Change of Darkness (The Change Series Book 3) by Jacinta Jade (best new books to read txt) 📕

cut short as broken Siray flicked out her hand lazily to deliver a flat-handed blow to Siraay’s chest, forcing all the air out of Siraay’s lungs and causing her to fly backwards two body lengths before landing painfully on her back on whatever constituted the ground in this place.

Winded, Siraay gasped for breath and, when she finally managed a calm, regulated breath, coughed and groaned at the new aches and pains rising in her body. What had happened? Quick steps in her direction made her roll quickly, lunging to her feet and into a defensive position.

But it was only old Siray hastening across to her side, looking both concerned and amused. ‘So you’re in control, huh?’ her former self said, looking Siraay up and down.

Siraay only exhaled in response as her chest thumped painfully.

‘Shall we rethink that plan of yours?’ suggested her old self dryly, the female’s eyes flicking nervously towards their third self.

Siraay nodded, her eyes also snapping back to the broken one, who was watching them again with that inquisitive and slightly unbalanced expression. ‘I don’t understand, though—if she’s that strong, why doesn’t she just finish us off?’ Siraay couldn’t fathom an opponent who didn’t act on what their obvious desires were.

Old Siray pivoted to scrutinise their new enemy for a moment. ‘Because we outnumber her?’

Siraay considered the third female positioned across the small space. Regarded the wild face that still held that animal expression. Part her, part old Siray, and part … something else. Instinct? Maybe that was it. Animal instinct.

And animals knew when the odds were against them. And would be cautious until they were sure they had the advantage.

So, time was a factor, then. They had time until this broken, but much stronger, third version of them figured out that it hadn’t just taken Siraay by surprise with the blow to the chest.

‘Move,’ Siraay grunted at her former self and then began a slow walk off to the right.

‘What?’ came the snapped reply.

‘Move—keep circling her,’ Siraay whispered back. ‘The more we keep her thinking that we’re still a threat, the more time we’ll have.’

Old Siray didn’t respond but did indeed begin moving, her steps increasing the distance between them.

The odd smile on broken Siray’s face shrank a little, and her eyes moved at an increased frequency between Siraay and her former self as they slowly stalked around to either side of her.

Siraay thought that the unhinged female might back away, or reposition herself so that she could see both of her enemies.

Instead, she remained standing where she was, turning her head slowly between the two of them.

‘What are they doing, I wonder?’

At first Siraay thought the hissing voice was in her head, so closely did it echo her thoughts about the broken thing that she was slowly circling. But then, when the fierce whisper came again, Siraay realised who was speaking.

‘Trying to get behind … tricky things.’

Siraay felt her body go cold as the broken one continued her strange commentary, the wild looking female still unmoving.

Unsure what to do, Siraay kept circling, her former self doing the same across from her.

The broken one’s voice stopped its hissing and then continued on in such a casual manner that it took Siraay a moment to process its next words.

‘They want to play—so let’s play with them …’

Realising the threat, Siraay spun her body wholly towards the unkempt figure to her left, but it was with stunned amazement that she only managed to catch a glimpse of a back and two bare feet disappearing into the blackness.

‘Mother save us …’ Old Siray’s words could clearly be heard across the empty space that now existed between the two of them.

Siraay twisted her head to look at her former self. ‘Be on your guard. Who knows what—oomph!’

Air was forcefully expelled from Siraay’s lungs as her body was driven forwards into the ground by a violent shove from behind. She fell hard, her chin hitting and bouncing twice, causing her to teeth to bite through her lower lip.

A cackle sounded from behind Siraay as blood welled from her injury, and she somersaulted forwards, coming up onto her feet and spinning around swiftly to face her crazed enemy.

But once more, only darkness swirled there.

Siraay backed rapidly away from the blackness, retreating towards her other self. Just for an instant, she turned her eyes away, to check that old Siray was watching the other direction. ‘That escalated quickly.’

Her former self snorted. ‘You saw this going a different way?’

Siraay’s voice was ice as she glanced back at the darkness before her, then over her shoulder once more. ‘I know you don’t like me, but we’re going to have to work together on this.’

Old Siray spun towards her, eyes like fire. ‘So that you can take over my body again? I don’t think so,’ she hissed.

The other female began to turn away again, but a sudden gasp from her made Siraay whirl around. And even then, Siraay was only fast enough to watch a blur of motion strike out like lightning at her other self, before the fast-moving shape wheeled away once more into the blackness.

Siraay didn’t attempt to catch her former self as the female fell to the ground, her hands clutching at the right side of her face. Siraay stood still, hands on hips, looking down on the other as she remarked, ‘Still think you’ll survive this long enough to fight me for control?’

‘Mother crush you,’ snapped old Siray from behind her hands.

Siraay just smirked and watched as her former self lowered her hands. The skin on the female’s right cheek had been split open slightly from the hit, and blood was running down in a thin line over an already forming bruise.

Old Siray groaned as she tried to push herself to her feet, and when Siraay smugly decided to offer a hand, the other pushed it away violently.

‘None of this would have happened, if it weren’t for you!’ Old Siray’s voice was rising in volume as she stood up, swaying a little.

‘Really?’