The Last of My Kind

By KJ Buffin

Lily Fraya is the last sorceress known to man. Her kind was brutally wiped out when war broke out between those with magic and those without. 

 

Hunted by those that call themselves the Diren, Lily is on the run and has been for years. Anyone caught attempting to help her is executed for treason. She learns to hide who she truly is in order to keep those she loves safe, until one day, she meets a boy. When her secret is revealed, will he accept her for who she is or will he turn on her and join the Diren?

 

Another battle is looming. A battle that has been foretold for centuries. But Lily never imagined it would come like this. She is the last sorceress. Who is left to stand with her agaisnt the Diren? 

• Language: English
• Publisher: KJBuffin
• Release date: Mar 25, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201861544

KJ Buffin

K.J. Buffin has had a passion for writing since she was a little girl, and at the age of fourteen, she decided to write her first book. It's taken her several years to achieve her dream, but she has finally reached it and now uses her talent for the glory of God. K.J, along with her husband, Hunter, live in Frankfort, Kentucky, where they are raising their two young boys to be Godly men and plan on homeschooling in the near future. Youth fiction and fantasy are the genres she focuses on. 

Book preview

Prologue

Slamming the door shut behind her, Ellie threw her riding gloves onto the wooden floor in rage as she stomped towards the table. She plopped down on the bench and wrung her wet, black hair, mud dripping down her arm and off her elbow, splattering to the floor.

The front door swung open as her mother stepped inside. Ellie! What are you doing? I just scrubbed the floors!

Turning her head, Ellie watched as Mother slammed her basket down, food contained in its woven material, on the table beside the sink. Mother thrust her hands on her hips as her eyes scanned the floor.

Glancing down, Ellie realized she had left a trail of mud from the door to where she now sat, and huffed. Along with her younger brothers, now Mother was angry with her.

She flung her hair over her shoulder, allowing it to stick to her soaked tunic as she clenched her hands into fists. She jumped to her feet and marched towards their opened window, jabbing a finger in the air as she shouted, They pushed me into the mud! She tried to keep from crying, but the tears grew hot as they formed on her bottom eyelids.

Mother let out a long sigh as she lowered her hands back down to the side. Oh, Ellie, she said softly. She bent over, her black hair falling over her shoulder, and grabbed a rag from the drawer placing it inside a clean bucket of water.

Mother strode over to Ellie and gripped her wrist gently, pulling her over toward the table. As Ellie sat back down, Mother knelt in front of her. Slowly, Mother began wiping Ellie’s face, peeling away the caked mud.

What happened? Mother asked, tenderly.

Ellie gripped her knees, her blood boiling, trying not to shout as a few tears escaped, and her bottom lip quivered. I just wanted to play with them, she whimpered. For once! They never let me join them. A few tears slid down her cheeks. I’m only a few years older than Liam. I don’t understand what I’ve done. She crossed her arms as she slumped forward. They hate me, Mother.

Mother placed the rag down on the bench beside Ellie and caressed her cheeks. Ellie, your brothers don’t hate you. They’re boys. They’re going to have the tendency to cling to one another. They just don’t want their twelve-year-old sister messing with them.

Ellie’s head drooped lower. But what if I want to be part of what they’re doing? she whispered. They always leave me out. She sighed. They’re the only friends I have, and they keep pushing me away.

Mother sighed as she stood up straight. Tapping Ellie’s leg gently, she said, Come on, dear. Go clean yourself up with soap and water, put on a fresh shirt and pair of pants, then you go find those boys. Tell them I want to talk to them.

Grinning, Ellie sat up straight and pushed off the bench, running to her chamber. Quickly washing the mud off her body and throwing on some clean clothes, she sprinted out the front door towards the field where she last saw her brothers. The place where Liam had roughly pushed her into the mud just for wanting to hang out with them.

Why was Liam so mean to her all the time? Was it really just because she was a girl? But she was his sister. She didn’t understand why he wanted nothing to do with her except to torment her.

Reaching the clearing, she watched as her oldest brother leapt off a large rock and rolled into a somersault through the grass. Liam! she shouted.

Liam and her youngest brother, Barry, turned towards her. Liam rolled his eyes as he huffed and turned his back on her.

Sliding to a halt beside her brothers, she panted slightly before pointing towards their village. Mother wants to see you both.

Liam balled his hands into fists as he swung on his heels to face her, anger clear in his face. What’d you do now? Tattle on us? 

Ellie narrowed her eyes. Of course not! She crossed her arms. "But when you push me into a mud puddle, clearly someone’s going to notice."

