Page 72

Ignatia

A sharp pain strikes my chest. That's when I realize people have moved away and cleared the streets, backing up slowly and some gasping.Many pull out their phones.

It's only a matter of time before people start to recognize me too.

How long has Vasilisa been here? How did she find me?

Shit!

“I don't have time…” I say firmly, while being wary of her deadly canines and claws. “I don't have time for this.”

“But I do.” She licks her lips. “I have plenty! You were supposed to be dead two weeks ago!”

My fists clench. I can't turn now, or else I'll end up dead before saving Amias! I need to get past her!

I might not make it in time but I need to get to him. I still need to try!Amara might kill me, but Vasilisa won't. Not today.

“Now it's time for overdue payment!” she cackles. “It's time for all you've done to make my kingdom succumb to weakness!”

“No!” I straighten up, preparing to make a run for it, despite my trembling legs. “You won't.”

She might catch me, and I'll fight her, but I have fourteen minutes now before he gets cleansed.

If I'm fast dealing with her, maybe I'll have a chance. Maybe.

“Oh yes, I will,” Vasilisa snickers. “ It’s time to get my payment for wasting eighteen years.”

“Maybe one day, you'll get your payment. Maybe one day, I'll fight you and you’ll have the opportunity to kill me.” She inches closer, but I stare her down and stand tall. “But today, I have a reason to live.”

And I will live another day.

“Oh, and what reason is that?” Vasilisa cocks her head, with her cattish mouth mimicking a taunting smile.

I scoff under my own breath. Never in my eighteen years of life did I think I'd risk everything just to save the prince of Amara.

I've left the safety of Caelestia for him.

I'm willing to die over him and almost did multiple times.

I'm willing to kill for him and face Vasilisa and Amara with the guarantee of death for him.

The me that was in Somnia a few months ago would have been horrified to see what I'd do for him now.

Especially after the cruelty that Rayden had suffered just for Lydia.

Or what father suffered for Vasilisa. I never understood why they would be willing to do so much for a person.

I thought they were being stupid and had lost their minds over their damn hormones.

But now I realize that love is potent. Love makes life worth living. Love gives you strength to go through tragedies. It gives you a reason to keep going. It gives you courage.

Love is strength. Not a weakness.

“Nothing you would know about.” I scoff before dashing away from her, going diagonally to the other side of the road, cars blaring their horns when I cut between them.

She snickers behind me as I rush through people.

They gasp and scream just seconds after passing them. I dart to the other side of the road.

Thirteen minutes.

I dash across the road once again. Shoving people away on the other sidewalk. I head into an alleyway before she can see me.

Going live at morning ten…

Her voice pounds into my skull.

There’s eleven minutes. Ten. Who knows? I just know it's been too long!

I can't lose him. Not now!

Just as I rush out of the alleyway, there's a tug at my leg. I trip, catching my body with my arms to save my face, only to feel claws digging into the back of my neck. I shriek.

Shit!

“I'm not letting you get away this time!” Vasilisa hisses.

My body trembles as I bite my tongue, making it bleed. This is it. She's going to kill me. She's going to-

No. Amias is still out there. He needs me.

Just as I feel her breath on my neck, I swing my body on my back and punch her in the jaw. Agony from her claws raking off my back, but it doesn't bother me after. My priority is Amias.

Vasilisa stumbles, making it easier to kick her off with my feet and get out from under her.

Going live at morning ten…

Nine minutes. Eight minutes.

I rush down the streets. I know I need to take the opportunity while Vasilisa is behind. Where is the goddamn castle?

I attempt to come up with ideas to get there, with my heart lurched in my throat. I need a plan to get there!

Up ahead, there's a black shadow in front of me. The shadow is a silhouette of a woman, with it’s long hair waving behind it and it's skinny body as she weaves between people, taking pauses to look back at me.

Is this Godusa trying to show me the way?

I don't hesitate to start chasing after the figure, hoping that she's my way out towards Amias. No one else reacts to her and her shape are just like the embroideries of Godusa at home. It has to be her. It just has to.

Five minutes. Four.

Turning over my shoulder, I can see a dusty purple figure racing up from down the street, people yelling and jumping out of the way.

She's going to catch up. She's going to catch me.

Amias. He needs me.

Three minutes.

Fuck! It's impossible to get there in time. Even still, I'll try. I have to fight to get there.

Buildings start to seem familiar as they get shorter and into the woods. My heart jerks, trying to hold onto hope that I'll make it to the ceremony, even if there's no sign of the castle ahead of me.

Two minutes.

I race through, hearing Vasilisa's cackle from afar. My breath falters as I keep my focus on Godusa’s running silhouette.

Amias will get cleansed any moment now. He’ll be stuck under Amara’s abuse and possible death.

Going live at morning ten…

One minute.

There's a hill ahead of us and I run up it. In front of me, down the hill and across many acres, I can see the magnificent white castle. Though in view, it's still too far. Estimating about another ten minutes to be close enough.

It's too late. It's definitely too late, but I still have to try. I must exhaust everything until there's all certainty I can't make it.

Amias needs me.

I need him.

And there's no way I'm letting a chance of saving him slip by me.

Zero.