Pulling a Kinetic dagger from inside his blazer, he rounded the table. The blue sigils ignited on the blade, and I’d never been more grateful that we could heal from these weapons. But Forest wasn’t aiming to simply harm my momma to teach her a lesson. I could see it in the malicious glint in his dark eyes.
I began to fight against my chains, trying and failing to get free to help my mom. Logic told me it was useless. Even if I were able to break free, there was no way I could take on Forest and Grim. I didn’t care. I had to get to her. “Momma!”
My mother’s bottom lip quivered as her eyes darted between my father and me. “I love you both. I’m so sorry.”
“Mommy! Don’t hurt her!” I shouted until my throat hurt. “Don’t fucking touch her!” I’d never sworn before. I didn’t even know where that had come from, but I was frantic, bad words falling from my lips as I thrashed against my chains.
A pair of hands pushed against my shoulders, pinning my back against the wall. “This is what happens when you defy your king. It’s better to learn at a young age, boy.”
I tried to fight against Grim’s strength, but it was no use. “I love you, Momma.” When I watched the Kinetic blade slice my mother’s throat, I screamed—and screamed. All I could hear was my high-pitched shriek echoing off the concrete walls, not realizing it would be one of the last times I’d ever hear my own voice.
My father cried beside me, his head angled away from the macabre scene before us. Deep ruby-red liquid poured down my momma’s front as she gurgled. She wasn’t dead, and ordinarily, she would heal. But of course, the king wouldn’t allow that.
He took the dagger, shoving it into the open wound. I looked away, my stomach unable to hold any of my dinner. I retched off to the side, my vomit splattering off Grim’s shoes. My body heaved until it was empty.
My momma.
I looked at the king, rage and hatred burrowing deep inside my heart. I never knew one person could bear so many of those emotions. But as I stared at my lifeless mom with a dagger protruding from her throat, I knew I was permanently altered. My mother was my favorite person in the world. She’d done nothing wrong, only followed his orders. And he’d taken her from me, forcing me and my father to watch.
“Now,” King Forest said, leaving the dagger planted in my mother’s throat as he turned around to face us. “I need to be sure that you won’t talk, Cotton. Can’t have you running around the Palace telling everyone all that you’ve witnessed today.”
I clenched my jaw, glaring at the king, refusing to give him a response. Forest had just stripped me of my innocence, completely transforming me in the blink of an eye. I would never let this go.
My father, on the other hand, somehow had the strength to speak up on my behalf. “Don’t. He won’t say anything, Your Majesty. I assure you. I think you’ve traumatized him enough tonight to ensure that.”
Forest pretended to contemplate my dad’s words, but it was apparent his mind was already made up on what he had planned. “Can’t take any chances, Sage.” He dipped his head in Grim’s direction, giving him the signal to proceed. “I could always have his memories wiped of the incident, of course, but I need to ensure that he understands the severity of the situation. The importance of silence.”
I was sure he was going to kill me, just like my momma. At that moment, I didn’t care. At least I wouldn’t have to live long without her. But my father’s protests snapped me from my resignation.
“You can’t! He’s just a child! Your Majesty, please! Take me instead!” Sweat drenched my dad’s forehead, plastering his hair to his skin. Hearing my father beg cracked something else inside of me. I needed to be strong for him. He’d just watched the love of his life be murdered; now he had to watch his child be taken from him, too. I didn’t need to make it worse for him.
“I love you, Dad.” I made sure my voice was even, steady, just as a pair of icy fingers latched onto my chin and jaw. Grim pried my mouth open and pulled my tongue free.
My eyes widened, and no matter how strong I tried to be, it wasn’t enough when Grim stretched my tongue from my mouth with one hand and wielded a shiny knife in the other.
I thrashed in the small hope of escaping him. My shoulder must’ve come out of the socket, but in my panic, I didn’t take notice.
“Sit still, or worse could happen, boy,” the king demanded.
Tears streamed down my cheeks, burning my skin against the frigidity in the room.
My breaths came out in pants as I frantically searched around for help that I knew wasn’t coming. The knife inched closer to my tongue, and I froze, watching in horror.
“No!” my father screamed out, unable to do anything to help me.
I squeezed my eyes shut, learning from the mistake I’d made in watching my mom die.
Grim pressed the knife against my tongue?—
“This is enough. Let’s go, Cotton.”Nell’s voice jolted me,reminding me that I was merely in a memory as she snatched me from that god awful day.
Nell and I soared out of the memory, flying upward to return to the present. I couldn’t see her, but I could sense her presence all the same. Once the surreal movement stopped, and I felt the vast difference between the cold, hard floor of the King’s Prisons in comparison to the soft, cushioned chair in Nell’s office, I opened my eyes.
Nell sniffled, cupping her mouth with her hands, distraught. “I’m so sorry. You poor child.”
I swallowed, the lack of tongue in my mouth a permanent reminder of the past.“Don’t be,”I said into her mind.
Nell’s eyes widened, a slow grin spreading upward as she dropped her hands. “You did it,” she whispered. “You opened the link. By allowing me to witness that experience, your barrier is now removed. The mere act of showing me the memory dissolved the power that event has held over you for so long. You’re finally free from those shackles, my dear.”