Barry tugged on Liam’s arm. Come on, Liam. His five-year-old voice was hard to understand, but she could tell that he didn’t want to be around her.

Liam gritted his teeth as he maneuvered around Ellie.

With her back facing her brothers, she rolled her eyes. All you had to do was let me play with you. Was that so hard? She twisted her head around to notice Liam had stopped walking.

He snarled and flung back around, facing her. Why would we want to hang out with people like you? You’re always getting us into trouble!

Ellie smirked. You’re doing a good job doing that on your own. She balled her hands. "Just because you think you’re cool and want to impress Barry doesn’t mean you get to erase me from your life. She relaxed her hands as she calmed herself. Liam, you and Barry are all I have. I—"

Letting out a cry of frustration, Liam thrust his hands forward.

Unexpectedly, a force of wind rushed into her, knocking her off her feet. She rolled backwards several feet before her head and back collided with a tree. She slapped the ground with her palms, her ears ringing, and blinked several times trying to clear her blurring vision.

Cringing, she pushed herself into a sitting position and raised a hand to the back of her head where it ached. Her heartbeat quickened when she felt warm liquid. Withdrawing her hand, she found her fingertips coated in crimson. Feeling a burning sensation coming from her left arm, her gaze moved to her bicep to find a large gash in her flesh.

Fear gripped her as her eyes opened wide, and she stared up at her brothers as they towered over her. W-what did you do? she asked, her voice shaking.

Liam glared and jabbed a finger towards her. Leave us alone, got it? He shook a fist in her face. Or you’ll face my magic once more, only this time, I won’t be as merciful.

M-magic? She shook her head. Mother and Father have warned us about the dangers of sorcerers and their magic. She lowered her voice. What are you doing practicing it?

Liam smirked. Practicing? You act as if I just found out I have magic.

Ellie’s jaw dropped with a gasp as her brother turned his back on her and traversed through the field towards the village, Barry following close behind him.

Her heart pounded against her chest as she glanced down at her bicep again, blood dripping down her arm. He had magic? Liam had magic? Did Mother and Father know? How could they? Liam wouldn’t still be alive if they knew.

Her parents warned them almost daily about how incredibly dangerous sorcerers were. If Father ever found out about Liam, he would hand Liam over to the Diren. But... wasn’t that a good thing? He was her brother, but he was also one of them. One of the monsters they were at war against. And he was living under their roof, right under her parents’ noses. She had to warn them, but how? Liam already showed how aggressive he was. She didn’t want to get Mother or Father hurt in the process, but Liam had to go.

STARTLED, ELLIE AWOKE to the sound of shouting. She pushed herself into a sitting position, her bicep aching as she did so, and threw back her covers. Draping her legs over the edge of the bed, she pushed off. Her bare feet landed on the cold wooden planks of her bed chamber. She laid a hand gently on her bandaged arm as she tip-toed over to her door and rested an ear against the mahogany.

What are we going to do, Victor? Mother’s voice sounded grave. We can’t just let the Diren have him. He’s only nine! They’ll—

What choice do we have, Mary? Father replied, his gruff voice filled with worry. Do you think I want to lose Liam? Knowing that the Diren will kill him? He’s our son! He sighed. But we have to think of Ellie and Barry too. I don’t like the influence he’s having on Barry, and look what he did to Ellie. He could’ve killed her!

But we don’t know for certain it was him—

Wake up, Mary! Father shouted, lowly. We’ve always known he had magic. What else could explain why Ellie seemed petrified of him throughout the day?

D-do you think he’s known about his magic for long? Mother asked, frightened. Is that why he’s the way he is? Why he treats us and Ellie the way he does? Because we’re not like him? Because neither you nor I have ever told him of his powers?

That doesn’t explain why he wouldn’t be the same with Barry.

Barry’s his brother. He’s always taken a liking to him, and Barry clings to him. Maybe he believes Barry will be like him.

We’ve tried keeping his magic a secret hoping that it wouldn’t manifest, but... There came a long pause. Turns out, it finally has. I don’t want to believe it either, Mary, I don’t want to see my boy go, but what other option is there? Keep him here under lock and key and pray that he doesn’t become like one of the monsters we fight in our wars? The sound of heavy booted footsteps echoed the tiny house. I’m sorry, Mary, but I’m sending for Lumara in the morning. 

No! Mother shouted, causing the footsteps to stop. You can’t have her send for the Diren! We can’t lose our boy!

We don’t have a choice! Father whispered angrily. All sorcerers are evil. Another long pause. No matter who they are. This isn’t what I want either, but if we gave him the chance, he would grow up to become just as wicked as the ones we fight against today.

