Darkness pressed in. Suraia was running—through endless alleyways, rain pelting her face, boots splashing through muddy puddles. Shadows pressed close, warped by memory and fear. “Heretic!” “Witch! Her hands—did you see them glow?” “Keep her away from my child!” Faces swirled, half-seen in the downpour, their eyes bright with suspicion and something colder—disgust. The red […]
Author Archive: Suraia Silverbell
The Outcasts 1: Eedrasil’s Rest
The sea was slate grey beneath the rising sun, waves restless and flecked with cold light as the ship cut its way through churning water. At the prow, a human woman braced herself against the rail, her hands clenched tight, knuckles pale beneath the raw wind. Her cloak snapped wildly around her legs, the early […]
Forbidden Fruit 12: The Last Light
Rayven advanced through the shattered nave, the weight of her plate armour both a shield and a shroud, cloak swirling in the smoke-choked air. The battered symbol of Denday still glimmered on her chest plate, dulled by ash and streaks of blood. Her gauntleted fist tightened around the leather-wrapped hilt of her sword, and her […]
Forbidden Fruit 11: The Breaking of the Light
Neri’Va’s fingers trembled as she straightened the white linen robe across her shoulders, heart pounding beneath her ribs. Candlelight trembled on the bare walls of her little chamber, casting shifting halos as the hour of the cleansing ritual drew near. She ran her hands over the robe again, the cloth cool and fine beneath her […]
Forbidden Fruit 10: On the Eve of Shadows
Neri’Va’s day was a blur of sacred duties and mounting dread. She rose before dawn, mind already spinning, hands busy as she polished golden candleholders until her arms ached. Each glimmer of brass was supposed to reflect the Light, but in the mirrored surface she only saw her own troubled eyes. She folded linens with […]
Forbidden Fruit 9: The Gathering Storm
The woods were still, heavy with the anticipation that comes before a storm. The air was thick with the scent of green and wet earth, and every leaf seemed to hush itself as Rayven passed beneath the canopy. She moved through the undergrowth like a shadow, each step deliberate, each muscle attuned to the secret […]
Forbidden Fruit 8: Secrets and Shadows
Neri’Va closed the door to her chamber with trembling hands. The morning sun was high now, but its light felt cold and uncertain, pressing sharp beams across the wooden floor. She pressed her back to the door, letting her breath out in a shaky rush. The news of her upcoming initiation still spun in her […]
Forbidden Fruit 7: Morning Bells
The world was a gentle grey, the first light of dawn stealing through the narrow window of Neri’Va’s small chamber. For a fleeting moment, all was still. The only warmth in the cool morning came from the strong arm draped over her waist and the rise and fall of the woman sleeping at her back. […]
Forbidden Fruit 6: The Village
The afternoon sun lay bright upon the rooftops, casting golden stripes along the cobbles of the village. Neri’Va’s feet traced a familiar path from the market square, arms full of simple errands for the temple, but her thoughts wandered elsewhere. It had been days since her last visit to the forest that took an unexpected […]
Forbidden Fruit 5: A Night in the Cave
As Rayven gently kissed Neri’Va, the world beyond the cave seemed to vanish, replaced by the hush and wildness of the storm. The wind howled outside, lashing rain against stone, but within their small shelter, there was only warmth and trembling closeness. Neri’Va’s heart hammered beneath her novice robes, the soft press of Rayven’s lips […]