell me.”
“Me?” Terra looked closer, her breath suddenly tangling in her throat as she realized that she recognized the medallion that was lying in the middle of Cyra’s palm. She should. It had once belonged to her. “Javad,” she whispered.
“A friend of yours?”
A strange sensation darted down Terra’s spine as the thought of the vampire seared through her mind. With vivid detail, she could conjure the image of his lean, beautiful features, his satiny dark hair, and the fathomless black eyes that shimmered with a bronze glow when his emotions were heightened. It’d been centuries since she’d last thought of the male, but now, the memories flooded through her as if they’d broken through a barricade.
And in a way, they had. She’d built up protective layers to block out the time she’d spent in Vynom’s clutches. Including any memories of Javad.
Cyra held out her hand. “How did he come to possess your medallion?”
Instinctively, Terra reached to take the necklace. “It was a long time ago. I’d almost forgotten.”
Staring down at the medallion that was carved with an image of the tower, Terra became briefly lost in the emotions swirling through her.
“Terra?”
With a blink, she lifted her head to discover the older woman staring at her with a hint of concern.
She swallowed a sigh. She’d done her best to burrow her head in the sand and pretend that it’d all been a bad dream. Now, it was time to confront her past.
“Maybe we should sit down,” Terra suggested.
“Very well.” Cyra led them to a low sofa that had been arranged to overlook the gardens.
They settled on the woven seats together, and Terra hesitated. She had the words. She was just struggling to push them past her lips.
At last, Cyra reached to grasp her hand, giving Terra’s fingers a small squeeze.
“Take your time.”
She drew in a deep breath and slowly released it. Then, stiffening her spine, she forced herself to speak.
“You probably remember when I was first brought to the temple. I wasn’t very happy.”
Cyra was polite enough not to laugh at the gross understatement. Terra had still been young and emotional and filled with arrogance. She’d been stronger than all the other healers and convinced her skill gave her some unique wisdom. She’d been wrong.
“Ah.” Understanding flared through Cyra’s eyes. “I remember now. Didn’t you disappear for a time?”
A shudder raced through Terra. “Yes. I thought I could teach the Matron that we belonged among the people. A stupid mistake that nearly cost me everything.” She reached up, touching her shoulder. Beneath the silk of her robe was an ugly brand that marred her skin.
“What happened?”
Terra concentrated on the feel of Cyra’s warm touch. The Serafs could not only heal the body but also the mind.
“Less than a day after I ran from the temple, I was captured by a band of trolls,” she admitted.
Cyra gasped. “Oh no.”
It’d been terrifying. Terra’s smug belief that she could easily survive on her own had been shattered as she sought shelter in a small glade. One minute she’d been heading toward the narrow stream of water. The next, she was being crammed into an iron box with three other nymphs.
Terra glanced toward the gardens, her mouth dry. “I feared they were going to kill me and drink my blood.”
Cyra gave Terra’s fingers another squeeze before releasing her hand. “What did they do?”
“They held me prisoner for months. Eventually, they sold me to a vampire named Vynom.” Her jaw tightened, an ancient fury flowing through her blood. “He ran a fighting pit in Athens.”
Cyra looked confused. “You were put in the fights?”
“No, I wouldn’t have lasted more than a few seconds.” A feeling of sickness rolled through her belly. She’d spent her life sequestered among a tribe that was devoted to peace. The sight of the demons savagely trying to tear each other to bloody shreds had been a shocking introduction to the real world. “They were vicious.”
“What did the vampire want from you?”
“My skills as a healer.”
Cyra tilted her head to the side. “I don’t understand. Our healing powers don’t work on vampires.”
“I was used to heal the other demon fighters,” Terra explained. “Or at least I healed the ones who could afford the obscene fees demanded by Vynom. It allowed them to keep fighting even after their opponent had gained the upper hand.”
“That doesn’t seem fair.”
Terra released a humorless laugh. The abuse of her healing powers had been the least horrid thing that had happened during those dreadful nights.
“There was nothing fair about that place. It catered to the most violent monsters to walk this Earth.” Sickness continued to churn in her belly. “Most matches were to the death. And at the end…” The words stuck in her throat as images of mutilated demons gasping in the center of the pit assaulted her.
“Terra?”
Terra cleared her throat. She wanted to be done with her explanation so she could shove the memories back where they belonged. In the past.
“At the end of the night, the winner of the most bouts had the opportunity to face Javad,” she said.
Cyra nodded toward the necklace that was clutched in Terra’s hand. “The Javad who held your medallion?”
“Yes.”
“He was a warrior?”
Terra slowly shook her head. The moment she caught sight of Javad entering