Page 33

CHAPTER 33

AURORA

T he ceiling above Aurora slowly came into focus. It was painted in the warm colors of the heavens. Gold stars were tucked amongst the fluffy clouds. As her body warmed, Aurora felt the aches of some unknown injuries. Her ribs burned with each breath, and the metallic taste of blood filled her mouth. As her brain thawed, the memories of why she was here floated to the top. The fairy tale. Aurora sat up quickly.

“I’m going to be sick.” Aurora willed the room to stop spinning.

“Here.” A woman thrust a wooden bucket into Aurora’s hands.

There wasn’t much to expel but a glob of bloody phlegm and bile. Her rib screamed for her to stop breathing. Aurora moaned, resting her head on the edge of the bucket. “ What happened?”

“Take a moment. Slow your breathing,” the woman spoke, rubbing Aurora’s back. “ Oh , you poor thing. You should’ve told me you were coming. My guards are very protective.”

Aurora laughed, then cried in pain at the silly words the woman spoke. She lifted her head to see a girl no older than her sitting across from her. Her golden hair shone in the candlelight. Her dress was as white as the snow Aurora had just come from. “ Who are you?”

“I am Queen Sove . How ever did you find my kingdom?”

Aurora must have fallen and hit her head harder than she thought. Did the girl just call herself Queen Sove ? Death was an old god, which meant the queen should also be old. “ How … I mean… what?”

“I am sure you have so many questions. And I would love to answer them all, but you look dreadful. My men really did a number on you. I’m afraid the cut on your lip is going to leave a scar.” The queen pointed to her top lip.

“Cut?” Aurora stood and walked over to the mirror. She yelped when she saw the damage to her face. Her cheek under her right eye was bruised. Her tooth had split her upper lip, and her hands were scraped and bloody. “ What happened to me?”

“Oh.” Sove wrung her hands. “ I’m sorry. It’s just that they’re ordered not to let anyone in. It’s a miracle you are alive. Now if you could tell me how you got here…”

Aurora opened her mouth and closed it again. “ I … I made a wish.”

“A wish. Hmmm . What did you wish for?”

Aurora leaned forward. She looked different in the mirror. Her eyes looked just green. Her beauty was nothing remarkable. She looked mortal. “ What’s happened to me?”

Queen Sove took a shallow breath, nodding. “ All in good time. Please let my maid see to your injuries. We can talk tomorrow. You’ll be fine after a good night’s sleep. Grace ?” The queen motioned for a woman standing in the doorway.

A short, squat woman walked in. Her hair was white as the snow that beat against the windows. She wore a simple white dress. The woman said nothing as her icy fingers wrapped around Aurora’s wrist. “ Wait , where are you taking me?”

“Somewhere for you to get cleaned up and to rest. You just need a good night’s sleep. We’ll have a nice long talk tomorrow. Grace , find her something warm to wear. I’ve heard the castle can get quite drafty.”

The short woman tugged Aurora out of the room. She had no choice but to follow. Grace said nothing as she pulled Aurora along the gray hallway. Large windows took up an entire wall. But there was very little to see other than the gloomy gray sky and white landscape. Frost had crept up the walls and glittered in the low light.

There was something about this place that put Aurora on edge. A darkness lay hidden just beneath the surface. Not a darkness like Thane . This darkness whispered lies and stole the truth from those who tried to speak it. Grace stopped abruptly and pointed to a door. Aurora stepped forward and into a bedroom.

A large copper tub filled with steaming water sat in front of a large mantel. A bright, warm fire made the air feel damp and oppressive. The bed and most of the room were hidden in the shadows. Grace brushed by Aurora and busied herself with bottles, pouring something into the water. The woman motioned for Aurora to enter the room.

“Why will you not speak to me? What is this place?” Aurora tugged Thane’s jacket closer to her. His scent still clung to it.

Grace shook her head and stepped closer to her, reaching for Aurora’s jacket and tugging at the sleeves. When that didn’t work, Grace reached for the front of her shirt and pulled on it. Aurora tried to shove the older woman away, but Grace hadn’t just spent hours in the cold.

“I can undress myself.” Aurora shoved Grace away. “ Why will you not speak to me?”

