Page 12

Ignatia

Shit!

Wrinkly green eyes twinkle in bloodthirsty delight. Her dark draped ball gown makes her appear more ghostly. She smirks, sharp canine teeth glistening in the light. “I thought you'd be more clever with your whereabouts.”

I dig in my heels to suppress my fears, but my body refuses to stop shaking. “V-V-Vasilisa?”

What the fuck am I supposed to do?

“Oh come on. You’re not that weak, are you?" She approaches, and I immediately step back. Her smirk drops, baring her teeth instead. "You can’t even say your own mother's name without stuttering?"

I can't bring myself to respond. All my throat offers are pathetic excuses for breath.

Luminous purple spreads from around her pupils to the edge of her irises. “Pathetic.”

I'm fucked!

I bolt away from her to the direction the fire had started. People scream. Dreamscreechers claw their victims without mercy.

That's about to be me next if Vasilisa goes into dreamscreecher form.

“You can't keep running like a coward!”

I look over my shoulder catching a glimpse of her in dusty purple fur on a cougar's body structure, her sharp horns shining and her canines bare. I'm definitely fucked!

I try to speed up when weight and claws dig into my back, knocking me to the floor.

Fuck!

I attempt to push myself, but with unsheathed claws to my head threatening to rip out my brain, I stay put.

"Now let's see…" she purrs. "How should I go about this? Should I make this quick and just get this over? Or should I make this slow? Hearing your screams would be satisfying after I wasted eighteen years of my life on you."

My pulse is so strong, I'm sure she could hear it. I can only hope that she makes this quick.

“I mean, I sacrificed your father for you. I sacrificed the whole kingdom for you. I sacrificed my sanity and my morals. My own happiness. My time. My leadership.”

Just do it already!

“And even after all of that, you've still turned out to be nothing!” She digs her claws deeper into my flesh and I cry out in pain

This is it. She’ll kill me any second.

“You're lucky I don't have time to waste in this kingdom.”

This will be the last time I think. The last time I feel, I smell. The last time I feel my heart hammering in my chest.

I was just trying to live a normal life without being tortured by Vasilisa. Now, all I can hope is that there's an afterlife, where I can finally just be free.

Life’s a real bitch.

I squeeze my eyes shut, ready to embrace agony before my last breath.

Just as I can feel her breath on my throat, she croaks, “Wh-t-t-th-”

Her claws release my head, almost like she wasn't about to decapitate me.

What's happening?

I look up to Vasilisa's neck looking smaller than normal. She scratches at it, drawing my attention to red s shaped flowers. The stems are wrapped around like a lasso, except tighter with intent to kill.

I take the opportunity to kick her stomach with my leg and pull myself out. I gawk at the contraption of flowers she's in once I'm not under her. It's amazing that I was just about to die, and then these flowers popped out of nowhere.

What kind of luck….

“Clara.”

I look over my shoulder to face the one person I'd least expect to save me. Sandy blonde hair. A tall, muscular body. The only difference is that his eyes and hands are glowing red.

“A-A-Amias…” I should've figured. I've seen Erasmus use those flowers before in battle.

He squeezes his hands into a fist as he reaches them out towards Vasilisa. His furrowed brows make me think he might kill me next.

I gulp. Would he?

“Run,” he snaps. “The flowers won't stay for long. Go before she gets loose.”

I blink. “What?”

“Run!”

My body stiffens. I can't believe it. The grandson of Amara, a prince who despises my kind, is saving me?

How? Why would he? Or is he just trying to get Vasilisa? Does he not sense I'm a dreamscreecher?

Would it be different if he did?

It doesn't matter now. He's giving me a chance to survive, and I'm taking advantage of it.

I sprint past him as fast as I can. I pass by violet flames, the bloody bodies of Amarians and their blood-soaked perpetrators, the destroyed shops and broken glass.

Straight ahead, there is a large door leading to the outside world. The light of Estrella's star pours out before me, inviting me to safety. I rush towards it, reaching my hand out for the handle. My heart pounds, thrilling at the thought of freedom.

I will live. I will, for at least one more day.

My hand finally grasps the handle, and I can’t help but pause to sigh of relief. Only a pull and merely two steps, and this past of mine is behind me for the day, and hopefully for a long time.

