Page 45 of Soulmateless
Grandmother's expression doesn't change until she gives a final sigh. “If you believe that's best, Valley Lily.” She draws my head close with her hands on my chin and plants a kiss on my forehead. She then pulls me into another squeeze, bringing my head to her shoulder.
I allow her to do so and embrace her back, closing my eyes. I have to do this. Not only for her, but for the rest of the kingdom. The point of Cosmo’s wish is to serve the people what they need, and this is it. Not one of us should suffer from them any longer.
If there's anything honorable I can do in my life, it would be to kill who has killed so many.
Chapter 16
Ignatia
Despite the heaviness of my eyes, I open them and push my body up. I glance around, expecting the new room Amias got me, but it's too dark to make out anything.
Wait… No… this can't be right…
The only thing I can see is the faintest red light shining through a small flip at the bottom of a door. The light is strong enough to show the rusty floor beneath, which explains the earthy odor.
No! How did I get back here?
I scramble off the ground and on my shaking legs. My ears ring and the room wobbles. I stumble back, digging my nails into the grainy wall behind me to keep myself standing. After attempting to steady my trembling breath, I kneel down to the flap and lift it up as if I could squeeze through, but it is far too small to even try.
I almost trip on myself getting on my feet again, reaching my hands out to keep steady. I don’t understand. Just a moment ago, I was sleeping in my bed, stitched up and my belly full from fried lamb and rice.
Was I…somehow sent back? In my sleep?
Did Amias know?
Metal creaks signaling the room tipping over. I stumble with the increased tottering of the room. Something heavy and cold squeezes my wrists with a clank.
I snap my attention to the large heavy iron cuffs clasped my hands. They shrink, getting so tight that they could snap my hands off.
What is going-
I'myanked back to the wall, the grip on my wrists intensifying. Unleashing a cry, I thrash my arms, but nothing budges.
My heart could hammer through my chest. Had the iron been possessed? Who put me in here in the first place?
The cold touch of hardened sand grazes the sides of my shoulders before pressing against me seconds later.
My breath evaporates. My blood runs cold.
The walls, they're crushing me.
I try to race my feeble feet back to the door, but the walls press harder against me, the chains keep their grip and my feet can't travel further.
I can't die! I just made it out alive!
The door opens suddenly, a silhouette standing before me wearing a bun and ball gown. She stands with the bright red light behind her, proud and unmoving.
Creaking only gets louder. The walls compress me further. Sudden voices drown out all my senses, coming from different directions with no clue where they’re coming from.
“You're not the fiery I named you to be!” Vasilisa's voice comes louder than the others. "I should rip your brain out your fucking skull!"
My lips throb and I dig my teeth into my tongue. “Stop!”
“She's a murderer, just like her mother!” A man yells.
“You don't have to do this!” I flinch from father's voice.
“You're a coward Ignatia!”