Grace opened her mouth to show all its missing pieces. The woman had no tongue, and most of her teeth were missing. Aurora stepped back, pulling her jacket tighter around her chest. Suddenly , she didn’t want to be here. In this room. With this woman. “ I want to leave. Tell your mistress that I have… changed my mind.” Aurora’s body ached, and her head spun with confusion. She felt the urge to leave this place before it consumed her. “ I need to leave.”

“You cannot.” A male voice cut through the heavy air.

Aurora stepped back, hitting her back on the edge of the tub. A man moved into the low light of the fire. He , too, had golden hair, but his eyes were green like spring. “ Who are you?”

“I am King Nieve .” The man bowed slightly. “ I am the one who brought you here.”

“You? Why ?” She sat hard on the bench near the tub. She was too tired to stand. Tears burned her eyes, blurring the room. She hated fairy tales. They could spin your thoughts and turn them against you. Make the world feel upside down while you stood right side up. “ I’ve made a mistake. I want to go home. Please .”

“Hush. Don’t cry.” The king knelt in front of Aurora , catching her first tear. “ I was right about you. But we must keep quiet about what you are.”

Aurora struggled to catch her breath. Her ribs ached, and her lip started to bleed again. “ Please , I just want to leave.”

The king frowned, catching another of Aurora’s tears. “ Soon . But first we need to get you warmed up. Grace , leave the poor girl. I will wait with her.”

The woman made a strangled sound.

“Do you want to be mute forever? Go tell the queen the girl is fine. She is soaking in the tub.” The king looked over his shoulder.

Aurora wiped the tears away. Her teeth chattered from the coldness that leaked into her bones. How would she survive this? She didn’t even feel like herself. She felt empty. Dull almost. “ What’s happening to me?” she asked between chattering teeth.

“It’s this place. You won’t have much time. It will rob you of your brightness. It already has taken some. I’ll explain more but first you need to warm up, or you will die here like the rest.” The king stood, offering Aurora his hand. “ Please , I mean no harm.”

The king was made of all things fairy tale. His warm green eyes held the promise of something better. His mouth begged for her to kiss him. To fall under whatever spell he could weave. She took his hand. Her muscles screamed in resistance as she stood.

“Grace added a healing oil to the water. It will help. But it will not take away all your aches and pains. Whatever you do, do not fall asleep. I’ll wait outside the door. When you have dressed, we’ll talk.” The king bowed before leaving the room, closing the door behind him.

Aurora waited, not sure what to do. The tub looked so inviting, but so did a cup of poison. She’d die for sure if she didn’t get the ice out of her veins. Aurora’s numb fingers worked the buttons on her shirt. She stifled a cry as she pulled it over her shoulders. Her vision swam from the pain that raced up her side. Aurora leaned against the tub, fighting back the tears as she slipped out of her torn trousers.

The water lapped at her bruised knees. Her side was a mess of black and purple bruises. She sunk into the warm water; the oils burned all the cuts on her body. Aurora hugged her knees tight, her muscles spasming against the cold. She took an unsteady breath, willing the tears not to fall. She could do this. This was just a silly story. Her mother had told her hundreds of them as a child. And no matter how bad it was, the girl always survived. Didn’t she?

Aurora lay back in the tub, letting the warmth chase out the chill. The ceiling in the room was painted with the night sky. Silver stars had been painted on the ceiling, but three gold ones caught her attention. She had seen them before. Not in a painting but the real thing. Where had she seen them? Her thoughts moved slowly, slipping through her fingers like sand. Aurora yawned, slipping deeper into the water.

Her eyes and limbs grew heavy. She fought back another yawn, trying to remember where she had last seen the night sky. The warm water swirled around her cold and tired joints. It whispered for her to stay. To sink a little lower. She felt weightless, floating in a warmth that felt safe and better than the life she had left behind. Her lungs ached as the warmth spread to them. Everything was finally right, until it wasn’t.

Aurora coughed, gripping the arm around her chest. The cold, damp air filled her aching lungs. Aurora exhaled. The pain in her side drew her back to the cold room and the strong arm around her chest. Her thoughts raced back. Thoughts of Thane . Of her mother and father. All the things she thought she had forgotten. “ What in Hel’s teeth is this place?”

“A fairy tale.” Nieve stepped away, reaching for a drying sheet. “ I’ll give you a minute to dress. Then I’ll explain everything I can. Whatever you do, don’t fall asleep.”