Page 136 of Till Death

And then we ran.

Stones rained down from the ceiling, and the walls shuddered. The sound of crashing masonry echoed, and we had to duck and dodge to avoid being struck by the debris.

The stairs were treacherous, slick with moisture, and crumbling underfoot. I stumbled but refused to fall. I couldn’t let the castle become our tomb. We burst into the torch-lit hallways, gasping for breath as I surveyed the shocking death and destruction around me. The castle seemed to weep, the tapestries smoldered in the flickering light, and the paintings of the past monarchs trembled on their hooks, falling one by one to the ground.

Dashing through the building as fast as we could, the distance between us grew. I was faster and more agile, and I hadn’t thought to look back. To check on him.

He screamed my name from the back end of a hallway, and I turned just in time for a wall beside me to groan. I backed away, unsure of where to go. But it was too late. Another tremble and the whole thing collapsed right on top of me, turning the outside world dark.

Orin’s voice was muted shouts in the distance. I could hear his agony above my own for only moments before everything turned silent, and the whole world slipped away.

I wasn’t sure how much time had passed. I peeled my eyes open, seeing only wreckage as strong arms carried me without pause through Silbath. He hadn’t just taken down the castle. Orin’s unchecked power had cleaved the world, destroying over half the city. Eventually, I closed my eyes, unable to see any more of the damage, the shattered brick streets, the crumbled buildings, the smoke and horror of it all. He’d promised to break the world to get to me, and he’d kept it.

I’d been placed in my bed, my boots had been removed, and when the blanket was pulled to my chin, I finally let go and allowed myself to fall asleep. I braced myself for Death’s court. But instead, I dreamed of nothing at all. Only a deep pit of darkness swirling with the light that must have been buried inside of me. Because though it wasn’t confirmed, somehow, I’d been born of life and death.

I woke to a tiny cool hand on my cheek and big blue eyes staring into my soul.

“Are you really awake this time or pretend awake like last time?”

I managed a smile, though my head throbbed. “I’m awake.”

“Oh, good. Elowen said Boo can’t come in here until you’re really awake because he was making circles on your bed. Can I let him in?”

“Sure,” I whispered, feeling like I’d swallowed a thousand needles.

The little girl hopped down, handing me a glass of water from the nightstand before cracking the door open. The small dog had been there, curled up and snoozing just outside.

“She’s awake!” she screamed, with nothing held back whatsoever before nudging her dog. “Come on, you big lug.” Quill tugged once on Boo’s collar, and after peeking his head up, he leaped from his spot and dashed into the room, though he did not immediately get on the bed. Instead, he placed his paws at the edge and sniffed my face, as if making sure I was okay before jumping.

“Told you,” she said, the second the dog found a comfortable place to make his circles before plopping down. “We’re the same now, right? You were stolen, and I was stolen?”

“Yeah, kid. We’re the same.”

She crawled back into the bed and placed her hand on my cheek again. “Paesha says you’re really mad, and you might leave, and if you do, then we can be sad, but we can’t ask you to stay. Promise you won’t tell her I said that?”

“Promise.”

“But are you going to go away?”

I cleared my throat, buying time. I really wasn’t sure what was going to happen. I knew this had become home, but how could I stay if I couldn’t trust any of them? What kind of a fool would that make me? Still, I couldn’t tell Quill that. She’d never understand it. So instead, I sighed, reaching down to bury my fingers into Boo’s soft coat. “I need to think about it. Is that okay?”

She twisted her lips, clearly considering my answer. “That’s not a no?”

“No. It’s not.”

“But it’s also not a yes, so I guess that’s okay.”

Three soft knocks sounded on the door before it swung open, revealing Paesha in a beautiful golden gown, the long side of her warm chestnut hair curled back flawlessly, showcasing her tanned skin. “The most I’ve ever gotten from a lover is flowers. And here you’ve got mass destruction.”

I couldn’t even force the smile.

She pinned Quill with a look. “Time to get changed, Quilly.”

The child giggled and slid from the bed. Boo followed his kid, loyal as ever as she bound down the stairs.

Paesha stepped inside the room, and I forced myself to sit up, noting I was mostly stiff, but otherwise, not in too rough of shape. Thea followed close behind, her red hair pinned up in a beautiful golden broach that matched Paesha’s dress, though Thea wore a loose white gown. I stared beyond them both, into the eyes of Orin’s mother, the concern on her face more prevalent than anything.

“Okay?” she asked, inching inside to stand at the foot of the bed.