Chapter 1
The Vilest Villain Who Ever Lived
Raewyn
My first glimpse of the afterlife was even better than I could have anticipated.
One moment I was standing at the gallows in the arena of Castle Seaspire, and the next I opened my eyes to see a luxurious room, appointed in richly colored silks and elegantly carved furniture.
Vases of fragrant fresh flowers filled the room with their sweet scent and delicate beauty. Just outside the large window to my left, hummingbirds danced and darted, feasting on nectar provided by the flowering vines that surrounded it.
Warm sunlight streamed inside the room and shone through crystal candlesticks, casting miniature rainbows on the walls and the gorgeous hand-painted ceiling mural.
It depicted fluffy white clouds on a backdrop of azure sky. Parts of it were shaded pink and purple by a setting sun.
My bed was like a cloud itself, and its coverings appeared to be made of the finest silk and decorated with tiny sparkling jewels.
Drawing my arms from beneath it, I lifted them in front of me and saw I was dressed in a beautiful nightgown. The fabric was so soft and light, it felt almost like wearing nothing, yet I was warm and comfortable.
Heaven indeed.
It was all something of a surprise. I had thought at first that my eternity would be spent in quite the opposite place, the Land Without Stars.
Though I hoped I’d lived a good life and had prayed for mercy in my final moments after the hangman dropped a dark hood over my head, the very next instant had been filled with screams, a blast of immense heat, the acrid smells of smoke and rendered flesh—and pain.
So much pain.
The definition of Hell itself.
Even now when I pushed myself to a sitting position, I felt dull remnants of those excruciating sensations—something sharp piercing my flesh, my bones being crushed in a giant creature’s punishing grip.
Which was strange. If I was in the great hereafter receiving my blessed eternal reward, why would I feel echoes of agony?
It was not what our village vicar had promised about the heavenly realm.
In fact, when I attempted to move my legs and get out of bed, the dull pain flashed to sharp new life and prevented it.
Still, it wasn’t unrelenting agony.
There was no terror here. There was no hellfire and brimstone.
Instead, I was surrounded by unimaginable beauty and luxury. I was safe.
I was still alive.
So this was not Heaven nor Hell. But wherewasI?
Based on my limited view from the window, I was high up. An upper room in a palace?
If I leaned forward and stretched my neck, I could catch a glimpse of green lawn below with immaculate landscaping, trees and shrubs.
And I thought I could hear seagulls and the distant roar of the ocean.
Was this Seaspire then?
Had Stellon intervened at the last second and stopped the execution?
A rush of warmth filled me at the realization that he had come through for me after all and had somehow managed to save my life.
