Haha. I now realise that I probably should hsve put this in the Fantasy Novel section, but oh well....Here goes:Is this what death feels like? Kerenza had thought it happier, or more carefree. Rolling over with a groan, she opened her eyes. Darkness enveloped her like a thick blanket. She could make out the figure of her twin brother, lying heavily on the grass. His eyes were closed, his arms crossed loosely over his chest. It was as if he had expected to die and so had fallen that way, never to move again. A large, ugly gash obscured one side of his face. The moonlight illuminated the dark blood and glinted off the chain around his neck.
“Tristan,” Kerenza whispered. Her voice was choked, barely audible. She reached out, her thin hand pale in the moon’s pallid gleam. Her fingers came in contact with the cold silver of the chain that hung around his neck.Its pendant glimmered. A leaping wolf. Their symbol.
It all came back in a flash- The Society's raid on the village, their last attempt to mantain power after the uprising. The uprising that she had organised; that Tristan had played no part in. He died because of me,Kerenza thought.
After fumbling in the dark for her quiver and bow, Kerenza looked at her brother for one last time as she stood up. There was a bitter taste in her mouth: the sharp taste of a desire for revenge.
Kerenza was good at tracking; it was one of the skills her father had taught her before his untimely death. Even in the dark she managed to pick up their trail and soon caught sight of dark trees looming high into the velvet sky.
And then she was there - the place that she had been seeking. A large iron gate rose up, the old castle behind it. A chill hung around the air near its mistshrouded turrets. On the gate two words were formed by the iron: Memento Mori. The gates opened instantly for her; and she walked through without a trace of fear. An icy draught of wind hit her in the face as she entered the castle, and there she was, waiting.
Morgan smiled. “It’s been a long time, big sister.”
Kerenza stiffened. Guards surrounded her - members of The Society, all dressed identically with the same golden wolf emblazoned on their chests.
“Leave us,” Morgan said, and they obeyed immediately, leaving the two alone. Kerenza relaxed slightly. It was irresponsible to send the guards out. Morgan had made a foolish decision, one that Kerenza wouldn't have made. But then, Kerenza was not power-hungry, or over-confident.
The other girl’s face relaxed into a smile. “So, do you like it? Our new gathering place, I mean. I thought it rather dramatic, to be honest. And as for the new motto-"
“Memento Mori,” said Kerenza.
“Yes. Do you know what it means?”
Kerenza gritted her teeth. Of course I know what it means, she thought. I taught you all the Latin you know. “It means ‘Remember that you’re mortal.”
“Correct. Appropriate, don’t you think?" She cocked her head. "But you didn't come here to discuss the motto. You came here because of Tristan."
“Why did you do that?” Kerenza said, clenching her fists. “You - you killed him.”
Morgan’s smile vanished. “Tristan committed a crime against us. He deserved to die.”
“He was one of you!” Kerenza half-shouted. “One of this Society of yours. He was your
brother! He loved you, and so did our parents, you little - ”
“Calm down, Keri. Remember that I am the one with the power.” Kerenza noticed the coal
black pendant that hung around her sister’s neck. It had been their mother’s once.
“Our mother had the gift - and you stole it!” Without it, you will die, just as our mother did.
Morgan laughed. The door behind Kerenza slammed shut.
“I’m sorry, Keri. I shouldn’t have to do this, but - ”
She never finished her sentence. Kerenza flew at her, pinning her down onto the ground, grabbing for the pendant. But Morgan was too strong. She wriggled out of her grip and within a second had Kerenza against a wall, trying to squeeze the life out of her. Kerenza gasped desperately for breath. Morgan was younger than her, but wiry and tall, and she had a talisman more powerful than anything imaginable.
“Please don’t make this so difficult,” Morgan hissed. “You know the motto. You're only mortal.”
"So are you!' Viciously, Kerenza yanked the necklace off her sister’s neck. Taken by surprise, Morgan lurched forward. With a scream she crumpled to the ground and lay still.
Heart racing, Kerenza looked at the warm black stone in her hand. It was pulsing, glowing. It was hers now. The power was hers.
Kerenza raised her hand and hurled the stone to the ground. It hit the floor hard, shattering into a thousand pieces. She watched the shards shimmer as they faded away.
Behind her, the door clanged open. Kerenza looked at Morgan’s body on the stone floor. She is gone,
she thought without any sympathy. And now that the stone was gone, everything was undone. Her parents were alive, and so was Tristan.
There wasn’t a moment to lose. Breathing hard, Kerenza gathered up her bow and arrows and raced out the door to reunite with her family.
