The house was completely empty. Confused, she paused at the back door and felt the telltale energy patterns of the newly dead. There were twenty of them, far more than the small house could hold. Something had happened last night while she slept. Yully backed away from the door. She steadied her breathing, swearing to herself that these would be the last to die at her father's hands.
Jule's magic was stronger this day. It kept her centered and prevented her from running for the hills tearing her hair out. Instead, she prepared for the day as if it were her last. She checked her weapons with scrutiny that would've made her father proud and dressed in dark clothing loose enough for her to fight.
Her father returned around noon, his agitation apparent the moment he stepped in the door. Yully looked up from her seat on the couch as he entered. He'd left the front door open, and she saw the car was running, waiting.
"We're going now," he said, emerging from his room with a coat.
"Yes, Father." She rose and trailed him from the house to the car, unable to guess what could agitate him if killing people didn't.
They drove in silence north again, towards the ancient site. Yully grew more anxious the nearer they got; her father was right about the magic feeling stronger. The air hummed the closer they got. The chauffeur drove them straight to the hill. Her father flung open the door and strode up the incline.
Yully followed more slowly, enjoying the feeling of the power moving through her. She looked around, curious as to why such a popular site was so quiet. Just as fast, she looked away.
Her father hadn't taken the time to bury these people. They looked as if they'd been torn apart by some monster she couldn't imagine.
"Come, Yully!"
Yully steadied her breathing and obeyed, taking comfort in the power of the site. She tested it as she walked to see how much effort it would take to control. The energies flowing around her responded eagerly, and she molded and released them.
She reached the top of the hill and gasped. Her father dragged half a body from the center of the site to the edge. She recognized the blond Guardian, and her chest tightened.
"Come, daughter," her father ordered.
Yully walked to the center of the monument. The power pushed her off balance, and she caught herself before it sent her sprawling into the blood pooled around her.
"Father, why did you do this?" she asked, unable to keep her silence any longer. "Rourk did nothing wrong."