Chapter 45. Nothingness.
The wounds on my thigh pulsed as I lay on the freezing ground. My heartbeat slowed; the darkness dragged me into its lonely embrace.
Peace traveled through my body, announcing my fight was over.
The Moon glanced down at me, accompanying me on my last journey. “Please let Francis live,” I whispered to her. “Please let him live—” My eyes closed. Fatigue froze my bones in this single moment. “I love you too,” I gasped, drawing a small, choking breath. I drew my final breath—
The piercing pain erupted in my knee. My pulse quickened against its touch, yet my mind could no longer struggle, drowning me deep into its peaceful nothingness.
The strong waves of darkness fell apart at someone’s strong hold. I wished for them to stop depriving me of peace. I wished for them to allow the Moon to claim my soul.
“Don’t you dare die!” Florence’s voice echoed through the calm breeze of my dreams. “Don’t you dare die, Cordelia!”
I fought for my eyes to open, to see my friend one last time, in vain. My mind slipped away from my grasp, and I had no strength to battle against it.
“Cordelia!”
The cold swept through my numb legs. The wound Kane had inflicted upon me cried anew.
Let me go.
Piercing pain washed over me with new power, forcing a muffled cry to push past my lips.
My heartbeat quickened.
Is this the end?
The blood escaped my poisoned wound. The agony spun my head into oblivion—
I forced my eyes to open.
Florence sat beside me, her mouth planted on the injury across my thigh as she sucked on my blood.
The blood slipped down her dark hair, painting it crimson, every inch of her beautiful skin now carried red.
Is she injured?
“Florence?” I heard myself speak.
More pain followed when my heart skipped a beat. My lungs ached, choking on each breath. I closed my eyes as the darkness presented herself in front of me.
“Take this!” Florence bit out, her hands pulling me upward. “Drink this! Now!” Her voice was so near, yet so far... “Cordelia!” A slapping sound vibrated in my ears.
My eyes flew open when my cheek erupted in pain.
“Drink!” Florence brought the bottle to my lips, forcing the contents down my throat.
The crimson slipped into my mouth, filling my empty stomach. The blood tasted bland compared to its usual delight.
“You will be all right.” Florence nodded, wiping off the blood from her lips. “You will be all right, there’s no poison left in you.” She pulled me to my feet when the last drops of blood reached my throat.
“Everything will be well.” She dragged me back towards the dungeons, towards dying Francis. “Just a little further,” Florence said when we entered the wicked room.
I leaned on the wall, sliding down when Florence rushed towards my friends.
Roxanne and Gabriel sat beside Francis’ limp body. Jars of differently colored medicine covered the floor.
