Page 48

Amias

I glance between Clara and the dreamscreecher. The approaching dreamscreecher growls black shadows of the same species coming out from the bushes.

Clara brings herself to her feet, standing in front of me. “Get away from us!”

I can't let them get after Clara.

I get up despite Clara's earlier warning. Once I'm on my feet, I grab her by the shoulder, and step between her and the attacker. “You’ll have to fight me first!”

“Amias!” Clara growls, pulling my tensed up arm. “Sit down!”

“So protective over your dearest little dreamscreecher, aren't you?” The violet dreamscreecher teases. “Your grandmother would love to see this.”

Clara shoves my shoulder. “Leave him alone! He has nothing to do with this!”

I yank her behind me. “It has everything to do with me!” I glower at our attacker, my muscles tight against my skin.

“Don't make this harder than it needs to be,” The dreamscreecher snickers. “In fact, this could be an opportunity to amend things with your family. Let us kill the monster that made you wish for such insanity, and they’ll forgive you.”

Dreamscreechers deserve to die!

No! Not that voice!

I grumble at the voice while clenching my fists. “No. I won't do that.”

“Just think about it. You'll be back in your Grandmommy's favor, and you'll be everyone's little good boy. Everyone will praise you. Meanwhile, I can get rid of the very thing that's burdened you.”

“Amias! Get out of here!” Clara shouts.

Let Dreamscreechers die!

I shake my head again. I'm not just going to leave. That voice has no power over me.

“I wouldn't dare betray her for a kingdom that’s looked at me like shit under their shoes.” I look at Clara.

“She has always been on my side, even when everyone else has called me a freak. I love my Grandmother, but my defiance is for her own good. I would give my life for Clara. I’d rather it be me than her. ”

Clara gawks at me. “No, Amias… I can't-”

“You're not getting rid of me,” I say firmly, reaching and squeezing her hand. “You can't change my mind about this.”

Whoosh!

A shadow catches the edge of my eyes. I tug Clara’s arm so we simultaneously duck.

I whirl around to the blossom now doused in purple flames.

It crackles as it overtakes another bush next to it.

Other flowers and bushes around succumb to more torches thrown by the purple dreamscreecher’s army.

With Clara's hand clamped in mine, I try to calculate which spots we could escape the garden.

We're completely surrounded by fire.

I drag Clara with me and follow the stone path. Pitter patters and eerie screeching amplify behind us. I glance back to make sure Clara's okay, before dashing down a different direction. Each way we go, fire blocks its path, or dreamscreechers stare back.

I start coughing through this.maze. I can barely breathe!

“Get down!” Clara demands before yanking my arm and pushing me to the floor. A flick of brown and purple hits Clara's back, engulfing her clothes instantaneously!

“Clara!” I scream as she wipes and blows off the flames on her clothes, almost as if she’s brushing off cat fur. The fire on her actual skin and hair dissipates within seconds.

Oh yeah. She's a dreamscreecher.

She pulls me back up and pushes my back. “I need you to run!”

I look over my shoulder to her. “I'm not leaving you.”

“I can han-” Clara stops mid-sentence before hauling me to her. A group of black dreamscreechers shriek as they turn the corner, baring their teeth.

I turn back the other direction and another group of dreamscreechers growls our way. Clara wraps a leg around mine, grabbing my wrist as I fall to the ground.

What is she doing?

Before I can recover, she bends her body over me.

Shit. We might die here being mauled to death.

Vasilisa chuckles. “You can't cover him for long! Soon enough, Amias will be nothing but scraps of meat.”