Page 40

Ignatia

“I'll have to leave in an hour,” Amias says beside me as Sabina and the other kids finish their lunch next door.

Wafts of garlic and warm tomato sauce leak in through the door leading to the dining room.

On today's menu was steak virga, which is a stick of fried dough with tomato sauce and steak filling that you dip in cheese. The children were excited about it.

Staff enjoy their lunch in another room seated at round wooden tables that matched the wall in color. Most people brought their own food. I, on the other hand, get a bite of Amias' lunch. When he noticed me staring at his food a week ago, he offered to split his lunch with me.

Today, I have a bowl of beef and broccoli over rice, something Amias threw together.

Obviously some variant of bread came with it.

This time it's a homemade bagel that I ate half of before Amias got his hands on it.

My stomach begs for more but I restrain myself.

Amias worked hard to make that bagel. He should have some.

On the other side of the table sits Erasmus and Glaide.

Glaide seems alright, and I could've said the same for Erasmus if I didn't know him from the military. I’ve wondered if he recognized me from the few times I've spoken during our battles, but I don't think he has.

He definitely doesn't recognize me by looks because I never came to battle in my human form, which is probably what's saving my ass right now.

“I need to help set up things for my birthday,” Amias nods.

I perk a brow. “Your birthday?”

Glaide speaks up from the other side of the table. “His birthday is a pretty big deal.” Glaide squints. “I'm surprised that you don't know about it.”

I shrug. “I'm not good with remembering dates.”

Erasmus scoffs beside him, wiping crumbs off his black tee with ‘Death Rebels’ written on it. “I would have thought that Amias invited you, considering how much you've been hanging out.”

“Yeah,” Glaide straightens his collar on his white polo shirt. “He doesn't hang out with us anymore.”

I twist my lips at him. We haven't been spending an unusual amount of time together, have we?

“Well, maybe if you call me earlier, we can make plans,” Amias shrugs before taking a bite of broccoli and beef.

“Oh but your whole schedule is just Clara and the orphanage, and even here, it's mostly about Clara.” Glaide looks at my bowl. “Heck, you portion out your lunches so she could get some.”

I stop chewing. Is that a bad thing?

“You're free to join in on our plans,” Amias snickers.

I narrow my eyes. I don't mind him having plans with his friends. But on our time? No, I don't think so. I prefer it to be just us. I wouldn't invite Kai or Clarissa to come with us if they were around. Why should he?

Am I wrong to think that? Is that possessive?

Glaide rolls his eyes with a smirk. “I don't know who you think I am, but I don't have a fetish for watching people fondle each other. No thank you.”

I glare at him. “We don't fondle each other!” I say in unison with Amias.

Erasmus snorts besides Glaide. “I wouldn't be surprised if you two did.”

I shoot my glower at him too. We're just normal friends. “Fine. I don't want you guys around me anyways.”

“Oh come on now,” Amias groans. “Clara and I are nothing more than friends-”

“I call bullshit.” Glaide says.

Amias scowls. “We are just friends .”

We are definitely more than just friends.

My heart stutters at the thought. No! Anything more than friends could end in tragedy. He's still the prince of Amara herself.

I still can't forget about the times where love was weaponized to kill someone.

Lydia and Rayden being one. Then my father and Vasilisa.

I still need to consider father's warning about Amarians If we fell in love, it would open us up to death.

Besides, this place is still a death trap.

I should be heading off to Caelestia soon.

But… it feels so stupid to even worry about that. I don't want to leave. I can't even imagine Amias killing me either.

“Anyways, back to the party.” Amias’ eyes widen as if something clicks in his head when he turns to me. “The kids are all invited to the party. They'll need help getting ready.”

I raise my brows. “Do you need me to help?”

“Only if you want to. I have to get ready for the party myself. Glaide made my suit for the night so he's gonna drop it off for me and make sure it's all good, so we'll be down two. Erasmus has to get ready and get his date as well so then it will be down three.”

“I'll do it.” I nod. “You don't need to worry about it ”

“Great! Thank you, Flame.” The nickname rolls out naturally, as if it were my literal name. His vibrant blue eyes twinkle.

“No problem.” I return the soft smile, my heart fluttering as I admire his gentle gaze.

His soft smile curls into a small frown, as he glances away and sighs. “If you ever change your mind… It would be nice to have you there…”

My tiny neck hairs straighten. If I'm being honest, if Amorette and Amara weren't there, I think I would have a great time. From what I’ve heard, there will be a lot of magic and all sorts of fancy food and music.

I honestly enjoy all of those things. Celebrating with Amias and Sabina would make for a great time.

But of course, if I am to survive, there's no way I can go. “I apologize. I can't. Your mother won't-”

“It's fine.” he murmurs, making eye contact again. The twinkle in his eyes has dimmed. “It wouldn't be fun if you were uncomfortable anyways.”

