Page 59

Amias

I fought to keep myself out of here, but I ended up in one of the empty rooms of Mother's lake house, all white walls and white carpet. No furniture or anything else. Erasmus is supposed to be here to control me, but I won't let him.

“Let me go to her!” I attempt to shove Erasmus out of the way of the exit.

“Calm down!” he says, pushing me back. He scowls. “This isn't you!”

“Yes it fucking is!” I shove against him once more before bolting past him towards the door. I yank at the door, but it doesn't budge. It only throws me back with every tough tug.

Tears blur my eyes. “Get me out of here! Let me get to her!”

After a few more yanks, I give up on the knob. I bang against it as if anyone would come to my rescue. “Someone! Please! Let me get to her!”

I bang it a few more times before slamming my shoulder into it.

Ignatia is going to die. They’ll send her to Vasilisa to have her killed. I won't be able to save her.

Uncontrollable sobs escape my mouth as I punch the door.

How could my family do this to her?

“It's okay Amias,” Erasmus murmurs, putting his hands up defensively. “Just let it all out.”

“I'm not a child!” I cry. This isn't some toddler tantrum! Well fuck, these tears might as well make it one.

But who wouldn't weep for the woman they truly loved?

Erasmus continues,“I never said you were. You're just going through a lot.”

“Yeah, because of you and our parents! You're all agreeing to sentence Ignatia, an innocent woman, to death!”

His eyes become glossy as he crosses his arms. “How much has she manipulated you?”

“That's the point! She didn't!”

“If she hadn't, you would know that we are doing what's best for you.”

“What? What's best for me?” I stomp over to him, pointing to my chest. “What about this is good for me? How about Ignatia? She's done nothing but save my life!”

He shakes his head. “I could've prevented this…” He squeezes his arms and stares towards the ground. “It's my fault you got abused.”

I narrow my eyes, tears burning them. He can't be serious. “I wasn't abused by her!”

“I know it hurts,” Erasmus mumbles. “And you can put the blame on me for what happened. I should've seen the signs. ”

I scrunch my nose, my blood fueled by anger amidst confusion and frustration. “Nothing happened to me! The only thing-”

“But I will do everything I can to fix it.” He nods curtly. “You will never have to worry about those monsters tricking you again.”

Monster… Monster! She's not a monster!

Anger makes its way to my fist. Next thing I know, it slams against his jaw. He yelps as he's knocked to the floor.

I breathe heavily. I want to punch him. He deserves it. He's belittling me and my capabilities to think, while making ridiculous and disgusting claims about Ignatia.

He’s letting her be sent to her death.

My heart is hit with a wave of guilt. He's not at fault either. We've all been plagued by this misunderstanding between Grandmother and Godusa.

I release my fingers from my fist as Erasmus slowly gets up. He rubs his cheek with his eyes widened at me.

“Erasmus!”

I turn around to see Mother running towards him as Father locks the door. “What happened?”

My breath starts to slow. I can't even find the words to say.

“Nothing. Amias just knocked me back. Nothing I can't handle.” Erasmus lets Mother pull him up by the wrist and embrace him.

There's a shove at my arm and I look down to face Father.“ What the fuck is wrong with you? You don't attack your own brother!”

“Bruce!” Mother yells. Everyone falls silent and snaps up at her, as she taps her foot and scowls, tears dripping down her cheeks. “I don't want any more fighting! Between any of you! No one here is at fault for what happened, so can we stop fighting like we're all guilty?”

I stare at the floor. I don't like to see Mother upset but the bitterness is still on my tongue. Her softer steps approach and I step back. “We need to approach this situation differently. Amias isn't gonna heal if we keep fighting amongst ourselves.”

“I won't heal in any capacity if Ignatia dies,” I sniffle. The anger within pleads for another fight, but I have to keep calm. It won't help me get to Ignatia.

“Anything that happens, we'll get through it as a family,” Mother puts her hands on my shoulders. “You're still my little dove, and you always will be.”

I close my eyes. Right now, I don't feel like her son. She's not listening. No one is.

“Go away,” I whisper. “If I can't go to Ignatia, I don't want to see anyone.”

“Dove?” Her voice sounds so hurt, and I almost want to apologize, but the hurt in Ignatia's eyes when she realized what would happen pulls that thought away.

“No,” I shake my head, my throat throbbing. I take Mother by her wrists and pry her hands away from me. “Get out…”

Mother steps away as she takes in a hoarse breath. It's the beginning of a sob.

“Amias…” Father raises his voice, but Mother hushes him. I watch their shadows as they walk away towards the door. I don't even look back at them when the door shuts after them.

“We’ll come when you're calm,” calls Erasmus.

I scoff as I think of a way to set Ignatia free away from my parents and away from both Somnia and Amara. If I don't succeed, I'll die trying. She won't survive in either one for long.

I gasp as an idea clicks in my head.

Caelestia. She needed to go to Caelestia, right? That kingdom. Maybe they'll accept her. That's why she wanted to go!

I need to send her there now!

Then, only then could I be confident that she’ll survive.