Mother breaks down in sobs, falling to her knees. Erasmus’s wall comes down as he goes over to embrace her,though the streaks of wetness on his cheeks are unmistakable when he looks back at me. Father steps back, his hardened gaze softening to the point of glossiness.
They're disappointed in me. All of them.
I close my eyes. “They aren't all evil,” I cry before realizing how unsteady my voice is. I take a deep breath to calm myself but it's no use with the tremble in my throat. I can't convince them. I'm going to lose everyone. One way or another. “She's saved my life, multiple times. Remember? This is nothing more than a symbol of love…”
I turn back to Ignatia to see her shaking as she starts to weep. I run towards her only to have something hold me across my arms and chest. I can barely move with the tight grip, but I writhe as much as I can. “Let me go!”
“I can't let her manipulate you,” Erasmus mumbles in my ear. “Not any longer.”
“No!” I push to get out of his grasp, but we end up falling to the ground. For a moment, I'm free from him and I attempt to get up, only for him to put me in a chokehold.
“This is for your own good.” Erasmus's chokehold strengthens and my vision starts to fade in dots.
“I have a proposal that will be to your benefit, I can assure you," I hear Vasilisa snicker faintly. "If you hand my daughter over to Somnia, we will never come after your son again. I will get rid of the beast that has ruined your son so that you and your family can stay safe. I'll kill her myself."
My vision starts to blur, the last thing I hear before my body is forced into the abyss, is my weeping Mother. “After I get answers. You can have her in three days.”
Chapter 49
Amias
I fought to keep myself out of here, but I ended up in one of the empty rooms of Mother's lake house, all white walls and white carpet. No furniture or anything else. Erasmus is supposed to be here to control me, but I won't let him.
“Let me go to her!” I attempt to shove Erasmus out of the way of the exit.
“Calm down!” he says, pushing me back. He scowls. “This isn't you!”
“Yes it fucking is!” I shove against him once more before bolting past him towards the door. I yank at the door, but it doesn't budge. It only throws me back with every tough tug.
Tears blur my eyes. “Get me out of here! Let me get to her!”
After a few more yanks, I give up on the knob. I bang against it as if anyone would come to my rescue. “Someone! Please! Let me get to her!”
I bang it a few more times before slamming my shoulder into it.
Ignatia is going to die. They’ll send her to Vasilisa to have her killed. I won't be able to save her.
Uncontrollable sobs escape my mouth as I punch the door.
How could my family do this to her?
“It's okay Amias,” Erasmus murmurs, putting his hands up defensively. “Just let it all out.”
“I'm not a child!” I cry. This isn't some toddler tantrum! Well fuck, these tears might as well make it one.
But who wouldn't weep for the woman they truly loved?
Erasmus continues,“I never said you were. You're just going through a lot.”
“Yeah, because of you and our parents! You're all agreeing to sentence Ignatia, an innocent woman, to death!”
His eyes become glossy as he crosses his arms. “How much has she manipulated you?”
“That's the point! She didn't!”
“If she hadn't, you would know that we are doing what's best for you.”
“What? What's best for me?” I stomp over to him, pointing to my chest. “What about this is good for me? How about Ignatia? She's done nothing but save my life!”
