Malani And The Shadowpiercer

• Zoe Zancanaro, Grade 6
• Short Story
• 2021

Red blood taints the grass. I decide to try out one of my powers. I scoop a handful, I lick it off my fingers, it tastes of iron and salt. As the blood dissolves in my mouth I can recall the recent memories of the person whose blood was spilt. The person was thinking of his wife and his children. I clench and then unclench my fists. I allow myself to stand and wipe the blood off my legs. I scoop a handful of it and raise it to my mouth. With a jolt I see the memories. She was thinking of my mother, father, brother, sister and me. It’s my sister, Jane’s blood. Unshed tears slide down my cheek but I shake them off. I pick up my bloodstained gun from beside me. I stand on my shaking legs. The ghosts of my past haunt me, literally. The spirits are stained red. They float beside me as I run back to the city. I don’t care that my clothes are covered in blood. Let them see it. Let the ones who murder the innocents, my father, fear me. I will make my father pay. I will make him pay for lying to me about how my mother left. For allowing my brother to follow in his footsteps. I was unsure about helping support the Eagle-Fey Guard and their cause at first, but now I will not hesitate. I will avenge my mother’s death and my sister’s as well. I had once believed that I was one of the Viper Guardians. But I see that the Viper Guard isn’t named after our sacred animal but because they are monsters, venomous snakes and poisonous reptiles. They taint the earth, they taint humanity. I run through the city, rifle in hand. I ignore the voices that yell for me until I hear them. Rolleen and Sparrow call my name. I stop to see their desperate faces, pleading with me to retreat back to camp, I immediately regret the glance in their direction and run into the palace. I still remember the palace grounds. I climb the flights of stairs. I run through the diamond halls and into the throne room where he sat.
“So, you have come to face me, Malani,” My father, King Erana, says in a cold voice.
I say nothing but I move my hand into my pocket seeking out my weapon of choice. The iron sword of light, Shadowpiercer. I remember what Madame Hilda told me, nothing can kill King Erana, only Shadowpiercer and some other weapons can, her voice repeats in my mind. Something catches my eye. “Mother?!” I breathe.
There she was standing in a golden gown, her wrists bound with electricity and a solemn look on her face. “I’m sorry,” she says. She raises her hand and my eyelids drop slowly. Shadowpiercer is not at my side, but I know I won’t be killed.
Yet.
But I am a faery and I am a warrior.