Page 10

Ignatia

“Vasilisa, please,” father pleads. “Don't do this.”

Vasilisa scowled at him, tightening her grip on my wrist. Her purple eyes glowed viciously in the absence of light, bold against cobwebbed bricks and the shadows.“I'm giving our daughter her best chance.”

I trembled, unable to move my eyes from Vasilisa. I snapped at her after hearing her ideas for the kingdom. She was debating killing those who spoke against her to make the kingdom strong. Even as a ten year old, I knew the idea was insane.

I expected her to be pissed but she had never dragged me to the dungeon. What was she going to do to me?

I could feel the curious stares of prisoners on my skin.

Every little hair on my body prickled. All of the prisoners were nastily scarred, their teeth glinting in faint light as they prowled in their gloomy cells.

Some paced in their human form, smirking and enjoying my fear.

Others had shifted into dreamscreechers, on all fours flexing shiny claws as if they were hunting me.

I didn't want to stay here. I couldn't! How could I defend myself against these criminals when I was only ten?

“I know you're worried about the prophecies.” Father’s gaze softened with understanding. “I know you're just trying to obey Godusa, but please. This is our daughter! She doesn't deserve this!”

Godusa? Why would the Gift of dreams want to put me down there? Were my words really that violent?

“Don't you think I know that?” Vasilisa shouted. “There isn't any other choice! Either I make her strong this way, or I kill her. I'll prove to Godusa that Ignatia can handle things.”

My gaze shifts between father and Vasilisa. Kill me? Why does Godusa want me dead?

Father took a deep breath, reaching a hand out towards her. “That's what Godusa told you to do. It's not what you have to do.”

“But if I ignore her, something terrible is going to happen!” Vasilisa shook her head. “I should've ran! I should've ran when I had the chance!”

“And you can still run if you think that's best for our daughter,” father said, approaching us slowly.

“I can't, Eli.” Her watered eyes dodge his gaze. “I will fail the people if I let go of my crown. I'm the only descendant of the Last Women alive. Godusa made my ancestors different for a reason.”

The Last Women; The last ten women that survived out of the original Somnians that came here. They were the only reason the blood of the original Somnians is still alive. No one would accept another lineage taking the throne.

Father replies. “The next ruler doesn't have to be of the Last Women. That's what your mom taught you, but it's not the truth.”

“It's always been a queen born of the Last Women of Somnia. It has to be me. I have a gift from Godusa herself.”

Her grip on me loosened, and I didn't miss the opportunity to jerk my arm back. Without even a glance my way, she fiercely tightened her grip. My lungs only constricted further, each breath clawing in and out of them.

Let me go!

“I'm the only one getting prophecies. The Kingdom can't thrive without me.” She looked down at me, her eyes shining with tears. “But I also want to be a good mother…”

I stayed silent, hyperventilating, unsure if I should respond. I don't know if I could if I tried.

“You don't need to cage up our daughter in the dungeon to be a good mother,” father said.

“Would you rather me kill our daughter?” Vasilisa cried. “Because she’s telling me to do that instead! The only way she's going to stop is if I prove our daughter's strength.”

“This is no test of strength! If she wants her dead, this isn't going to stop her.”

“It's her best chance.”

“Let me take her then. I'll run away with her. I'll raise her. You can stay queen and keep the people safe, and I'll keep Ignatia alive.”

Vasilisa furrowed her brows, her glance moving between me and father. Her lips quivered. Her hands shook.

Sometimes I find myself wondering if Vasilisa ever loved me as a daughter. There are very few moments where I swear there must've been a hint of love behind those vicious violet eyes.

If I had to name a moment where she could've possibly loved me, this would be the one.

Her grip on me strengthens. Any tighter would have broken my wrist.

“Please,” my father murmured. “I can take care of her.”

The eerie silence remained, so much so that I wanted to beg for noise. When it comes to Vasilisa, the worst sound is when there's none at all. That always meant something was brewing.

Vasilisa finally sighed, but it's not a normal sigh. It resembled that of a person on their final breath.

My heart dropped. This will be horrific.

Her eyes turn just as soulless despite the tears that coated them. “Eli. You know I love you, right?”

Father’s stare hardens. “Vasilisa…”

“Godusa just spoke to me again. If I put her in that cage, and you're still there behind me, you're dead.”

She took me by my wrist and dragged me over to the cell. It was barely even that, as all four sides were made of steel, with only a flap and a lock on the door in front.

I tried to plant my feet onto the ground. There was no way I was going in there! “Mom!”

“I'm doing this for you!” she shouted. She pulled me from my stance and hauled me closer to the empty cage.

I tried to dig my feet in with every pull. My heart pounded. “No!”

“Let go of her!”

Next thing I knew, she punched father’s chin, and he thuds on the floor

“Father!”

Vasilisa yanked my body around and pushed me in the cage before slamming it closed. I scramble for the door, slamming my whole body into it multiple times. My buckling legs make it impossible to stand as I scream and sob for the door to open.

“Neither of you listen when I'm trying to help!” Vasilisa shouted.

I pound my hand against the stupid iron door. I was trapped. Little ten year old me could do nothing.

“I love you both! Don't you understand?” Vasilisa yelled. “I wanted you to fucking run because she's demanding I kill you! She has been since the beginning! And I can't lock you up and disobey her again! You should've ran!”

I froze in my spot against the door. Father?

She can't kill father!

“Godusa wouldn't force you to do this…” Father said so meekly, I could barely hear him. “You must be misunderstanding her…You don't have to do this…”

“Father!” My heart bangs my chest. “Mom! Don't kill him!”

“She's yelling in my head to do it, Eli. She's screaming in my head, demanding it. You're in the way of greatness for this kingdom. You're smiting the fire in our daughter that needs to thrive.”

I slam my body against the door again. I couldn't lose my father! I wouldn't survive without him! “Please!”

Vasilisa releases a quivering breath. “I’ll make it quick. I promise.”

That's the last sentence she said before I heard father’s final blood curdling screech.

I flash my eyes open, thrusting my head off the ground. My heart thumps so hard it could burst through my flesh. My shaking is uncontrollable. Father…

No. Hold it in. No weakness. Hold your breath. Don't cry.

Concrete.

I absorb the environment around me. Concrete floor. Tiny irritating rocks under my hands.

Light. There's light. The ray of Estrella's star shining down on me between two brick buildings. A dumpster a few feet away from me. People walking by, too busy to even notice me.

I'm not in Somnia. I'm in Amara City.

I escaped that horrific place.

Pain. I suck air through my teeth and groan... These fucking wounds are a nightmare. I keep stretching them, making them bleed more.

I sit up, putting my back against the wall of bricks beside me. I let my breathing slow, biting my tongue as if it would help.

I squeeze my eyes shut again, my flow of thoughts going back to the memory.

Father…he's gone. He's dead. Eight years ago, and it still comes back up in my dreams. I remember every detail.

So not only did Godusa want me dead, but she wants the memories to marinate in my brain and prolong my suffering.

Why does she hate me so much?

The panic passes and I take a moment to examine my scrappy shirt and scratched-up stomach. The wounds are glistening with blood. Definitely reopened.

Fuck!

I look to the end of the alleyway. Amias was right about something. These wounds need to be stitched or else an infection is bound to kill me.

I need a needle and thread before I set off to Caelestia.

Which is only going to take three weeks…or four if I keep stopping.

Fuck…

Better get started on it now rather than later, or else I'll be in this constant death trap forever. That's if I'm not killed by it first.