Page 79

Glaide (Two Months Later)

No amount of starshine in Amor Beach could lighten up Amias’ spirit.

Despite it being autumn, Amor Beach stays green and humid.

Palm trees line each street, and every building is short with fading pastel.

Amare flowers hang outside of each window and people walking down the stare curiously at us, women in their bikini and men in shorts shirtless.

From the town square where we stand, I take whiffs of sea salt and hot soil, knowing everyone out will either leave starburned or tanned under the beating star.

Amor Beach is one of the best cities for winter vacations in the Amara kingdom. If you want a star-tan, lounge on the beach and devour fried seafood, this is the spot.

Unfortunately, that's not what Amias is here for, and neither is it what Erasmus, the royal guards and I are here for.

A guard sweating in his long sleeve uniform approaches Amias, his group of four standing behind him. “Ignatia isn't here!”

Amias grits his teeth. That's the last group of guards that scouted the city. We’ve checked everywhere.

My throat throbs as I watch Amias. He doesn't even look like the same man I knew.

His once strong build has been reduced to nothing but skin and bone.

The burns and tan has done nothing to help his sickly white skin, and his hair has been buzzed to keep himself decent after a lot of hair loss.

His fingers seem longer and bony. His irises haven't been any color but black.

I shake my head as veins pop from Amias' arms and face. This is so fucked up.

So fucked up.

“No,” Amias snaps. “We need to find her! I need to kill her!” He starts breathing heavily, stalking away as his long black jacket drags behind him. The hot weather never deterred him from suits and the color black. Erasmus and I have resorted to light color tank tops and shorts on the other hand.

This search can't go on for much longer. I have to speak up. “Amias. Maybe it's time we focus on something else. Maybe you should go home and eat.”

“Fuck off, Glaide!” he sneers. “I don't have time to stop!”

We've had many arguments about this new attitude of his.

At first it was hard to let it slide, but I shut up now.

Mostly because I know he's been talking about this disturbing voice in his head and he's not in control of his powers. He’s essentially sick, mentally and physically, and it's the only reason why he snaps at me.

So just as you would do with any loved one nearing their deathbed, I swallow my pride and forgive him.

“Either you help me find her or fuck off!” he shouts before bringing a hand to his forehead. Black flowers start to sprout beneath him as he grinds his teeth. “I need her dead. Now! ”

“You may have gotten her past the kingdom.” One guard says to Amias. “We've checked each city there is, and many of these villages.”

Amias’ eyes shift. “You think I sent her to Caelestia?”

“It would make sense.” Erasmus has his shiny eyes squinted at him. “Caelestia accept dreamscreechers and it's the closest kingdom besides Somnia.”

I chew the inside of my cheek. “We aren't gonna make it if you don't eat, Amias. We should stop the operation and solve that first.”

“I can't, Glaide!” He clenches his fists as he glares at me. “If I could, I would've a long time ago!”

Erasmus sighs behind him, staring down at the ground. I know he thinks this is just as fucked up as me. He's been carrying the same frown this whole search.

“No one will convince me to go home! I can't!” Amias yells. Tenebris flowers shoot from under him, towering over us like giant hungry plant monsters.

Everyone steps away. People on the sidewalks scream and empty the streets. My own heart starts to pound.

“The only way to get out of this damn curse and get these corrupt powers and this fucking voice out my damn head, is to kill that dreamscreecher!” Amias shouts.

He releases an eerie shriek as his long black nails dig into his scalp. The flowers grow taller after that noise. His gaze darts to everyone else. “That motherfucker ruined me! If it weren't for that fucking dreamscreecher, I wouldn't be like this!”

Everyone falls silent as I brainstorm ways to calm him down. I'm not sure if there's much I can do though.

His scowl starts to fade, tears streaking his cheeks. “I just want to be myself again.” His voice nearly breaks into a sob. “I hate this. I don't want to be this cruel version of myself.”

I slowly nod as I begin to approach, reaching an arm out to him as he starts to weep. The flowers start to wilt. My heart jumps at the fact those flowers might attack me next once I approach. It wouldn't be the first time.

As soon as my hand touches him, he snaps his head in my direction, blasting and twisting flowers around me. “Don't touch me!”

It gets harder to breathe as the stems wrap around my neck. These damn powers. Just as I predicted. Who knew the Gift of Love’s magic could be so deadly?

Amias gasps looking up at me. His black eyes widen. His mouth seems to say “I'm sorry” but I can't hear the actual words.

I stop moving as Amias walks away. The flowers start to wilt the further he goes. “ We’ll check the villages nearby, then we’ll set off towards Caelestia in three days.”

I fall from the flowers as the guards reluctantly follow behind Amias. Catching my breath, I let Erasmus take my hand and pull me to my feet.

We stand there as everyone else follows Amias. He's going to die if he doesn't eat soon. Soon it will be too late. Honestly, I don't know if killing Ignatia will really release him from this illness.

Maybe it will just destroy him in the end.

“He’ll die if we don't pause the operation,” I say to Erasmus. Not that it's of any use.

He sighs, still watching Amias while patting a hand on my shoulder. “I know.”