Page 31

Just as I dive in, I'm forced on all fours as my ears tickle and enlarge. The itch of my body fades away. Horns get caught on the branches as I plunge into the hedge.

I crash and yelp, finding myself stuck between breaking bush limbs. I adjust and dig my claws into the thickest of them to balance myself. It's hard to stay steady even with my efforts. The bush can't hold my weight for long

Did Godusa do this to me? Did she control me to think of shifting so this would happen? As if I wasn't already mourning my friends! She's just having me die now?

I guess this was inevitable. Vasilisa always said Godusa wanted me dead. Now she's just taking that chance.

It's not too long before the weight of my body forces me to tip over. With a shriek, I clash on the other side of the hedge. I glance around only to immediately meet those familiar grayish blue rings.

Amias…

I screech and run away. No. Not this fool. He'll kill me! For real this time!

“Wait!”

Despite knowing I could die, I pause and look over my shoulder. Wait? Why would he want me to wait? Should I even wait? Is this a ploy to kill me? Or do I get killed either way? He's going to kill me! I know it!

But the voice… it sounded more like a genuine plea than a cold demand.

He bends his knees. I flinch back at the movement but stay put.

His eyes grow like a begging puppy, and I'm suddenly mesmerized by them.

What is he doing? Isn't he supposed to be afraid, especially with all that brainwashing?

He's just like everyone else, believing dreamscreechers are nothing but worthless monsters.

He keeps eye contact with me. “I'm not gonna hurt y-you…” he whispers. His voice is a bit shaky, just as his hands are, but he still seems to be keeping it together enough. “Just as long as you d-don't hurt me…”

I squint. This doesn't seem right. He had already said he ultimately sided with everyone else. Why wouldn't he hurt me?

I slowly turn my body to face his. I wait for his next move. What does he want from me?

He smiles despite his lips quivering. “You’re n-not violent… right? They're lying… right?”

My ears perk. Is he… really trying to… befriend me? In this form? Does he really think they were lying?

He continues, “Of course they a-are… or else… t-this is a st-stupid decision…”

I snort. Stupid decision? I'm the one making a stupid decision. I'm staying put while he probably has a gun hidden somewhere.

And yet, despite my awareness, I really want this to be real. I want him to open his eyes and realize that I'm not the bad guy. Even though everything, from my pounding heart to my buckling legs, begs me to run.

But what if he has changed? What if… one person in this kingdom is starting to understand me? What if Amias realizes the propaganda he's been fed?

He inhale. “Okay…” He takes off the satchel over his arm and throws it aside. “No weapons…” He turns his pockets inside out.

I can already feel my heartbeat slowing. Okay. That's good.

“Can I approach you?” he whispers.

I slowly nod. This is awfully bold, and yet, it's exactly what I need.

Someone bold enough to see the truth.

My pulse echoes throughout my body, but I hiss quietly to myself. Don't get too excited.

He takes a step forward. His step is shaky, but it holds such significance. He takes another step, and then another one, each one more confident than the last. I keep eye contact with Amias. His eyes. They seem more blue with each step, the gray ring getting smaller.

I wonder how they do that.

Finally, he's maybe a foot away from me. He kneels, gaping with his face pale and his forehead sweating. His eyes shift as if searching within mine. He's close enough for me to tear him alive. I'm close enough to get strangled or stabbed. Nearly face to face.

It's so dangerous, but yet, my heart flutters excitedly.

We stare at each other. Time passes but neither of us move. I scan him up and down, noticing his hands and legs steadying. His breath is stable too and his gaze has softened.

My nerves have disappeared too. Not completely, but still.

Whoa. I’m close to an Amarian in dreamscreecher form… To the grandson of Amara… And I don't have to worry about getting shot… or strangled to death…

Could… could this really be happening? Has he really come around?

He smiles. “If you were naturally violent, you would've attacked me.”

I nod. My voice might be recognizable. As exciting this might be, I'm not ready to reveal myself yet.

Amias chuckles and wipes his forehead. “This is great! I wasn't wrong…” He takes a deep breath and his grin falters slightly. “Clara wasn't wrong…”

Clara wasn't wrong…

Those words sing sweetly to my soul . Of course, I knew I was right, but it's different when someone understands, especially here in Amara.

“You've probably gone through so much here.” Amias leans in a little. “Yet you saved my life that one time. And then at the mall, right?”

I nod.

“Thank you…” he says softly. Then he leans over, wrapping his arms around my neck and shoulders, pulling me into an embrace. I jump at his gesture, my body stiffening. “Thank you for saving my life…”

Heat floods my cheeks. Thank you? Amara’s grandson is thanking me?

He really meant it too. His intention is carried through his voice and his tight embrace. That came from his soul.

I close my eyes and embrace the moment. All the sorrows that overpowered me before fade away. Fuck… after those girls were laughing about killing dreamscreechers… after being forced to hide myself… after enduring insults about my people and my loved ones I've lost…

It feels damn good to be accepted for once.

It's beautiful but overwhelming. My body shudders in relief while burying my face into Amias’ shoulder. I bite my tongue to hold back tears of relief. Don't cry… Don't be so emotional…

“If you turn… I could bring you to some place comfortable around here…” Amias slowly pulls away. When we make eye contact again, I realize that there's no gray ring in his eyes.

Instead, the purest and most vibrant blue looks back. Kind and warm, like the clearest lake on a warm summer day. There is not a splotch that's on the watercolor sky in his eyes.

He looks much more beautiful this way.

“I'll make sure you have shelter, food and everything you need. We can even show the kingdom the truth.”

I flatten my ears. Should I reveal myself right now? I mean, how long will this trust last?

“You know I-”

At the moment Amias speaks, the door to the clock tower starts to creak and my body tenses. I have to go. Now!

I immediately bolt as Amias gasps behind me. I’m not accepted by everyone just yet. I can't be seen, or I'll get killed.

But it's uplifting to know someone trusts me in this form. Especially Amara's grandson out of all people! Not only does this change things for me, but it can change things for all of Somnia. Maybe saving Somnia isn't as far as I thought.

Now that I have a chance to make that change, I don't need to go to Caelestia. Nor do I want to. Maybe this means we can save Somnia here.