1
ERDIKOA
No one reconsiderstheir life choices until it’s too late and the consequences are staring back at them with taunting smiles.
Rory wished she’d reconsidered her actions before they ruined her life, but she didn’t. Now, here she was, on her hands and knees, as the cold from the concrete floor seeped into the hand holding her up.
She looked around the tiny room, trying to figure out where she was. The last thing she remembered was the Scales of Justice sentencing her to five-hundred years in Vincula, and then everything went black.
Was she in a holding cell in the prison realm?
In one of her hands, she clutched a book for dear life, and, upon further inspection, she was surprised to see it was one of Cora’s favorites from when they were kids. She didn’t remember bringing this with her to The Capital.
Sitting back on her heels, she surveyed the small room and covered her mouth to muffle a scream. Everything was in color.Plush red chairs lined one wall, and a brown wooden table sat between them.
The door to the room flew open, and Rory scrambled to her feet. A woman with white-streaked hair stepped inside and looked at Rory with a tinge of sadness.
“Hello, Aurora Raven. Welcome back to Erdikoa.”
“Welcome back?” Rory squeaked. “It’s been five-hundred years?”
The woman shook her head. “Somehow, your sentence ended early. It’s been three months.”
Rory’s jaw dropped to the ground, elated to be home but terrified to see her friends and family again. Would they hate her? Either way, it was a miracle.
Rory stared at the woman with her mouth still open. She heard what was said, but understanding the information was proving to be difficult. “What?”
“Your sentence is over,” the woman said slowly, as if talking to a child. “We will process your release and take you home.”
Rory trembled as her brain tried to process not only her early release but the colors bursting around her.
“I can see color,” she blurted, not caring if she sounded insane.
The woman’s face softened with something akin to sadness.Strange.“Yes,” she confirmed. “Your grey-scale sight lifted during your time in Vincula.”
With the exception of souls, she’d only ever seen in shades of black, grey, and white, and now her realm was overwhelmingly bright. Her soul whispered the names of colors she’d never seen before, and it was too much to take in at once.
The book in her hand dropped to the floor when she pressed her fists to her eyes. “What is happening?” Her voice was edging on hysterical, but she didn’t care.
A gentle hand landed on her shoulder, and Rory cracked open an eye.
“I know this is a lot, Rory, but we need to get you processed and out of The Capital as quickly as possible.”
Rory’s brow furrowed. How did this woman know her nickname? “Who are you?”
The woman’s eyebrow arched as a smirk played on her lips. “Lauren. I’m having clothes brought in for you to wear home,” she added, motioning to the pajamas Rory wore. “And you’ll need to drink a shapeshifting potion. No one, other than myself and another guard, is aware of your return, and we need to keep it that way.”
Rory stiffened. “Was I released illegally?” Something itched at the back of her mind, telling her she was missing something.
Lauren snorted. “No, but the early release of The Butcher will not be well received.”
It wouldn’t. She’d have to face her parents and friendsif they agreed to see her. The thought of their disgust and rejection ripped her wide open, and she covered her mouth to swallow a sob.
Lauren glanced at her over her shoulder and hardened her gaze. “You are not a weak little lamb being led to slaughter. Stop crying.”
Rory’s mind had the same itching feeling. Lauren’s words felt familiar, but she couldn’t place why. She eyed the woman again, wondering if they’d met before she was arrested.
There was one hard knock on the door before it busted open, and the largest man she’d ever seen walked inside.What did they feed this guy?