Victor, please, Mother sobbed. Ellie flinched as something hit the floor. He’s my baby. Her cries were louder than her words.

I don’t want to lose our boy either, but we have to do this.

Gently slapping her back against the door, Ellie panted as her heart raced. Mother and Father were handing Liam over to the Diren? Tomorrow? Her parents had always known about Liam’s magic? And they kept it a secret?

As great an urge as she felt to protect her little brother, Father was right. Liam was a problem. She couldn’t give in to the older, protective sister. Liam terrified her. How could she go on living like everything was normal with him in her house? She had never seen magic used before, and if this was what sorcerers used their magic for, to hurt people, then the world needed to be rid of them. Magic was vile! Her parents had always said there wasn’t a place in the world for sorcerers, and now, Ellie knew this was true.

Many had tried to get rid of the sorcerers in the past, but they had all failed. Many, many wars had taken out thousands of sorcerers and men without magic alike, and yet sorcerers still remained. Well, not anymore.

Ellie narrowed her eyes as determination swept through her. She knew what had to be done. She had to join the Diren. Tomorrow, when they came to take her brother, she would go with them too. Only, she would be trained to fight for her people, and to get rid of the sorcerers. But this time, with her being a part of the Diren, there would be victory.

One

Blood curdling screams filled the air. Lily jumped in her seat as her head swung towards the door and her heart pounded against her breast.

Give me the girl!

She slid off her seat at the dining table, ducking below an open window as the words floated in. Her chest tightened, recognizing the voice that carried those words across the village. It was Hunter’s. A vicious man who worked for the Diren, a group of men and women without magic who hunted sorcerers like her.

She glanced around the small house at the four frightened faces of the family who had taken her in for the past three weeks. Lily swallowed, a lump forming in her throat at the look on Tara’s face as she cuddled close against her mother. She was only six years old.

Lily stood up straight, taking in a deep breath. I have to go out there, she said. This has gone on long enough.

No, you can’t! Tara shouted, lunging as she gripped Lily’s hand. He’ll kill you! Tara buried her face in Lily’s shirt as she sobbed.  

Lily crouched down placing her hands on Tara’s shoulders as she smiled. I have to do this.

She tried to be brave through her fake smile, though really, she was terrified of what would happen once she left the safety of the walls. But she was even more terrified of what would happen to the family if she stayed.

She looked again at the worry and sadness on the others faces before looking back down to Tara. She pulled the little girl into an embrace and squeezed her tightly as tears pricked her eyes. The screams of the villagers were growing louder the longer she waited. Hunter was getting closer.

Sighing deeply, she pushed Tara away and stood. She took a step toward the door before Iris, Tara’s mother, stepped in front of her. Please don’t do this, Lily, she begged.

You’re our only hope, Oliver, the father, said. You’re destined to save us. He balled a hand into a fist as he shouted, You can’t just give yourself over to the Diren!

Lily threw her hands to the side. Then what do you want me to do? Let you all die? Oliver’s face softened as she continued, "There are only a few people left in your village from the Diren’s last invasion. If you thought not giving them a few crops was bad enough, what do you think they’re going to do to everyone when they find out you’ve been hiding me all this time?" 

Oliver grabbed his wife by the hand and pulled her in close. By the look on his face, Lily could see the shame in his frown. He knew what she was saying was true. There was no other way.

But... Quinn, Tara’s brother separated by ten years, stepped around from behind his parents. If you die, what will happen to us? The Diren will never stop harassing our village. He took another step. "You are the only person we have to hope in. The chosen one! You have to stop them!"

Lily could sense from his anger that he desperately wanted her to stay, but what could she do? She was just eighteen and had yet to master her magic. She was no chosen one.

She wanted to defeat Hunter and escape but had proven to herself time and time again that she was no match for him. Confronting him now would be a death sentence for her. They were right; it was too risky.

She sighed as she glanced toward Oliver. Do you have another way out? A way that Hunter wouldn’t know it was you who helped me?

Iris pushed away from her husband. We only have the back door. He won’t see you escape.

Lily nodded in gratitude, grabbed her pack that rested against the wall underneath the window, and headed toward the back of the house. Standing beside the back door, she listened as someone pounded on the front door. She twisted her head around and gave a soft smile at the four as they watched her. Thank you! I will never forget this. She opened the door and ran out, sprinting as fast as she could toward the tree line. There, she would be able to disappear amongst the shadows and trees. She gave a quick glance over her shoulder as she ran and watched as villagers ran away from burning structures; some people toppling over one another. 

