“It makes me feel weak.” She exhales. “I cannot help you if I’m weak.”
“It makes you strong to admit those things scare you. I’m scared…” I draw in a breath before finding the words to continue, “…that Hector won’t forgive me for leaving without telling him.”
“He loves you, Sol. He will forgive you.”
Does he?
He has never said those words.
“Cenric lovesyou, Everly. I have seen the way he stares at you. He will accept you when you return, and he will forgive you.”
“Ifwe return.” Everly’s words smelt fear into my chest. It burns through all my hopes, my dreams, my desire to be free of this place.
I settle back against the wall of the tent and draw in a calming breath, needing to believe and find my focus again. “We will return.”
“How?”
“I don’t know yet,” I admit. “But we will find a way.”
As I close my eyes, I envision leaving this tent and finding my way to the pool of Zalhandara. Next, I envision sinking my entire body below the soothing water and renewing myself. Then, the darkness would fade, leaving only light. I even think about the baby I haven’t allowed myself to think about.
I am separated by time and space from Hector, yet a part of him lives inside me. Probably even thrives inside me. It’s a responsibility I am not sure I am equipped to handle.
I have not been able to save myself from the darkness. How could I save a child?
“Sol, do you think there are mice here?”
I blink, surprised by Everly’s question.
Focus, Sol.
“It’s possible.” I wrinkle my nose and tuck my feet closer to my body.
Everly speaks in a gentle voice, her murmuring too soft for me to understand. As she continues, a mouse scurries from beneath the canvas to where she sits. She scoops it up, holding it in her hands.
I shudder and inch away from her, not wanting that thing near me. “How do you do that?”
She shrugs. “I told you. Animals like me. They always have.” Her lips curl to the side as she studies the mouse. “There is only one problem. Well, there are two. We have no bloodstone, and we are tied to this stake, so we wouldn’t be able to step into a portal.”
“There has to be a way to get free.” Her eyes flash with determination as she yanks on the rope binding her to the stake. “I know what Hematites do to women.”
Hurt them?
Force themselves on them?
Olah, please help us!
I let out a slow exhale and shut off the fears nagging at my mind. “We will find a way out of this.”
She doesn’t answer. Instead, she leans down and frees the mouse, and it scurries away, escaping in a way we cannot.
Her face contorts with effort, and her hands tremble as she pulls at the rope that doesn’t budge.
“Please,” I say, my heart aching. “You’re going to hurt yourself.”
“I cannot wait around for them to come in here and hurt me. I won’t do it, Sol. I cannot.”
I grab her hand and fasten my fingers around hers. “They will not hurt you. I promise.”
