She's still out there in desperate need of stitches and treatment. I can't imagine staying overnight in the streets in such a condition.
My heart pinches. It's my fault. I shouldn't have been distracted with Erasmus. I should've gone after her instead, even if I couldn't keep up with her anyway.
I look up at Mother. Maybe she has answers. “Mother. What do you-”
The double doors open loud enough to announce someone's presence. I jerk my head to meet the guards holding it open, standing out from the dark room with their white military tunics, and the face of Grandmother. Her towering body makes her steps creak the wooden floor and her platinum hair flows behind like a flag. Her long bleached pink dress trails behind her as she plops on her seat at the end of the table.
Her blue eyes are weary and dull today, opposing the eternal twenty year old youth that holds her face.
I offer a smile. Hopefully she won't mention yesterday either. "Good morning, Grandmother. You look tired."
Grandmother takes a lungful of air. "Yes, I've been having nightmares lately."
“Nightmares?” I take one last bite of my flos cruentus.
“They're nightmares of Adoro dying. Everything was crumbling to dust. Even the both of you and all of the Amarians. I was so restless last night. You couldn't imagine.”
“Well at least those dreams weren't real. We're all still here!”
“Yes, but I'm rather worried.” She crosses her arms, rubbing one hand on her elbow. Her eyes become shifty. “It's unusual for me to have nightmares. Gifts aren't supposed to have them unless they're really important.”
Mother gasps. “You think it's Cosmo trying to tell you something?”
My body freezes as I reach for another pastry. If great Grandfather Cosmo is involved, maybe it's a bigger deal than I thought.
“Perhaps. I'm not sure what could cause so much destruction though.” Grandmother reaches for a flos cruentus before her eyes grow twice their size. “Dreamscreechers…”
The name lands a solid punch to my chest. Dreamscreechers. Creatures that don't deserve to exist. They're only made for vengeance and killing every living thing.
The headlines of their gory crimes and faces of their victims I've seen in the news flash in my head. My fists clench. I wouldn't be surprised if those vile monsters terrorized the world. “You think he's warning you about them?”
Grandmother doesn't face me as films of gloss cover her eyes. “It would have to be.”
My blood simmers. They've already done enough to violate our kingdom. I stand from the table and slam both hands on the table. “I want to help this time. Maybe I can join the military.”
“No!” Grandmother snaps. “I refuse to put you there.”
My nose creases. “Why? Erasmus was in the military.”
“He's stronger than you when it comes to military qualities. He's willing to be brutal and kill anyone necessary to protect the kingdom. You, my sweet Valley Lily, are much too forgiving and loving. There's a reason I tell you not to engage with dreamscreecher propagandists.”
“I'm not going to end up like Lydia.” My teeth grind. I’d never be manipulated into loving a monster, like she had. “I'm no dreamscreecher lover! Dreamscreechers don't deserve my remorse.”
“They all say that until they end up in her shoes.” Grandmother sighs. “The tender hearted don't belong fighting against dreamscreechers. It's been proven time and time again to be a terrible idea. They're easy targets. Liabilities.”
“I'm not a liability!” I hit the table with one hand. “What? Are you saying that the rumors are true?”
Grandmother looks at her flos cruentus, her tone softening. “No, but it doesn't make you less of a liability.”
“It's not like I have some type of monster fetish or something. Why would I be a liability?”
“The thing is that it has nothing to do with having a fetish or a thing for dreamscreechers. It's all about manipulation and abuse, which anyone can be a victim of.” Grandmother’s gaze returns to mine. “And you know, they love the tender ones. They love the listeners. They’ll take advantage of your kindness and then eat you alive.”
“But my kindness doesn't make me weak!”
“It doesn’t.”A weak smile tugs her lips. “It just brings a severe disadvantage when it comes to the military. Your tender heart belongs where it's safe and given to those who need it. Not in the bloody battlefields of war. It would be a waste.”
My body keeps tightening. “But I'm an adult. I'll be twenty-one in two months. I should be defending our kingdom!”