As she reached the trees, the smell of burning straw filled her nostrils. As fear gripped her heart, she turned on her heels facing the village. To her dismay, what few remaining houses stood were now filling the sky with black smoke. The only house left not burning was the Hiltons’. Tara!

Staring at the house she had fled from, she watched as Hunter stepped outside of the house and began igniting a torch in his hand. She focused in on him, feeling her eyes tingle and knew her irises glowed gold. Using her magic, she was able to hear Hunter as he twirled around to face the crowd that watched him as he shouted, Traitors like these people must understand the consequences of hiding a witch in their home! Let this be a lesson to you who remain. With those words, he lifted the torch up to the straw roof and waited for it to catch fire before throwing the torch at the bottom of the threshold.

No! Lily shouted as the house lit up in flames. It had caught fire so easily. Were the Hiltons still inside? How did Hunter find out that it was them, out of everyone there, who had helped her?

Training her magic in on the house, she closed her eyes and pushed past the walls. Inside the wooden house, she watched as a family of four cuddled close to one another on the floor as flames danced around them and began to lick at their skin. She could sense the doors and window were latched shut from the outside, giving them no means of escape. Had Hunter locked them in?

Lily withdrew as Tara’s face twisted in pain and her agonizing screams echoed through her mind. She crumpled to the floor as tears streamed down her cheeks. She clenched her eyes shut as anger boiled in her blood.

Her eyes shot open and she pushed herself to her feet. Rage fueled her as she thrust her hands towards the sky. Feeling the familiar tingle in her eyes, dark clouds began to fill the atmosphere above the village. Seconds later, rain pelted the rooftops, dousing the fires.

After several minutes, she dropped her hands, placing them on her knees as she panted — she wasn’t used to exerting so much magic. Watching the rain die away and clouds disperse, she quickly took off in a dash back to the village. She didn’t care if Hunter was still there. She didn’t care if she was caught. Only that she had to make sure Tara was okay.

Nearing the edge of town, her heart nearly leaping through her throat, her world played out in slow motion. With the Hiltons’ house being one of the first in town, she didn’t have to go far. She kicked down the scorched door and it crumbled to ash underneath her boot as she took a step inside. Her eyes immediately began to fill with tears when she found four burned and lifeless bodies piled in a heap. She glanced through the hardly recognizable bodies until her vision focused on the body of a small girl.

Lily felt the color in her face drain as her hands slowly moved to her mouth, tears blurring her vision. She shook her head as she turned around and stumbled a few paces from the threshold, nausea boiling in the pit of her stomach. She collapsed on her knees, overwhelmed by grief.

She looked up as a shadow towered over her, pain exploding in her left cheek. Her hands slapped the mud feeling the sting as she collapsed on her right side.

Monster! a female shouted.

Fearing getting hit again, Lily slowly glanced up to find a woman jabbing a finger at her. This is all your fault!

We never should’ve helped you! a male yelled.

Accompanying the words was a hard smack to her back, sending her lurching forward in pain. She grimaced before turning around to find a man grasping a couple of rocks tightly in his fists. He reared back and launched another. She quickly swung herself around, her back arching in pain as it struck. She gripped the mud, feeling it underneath her fingernails as she waited for the pain to subside.

Get out of here!

All your kind brings is pain and suffering!

You should’ve died with the rest of them!

After promising to protect her only a few weeks ago, the people were ready to turn on her. To call her a monster and to say she should’ve died out with the rest of her kind. How could she have trusted these people? But perhaps, they were thinking the same about her.

She staggered to her feet, hearing a string of curses behind her back. Straightening, spit flew into her eyes. She jerked back, rubbing her eyes with the sleeve of her muddy cerise-colored tunic. As fresh tears pricked her eyes, she glanced back at the charcoaled body of Tara. The only other person she had come to love. It felt like losing a sibling all over again.

Turning to her left, she ran toward the forest, enduring more stones and spit as she pushed through people blocking her way.

Once there, she crumpled to her knees, wrapping her arms around herself as she broke out in a heavy sob. She curled up with her nose to the ground as she wept. What had she done? She had been warned to never stop running, and what did she do? She had been in that village for three weeks. Three weeks too long. Now, the Hilton family, along with many of their fellow villagers, were dead. Tara was dead. How was she ever going to get the sound of that little girls screams and the image of her blackened body out of her mind? It was yet another face to haunt her for the remainder of her days.

I warned you, Lily.

She gasped as she leapt to her feet, her eyes widening. Stepping from the shadows was the man she had been running from most of her life.

Hunter smiled as he placed his hands behind his back and shook his head. If only you had listened to me, given yourself over to me. That poor little girl might still be alive.

Lily narrowed her eyes as she balled her hands into fists. "How did you