I slump and take another bite of my lunch. “Apologies.” I sigh as I chew and move the beef around in my bowl with my fork. “I would if she wasn't-”

A blood curdling cry makes me hit my back against my chair. I whip my head towards Amias, my body locking itself in place.

When I realize the source for the scream, I nearly gag on myself.

Amias is trying to blow violet flames off of his arm. It only roars and climbs up his shoulder. He flails his arms. “Help!”

I reach out for him, huffing on the fire too, but it doesn't help. It only travels up his neck and all over his body.

“Amias!” I scream. I glance around for a drink, but nothing is on the table. “Someone! Help!”

I snap my gaze to where Glaide and Erasmus are, but their seats are empty.

Shit!

Amias screeches once more before his body falls over towards me. I catch him, holding him tight despite the flames. My thoughts scramble for a solution. Amias can’t just burn to death in front of me!

“No!” Tears flooding my cheeks. I pull him away and take him by the shoulder. Through the fire, the only thing I can see are his eyes staring back lifelessly.

I sob at the horrific sight. How did the fire get on him?

A familiar, sinister and feminine cackle alerts me to the door. My spine shudders as if knives grazed my back, my lungs constricting itself.

Vasilisa, in a black ball gown and her vicious smirk, leans against the door. Her eyes glow purple, highlighting her derangement. She rolls her neck and licks her lips.

How did she… How could she…

“Tell me, Ignatia …” she snickers. “Is it burning yet?”

I glance between her and Amias' burning body, my jaw unable to close as I put it together.

How could she?

“Clara!”

I snap back to Amias, as the tender but worried voice calls my name.

Amias?

I blink and suddenly my arms are forced above my head. My wrists are held in a strong grasp. With gentle hushes and a calming shining lake encased within familiar irises staring back, air floors back into my lungs.

“Just breathe…” Amias murmurs, his body intact, not even touched by flames. He’s moving and speaking instead of screaming in agony.

My breath quivers with relief as my pulse slows. What even was all of that?

“Yeah. You're doing a great job.” he whispers, soothing me amidst all of the confusion. “Just keep breathing.”

I do as he says, but focus on him. I couldn’t care less about my breath. I'm just relieved that his face is no longer burning and lifeless.

After about three more seconds of taking long breaths, I pull my arms from his grip, only to return to him but around his waist to embrace him. He stumbles into my arms but my grasp is too strong to let him fall anyway other than into my chest.

“Clara!” he yelps. It's comforting to my ears.

Any noise from Amias other than cries of agony is soothing at the moment.

I bury my face into his shoulder, letting the beautiful scent of amare flowers consume my sense of smell. I want to grin but only tears and sobs come out of me.

It all felt…so real…

“Clara?” Amias’ breath makes my neck tingle.

“What happened?”

Amid the confusion and the relief, the question makes me think. What was that? If it was all fake, and it definitely wasn't a memory, then that means…

It was a prophecy.

Godusa sent it to me.

I furrow my brows. Was that really a warning from her? What does that even mean?

“Honestly… I don't even know…” I pull away from the embrace and grasp his shoulders. I look back into his eyes as his eyes shift.

“Why did you panic?” Amias murmurs, leaning in a little closer.

“Yeah,” I turn behind me to Glaide towering over us. “You were grabbing him and everything.”

“I was just about to split you two up.” Erasmus whispers, standing on the other side of the table.

Biting my tongue, I glance away towards the table. If my outward reaction was that big, then the vision must be that much more important.

Amias sighs. “You don't have to tell-”

“No!” Glaide snaps, making me whip my head towards him. “You have to tell us after you just started grabbing him. What was happening with you?”

I look back and forth between him and Amias. Is it really a good idea to tell them I had a prophecy?

Amias sighs and gets up from his seat. “I appreciate the concern, Glaide, but as long as Clara’s okay, she doesn't have to tell me now.”

“No. We are getting an answer, right here and right now. That wasn’t normal!”

“I saw something…” My voice drifts a little as I mention it.

Glaide crosses his arms. “Like a hallucination?”

“More or less.”

“What did you-” A buzzing noise interrupts Amias, and he digs his phone out from his pocket. He turns it on and sighs. “I'm sorry. My family-”

“Go ahead.” I nod. “I'm fine. Take the call.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

He hesitantly takes the call, looking back at me as he walks away into another room. I smile as a reassurance to him before he's finally out.

“If you're seeing things that aren't there, get that checked out.” Glaide groans and goes to throw out his leftovers. Erasmus narrows his eyes but doesn't speak as he follows Glaide.

Left in the room by myself, I finish my lunch as I think about the vision. Fire…Amias…Vasilisa…

What could Godusa possibly want from me?