Edda sat on the floor, leaning against a far wall. When her onyx eyes met mine, she jumped to her feet, swiftly moving to the bars that separated us. Her gaze traveled over my face, causing her brows to furrow. “You set it all in motion already. The truths are being revealed to you, but there is one more left for you to uncover.”
She was always the seer.I was not about to ask her what the last truth was. If she intended to tell me, then she would have.
“Did you know he would take the life of a child and what I would be forced to do?” I asked her, my voice somehow remaining firm despite the blade of torment wedged between my ribs.
Her frown deepened. “No. I never knew the details, just that it would be painful and eye-opening for you.”
Silence spread between us as I held her stare. She was still so much of who I remembered, yet at the same time, completely unrecognizable. How was it possible to be that? Foreign yet reminding me of home.
“Do you believe me?” She asked.
“For some reason, I do.”
One of her hands released an iron bar. She hesitated before reaching out for me, as if to touch my arm. I stepped back, staying out of reach.
Sadness swirled in her young yet ancient eyes as she pulled the hand back to herself, holding it close to her chest. “Why have you come?”
My ribs constricted. “You are not innocent. You disgust me, and yet my heart still fears for your safety. With what happens next, I do not know what Clause will do. I will not have your death on my hands too, another person powerless to make a choice, to defend themselves.”
My conjuring hummed to life within me. Mist shot out of my fingers towards the lock, keeping her caged. Edda’s eyes grew larger as she stared at my hand.
The iron pen keeping my grandmother in creaked open.
Mygrandmother. Even thinking the title hurt.
I spoke before she took a single step. “If I ever find you standing on the opposite side of me again, I will not grant you freedom again.”
She nodded. “What do you want me to do?”
“Stay out of my way.” I turned to leave, only to have her hand take mine, stilling me.
“I only ever wanted to protect you,” she said, a strange sorrow staining her voice.
I looked at the foreign fingers wrapped around mine before setting my attention on her youthful face. “And I only ever wanted those closest to me to never manipulate me.”
Her hand fell away from mine. “I will help you.”
I did not have it in me to waste more of my breath on talking to her. I only needed one thing from her.
“Just stay out of my way.” I then turned and exited the room with Edda a step behind me.
Soren’s eyes widened at the sight of us.
“She is free to go,” I said to him. “Will that be a problem?”
“No.” He frowned, looking at Edda while my attention remained on him.
“Good. I am going to bed now. Tomorrow will be a longday.” I glanced at Edda, “I take it you know your way around and will have no issue slithering out of the castle?”
“I’ll be fine.” She answered with a sad smile I did not care for.
Turning on my heels, I made my way to my room with Shay, where we found no rest.
My mind was a mess of turmoil. Thinking up awful scenarios and possibilities, my dreams wild with dark creativity. I could not control the thoughts, as they wreaked havoc on my mental state.
Why was the night always the worst for such thoughts?
I paced, stared out my window, and closed my eyes for brief periods without slumber until finally, it was time.