I pull the door.

There's a cry.

I turn as Amias is thrown to the ground. As he attempts to sit up, Vasilisa slashes his chin. She misses her next blow as he leans away and punches her in the cheek. Hissing, she pounces on him, sinking her teeth into his chest.

He yelps and pushes her head enough so she lets go, but each of his movements are more sluggish than the next, the glow in his hands and eyes dimming.

Even though freedom is only a few steps away, I pause. He will die trying to fight her. I can't just leave him there, can I?

No matter how loving they are, never,and I mean never, trust an Amarian…

I know those were father’s words. I know I should listen and walk away,

But it feels wrong to apply it now. He saved me and is now nearly dying for me.

Maybe it wouldn't be in Amias' interest to have him save me just to get myself back into danger.

But he saved my life. That has to count for something, doesn’t it?

Never in my life has any stranger been so kind to save me from death, let alone offer to die for my sake…

I can’t let someone with that kind of heart just die here.

The thought makes me shudder. I'm completely wasting my opportunity to live. Sometimes I hate empathy.

I run into the clothing store closest to me. Once I scan the area to make sure it's empty, I take a deep breath and focus on my body. Within seconds, an itch spreads across my body as dusty purple fur prickles through skin and clothes.

I groan from the pain of my wounds as they transform with me, but I bury my teeth into my tongue to bear it. My cuts are being stretched again but it's worth it.

I'm forced onto my hands and knees, paws and legs forming in their place as my teeth enlarge. Human ears turn round and are big enough to rotate. There's a tickle from the top of my head, the sensation of black horns growing in.

I gulp down air at the thought of going back to fight her, the pain of the wounds already numb from the rush. She could kill me.

I could be losing my life over this. I could be dead at eighteen with only memories of torture, wasting my chance to experience the wonders of life.

I push through the thoughts trying to direct me elsewhere. No, I will do this. I'm saving someone.

And that makes this all worth it.

I race out the door, unsheathing dagger-like claws as I narrow my eyes on Vasilisa.

She's sinking her teeth into Amias' arm thanks to him blocking his neck. The move won't save him though, as his push against Vasilisa gets feeble and his head rolls back. The glow in his eyes is completely smited.

Don't think. Just stop her.

With a yowl, I pounce, knocking her flank with my horns. She tumbles away from both me and Amias. She attempts to get on her feet immediately, but I don't let her.

I leap and dig my claws into the back of her head and spine.

I aim to bite her throat, but she jerks her leg so I sink my teeth into her shoulder instead.

I don't fix the mistake and instead bite harder.

She shrieks and rolls over on her back, forcing me to let her go.

I jump away and crouch with my teeth bare.

She starts to get up, chuckling a little. My neck fur bristles.

I've done it. She's going to kill me.

"Now you want to fight?" she laughs, all with the thickness of hate and malice. "Alright little piece of-"

A boom cuts her off, followed by a ringing noise.

Both Vasilisa and I whip our heads towards the noise. At the front door, stand a group of people, with guns in their hands, all wearing dark red shirts with badges and black vests.

That boom must've been our warning shot. Or there's a body somewhere.

Vasilisa yelps. "Retreat!" She bolts the other way as black creatures follow closely behind. I watch as they run with their tails between their legs.

That's over for them.

I turn back to the soldiers as they aim their guns towards me.

They'll kill me.

I run, following the last dreamscreechers, planning to hide and change. More bullets ring out, and I keep my path zigzagged to avoid getting hit.

When those red suited men are out of sight, I find the closest empty clothing store to change in. Quickly, the itch comes back again as my fur retracts into my skin and my paws turn to hands and feet. Swinging my hair around and straightening my cut up shirt, I take deep breaths and hug my knees.

My stomach hurts again, making me wince. I lift my shirt and find shiny blood oozing from them. Fuck!

I can't take care of them when Vasilisa's nearby. I'll have to escape, then find a place to take care of them another day.

Another day. I get to survive another day.

Vasilisa didn't kill me.

All because Amara's grandson saved my life, and then I saved his. Him and I managed to survive because of each other.

The prince of Amara and the princess of Somnia, risking our lives for each other. Nearly dying for each other.

I try to process that idea and what just happened. This has to be the biggest mindfuck in history.