Watchers Clan: Sisters 3

“You failed us,” An unknown voice sneered from the shadows. 

“There was a test,” Another voice added with fury in their tone. 

The sisters looked around in the directions the voices sounded from, but it was hard to determine which direction they came from as the words echoed off the walls. Cheiro didn’t understand the disdain, she and her sisters had a method. However, as the thoughts started to work out in her mind she was interrupted by the arrival of another Haedian. 

This purple Haedian landed gracefully before the three sisters as they said, “You fell asleep during your watch.”

Furor felt her rage bubbling as the words of the Haedian reached her. He hadn’t stopped talking there, he continued to chastise them for their disrespect and disregard of the threat around his clan. Furor hadn’t taken it seriously, but she wasn’t going to accept responsibility when no one was hurt. Kaimana watched as her younger sister grew more frustrated through the Haedian’s speech. 

Kaimana, on the other hand, felt guilty even before her mistake was announced. She didn’t feel guilt about letting the Haedians down, it was for her eldest sister. Cheiro had taken this job seriously, but she had been tired and needed to rest. Kaimana should have woken her up before falling asleep, but she didn’t. 

This new Haedian was clearly the leader of this clan and their voice was unlike the ones heard in the shadows earlier. It left the sisters wondering if the leader had been watching them, or if their actions were reported back to this unimpressed Haedian. The idea that this Haedian hadn’t seen them with their own eyes sparked Cheiro into speaking.

“No-” Cheiro quickly started to defend herself and her sisters, but when she glanced at Kaimana’s guilty expression she fell silent. 

Cheiro didn’t have to wonder what Kaimana’s look meant. It was easy to figure out that they had fallen asleep without waking Cheiro to watch while they relaxed. Kaimana and Furor watched their elder sibling work out what happened in her head. They feared how she would react when they left this clan and could openly share her thoughts without causing more distrust. 

“But if you hadn’t planted someone it would have been an uneventful watch,” Furor argued, she felt all eyes turn to her and she could see Cheiro shooting her a glare, begging her not to make this worse.  

“We have to test you, you’re strangers,” The purple Haedian scoffed. 

Furor didn’t appreciate the tone and bristled, showing her teeth with a deep growl. She didn’t understand the threat the Watchers’ felt they were under. Kaimana got into a position where she could easily move to defend her sister or run away. Kaimana couldn’t determine which direction she would go in, but she liked to be prepared. 

“Furor,” Cheiro warned, but when her sister didn’t show signs of standing down Cheiro added, “We’ll leave.”

She directed the last part towards the purple leader. The deeper they traveled into the Beneath, the more Cheiro was desperate to get out unharmed. She didn’t like being this confined, she knew she had tricks up her sleeve to get out of trouble, but that would only get her so far. Kaimana joined Cheiro’s attempts to pull Furor out of her fury. 

Kaimana grabbed her younger sister’s tail and said, “Furor, let’s go. This isn’t worth it.”

Saikaam watched the empyrians, he felt no threat from them, but agreed they should leave. They didn’t seem to understand the role they played and how they disrespected his clan with disregard for their safety. There was no acknowledgment. 

Seconds later, what Cheiro feared most happened. Furor’s eyes paled further, signaling her loss of control, and fog burst from her markings as she launched herself at the leader. Kaimana knew what to do and in the next second Furor was suspended in place with white glowing runes surrounding her body. Cheiro was thankful it happened in such quick succession that Furor hadn’t gotten close enough to do any damage. 

“Leave,” A voice from the shadow roared. Several voices echoed the sentiment in various tones ranging from fear to anger. The leader eyed the sisters and nodded along with the voices of his people. 

Kaimana glared towards the sound of a voice, “We will.”

Kaimana explained they had to wait until Furor calmed down, and added that the comments wouldn’t help. Silence filled the air as Furor’s fog vanished and her eyes faded to their usual pale purple. The rune cage faded and Furor slumped to the ground. 

“Let’s go,” Cheiro demanded. 

Kaimana nodded and vanished into her ghost form. Cheiro followed shortly after slipping into her shadow. Furor was dazed but knew she needed to leave. She followed her sisters’ form with a disjointed jog; it was clumsy but she found her rhythm after a while. 

[811]