Page 11

The Wintering Giants

Grace

I’m being relocated to Verenfell Landing. The caravan consists of the King’s Priest, my traitorous mother, hundreds of armed guards, and me. I heard once that Verenfell is a stretch of land that comes to a point in the ocean, feeding right into the Veil. It’s supposed to be guarded, so no one tries to walk through. Not that anyone would be stupid enough to do it. But I guess here I am, Miss Stupid. It wasn’t enough to hang me; no, they had to make a huge spectacle of my death to scare everyone into obeying the crown’s religion. They’re going to send me through the Veil while everyone watches. I am going to walk to my death, and no one will intervene.

So, now here I am, stuck in a barred carriage that smells of shit and piss. I am freezing my tits off because I’m dressed in a ridiculous white gown that clings to me thinner than smoke. I might as well be naked. I’ve already accidentally torn the fabric, revealing slits up my thighs. A burlap sack would be better than this. They haven’t fed me once since we left Halla, and I don’t think they will for the rest of the trip either. My stomach is seizing with hunger, but I am not about to grovel to these men. I cannot even sleep at night, because the hunger pains and biting cold keep me wide awake.

Last night, a couple of men had snuck their grubby little fingers through the bars to paw at me. Their hot disgusting breath puffed on my neck as they inched up to my breasts. They had gotten rather close, but then, that was my plan. I lashed around and bit onto anything I came into contact with, hot blood spurting into my mouth. I clawed and kicked like a wild animal, their delicious screams echoing into the frosty air. Once escaped from my teeth, they threw their disgusting ale at me, calling me horrid names. I just smiled at them as I spit their rotten blood onto the stained floor.

I was extra cold, drenched in their piss ale, but it was worth it.

Today, I glare as my mother walks to me, dressed in a fine dress and furs, approaching me with Moon Guards in tow. I chuckle darkly, she must be getting pretty comfy with the King’s Priest. I bet she really showed her worth, the Moon Mother liked her indeed.

“Grace,” she greets me.

I smirk at her, the moon whore.

She raises her chin to me, looking proud. “It had to happen this way, please understand. You must be cleansed for your cursed soul to go to the Isles.”

“I understand your reasoning, but what I don’t understand is how you could do this to your own kin. Last time I saw you, we were getting along. You said you loved me. How could you do this to us? To Fallon? That little girl?” I glare at her, letting the cold breeze fuel my anger.

She looks away from me; guilt overcomes her as she grasps the fur cloak tight to her chest. She won’t look at me, her pine-green eyes meet the damp forest ground. I stare at her in disbelief before my heart drops as sudden realization hits. She never liked my gifts. They were a curse in her eyes. She never changed her point of view. Anna was a huge blow to her, but going to Halla—that was the final straw. “You were getting ready to turn me in. That was always the plan, wasn’t it? You were going to turn us all in because you couldn’t let your cursed child enter Halla with forbidden gifts.”

Cold eyes look back at me. “I thought it would be easier if I gave you a few good days before I called the Moon Guards. Then you had to go and ruin it by going on that Gods forsaken trip with that cursed gift.”

I laugh darkly. “So, I was just some sick pet at that point. You wanted to give me some happy days before putting me down.” I laugh some more. This is so fucked up. I watch as she shuffles uneasily in front of the prison carriage.

“For the record, if you had just stopped or refused the trip. I wouldn’t have reported Fallon or Evie. Their deaths are on you.” With that, she swivels and leaves.

My laughter cuts out sharply as rage fills me.

Bitch .

I watch her strut away with her entourage, my mind wandering to death. I’ve been thinking about what it’ll be like to die. I’ve done it once and I was scared at the time. It was cold and dark, I felt so lost. It wasn’t so bad, drifting into the darkness, but once you are there—I shudder at the thought. Will it be the same this time around? It could be peaceful this time, because I might just see Evie and Fallon. I wonder if they are waiting for me; they will help me cross over this time. I sigh, letting my tired head fall back against the metal bars. No, I won’t see them at all, because I’ll be going to the Infernal Realm for the rest of eternity for what I have caused.

I will welcome death; maybe I’ll finally be at peace. My soul is so tired.

I watch the tall giants tower over us with their red bark shading our path. I like to gaze at them while they swirl and bend in the wind, pine needles falling to the ground in little flutters. Their smell is so comforting, like damp earth, wood, and evergreens. I’ve always liked that smell. I hold myself as the cool shadows of the gentle sequoias pebble my skin. If these were my final moments, basking in this earth, my death would be serene. It would be so easy to just give in to the wave pulling me under.

But then, I think about my mother and fury fills my veins hotter than a flame. I’ve realized something after her utter betrayal—this is all a load of horseshit. These people killed everyone I loved, and for what? So, they can jump around in their white robes and hold hands? No, it was for fucking power. They’ve convinced everyone to pray to a made-up Moon Faith. All of this was a power move made on behalf of the beloved King’s Priest, and my dear mother fueled the fire. She gave us up on a great expanding platter of fine foods, and the priest accepted it eagerly. He must have been jizzing at the thought of making an example out of me.

Suddenly, I am no longer cold. I am full of white-hot hostility. Pure clarity flashes its sharp claws into me as angry determination sets in. I will go through that Veil, but I refuse to die. I will come back and get revenge on all of them.

My mother. I shake my head and laugh crazily; my own mother turned us in.

I breathe in the crisp air through my frozen nose and let the puffs billow from my mouth.

I have no one left to live for, so why not blow up their world too?