This will be the last thing we do before I make the wish.
Would she still be this kind if she knew?
“It's time for your wish,” Grandmother says, pulling away from me and winking. “Make it count.”
I strain my grin. Grandmother is still expecting me to wish for dreamscreechers to be killed by Tenebris flowers.
"Let's do this," I say quickly. Grandmother goes up to the balcony railing.
She clears her throat. “Welcome!” Her voice is loud enough to get everyone quiet in the ballroom. “Welcome all to the celebration of my grandson's twenty-first birthday! It is lovely to see all of the people who have come to celebrate this wonderful milestone.”
I realize my foot is tapping as I look at the crowd. Forcing it down, I pull my lips into a smile despite my pounding chest.
"Now, it has been another beautiful year of love, and Amias becomes the lovely man he’s supposed to be. I feel honored to have my lineage grow up in such a loving place around such kindness."
She gives me a respectful nod. When I return the gesture, she looks back to the crowd. "Now it's time for Amias’ wish. As a gift from Father Cosmo himself, he’s to grant us something that will help the kingdom thrive, just as Cosmo had done by making the Gifts. At this time, Cosmo’s wish will float in front of Amias, as he senses that it is time.”
There's creaking noises from above as the painted ceiling splits into multiple points. The opening forms a star in the middle as the ceiling moves back, making way for a speck of blue light. I gasp as it dwindles towards me.
Whoa!
The speck grows into an orb the size of my hand, like a falling star that had been outcasted from the sky.
My wish.
Once it floats in front of me, I see sparkles and galaxies slowly swirling inside. It's like the whole universe is in the palm of my hand. “Now it is time.” Grandmother nods.
I gulp as I raise my hands to cup it. The wish buzzes against my hands.
“I wish…”
As I speak, a sudden rage makes my heart hammer, like it were a ticking time bomb, ready to explode.Those creatures don't deserve to live!
No! That thought isn't true! Focus.
“I wish…” My heart thumps harder, drawing my lip back into a sneer.Dreamscreechers should suffer!
No. That thought doesn't make sense! I know the truth! I know dreamscreecher aren't evil!.
But why is the bitterness in my throat the same as before? Why are fingers curling like I could smite the wish? Why does anger burn and tighten my body like I could strangle a dreamscreecher to death?
Had I not learned?
"I wish…" I try to say my wish but I can't think through the rage smothering my thoughts. "I…."
Dreamscreechers are monsters!
They would all be so proud of me if I let it take over, wouldn't they? They would praise me. Dreamscreechers would be dead. All the people staring at me. They would love me. My family would cry of joy.
I squeeze my eyes shut. No! Fight it! It's not right! “I wish…”Dreamscreechers should be tortured.“I wish to see the truth!”
Grandmother gasps. “What?”
I hold the ball of magic tighter between my hands. “I want the truth. Show me the truth! Show the kingdom what really happened with dreamscreechers and Godusa! Show Grandmother!”
Dreamscreechers deserve to be torn apart!
“I wish for you to show us the truth!” I nearly scream the wish as my body tenses like my muscle would burst from my skin.
