I was never one of them. Not even for a second. Not even for a breath.
“Everett?” Phil asked, standing.
I nodded. “It’s the only thing I’m ever sure of anymore,” I toldhim. “I am his Claim. It’s a code in their world. When they find someone special enough, good enough, worthy enough, they lay their claim, branding that person as their own.”
“And do you do the same? Are you allowed?”
I wasn’t sure why he was asking these questions now after spending so many hours with him, but part of me was glad he was. It was helping me focus. It was something important I could use my power for too. Maybe, if I did die today, or if I disappeared into oblivion, maybe he would find Everett and tell him that I still believed in the Claim, even at the very end. That I never betrayed him. Not willingly. I was faithful. I was a good Claim. “I don’t know if I’m allowed, but I did it.”
His eyes searched mine. “You claimed him? Branded him?”
“Yes,” I answered. “Because he is mine.”
Phil’s shoulders fell an inch, so much pain in his eyes. “Olivia, I hope for your sake, that you two are reunited one day. I pray that you are.”
I didn’t allow myself to feel anything but the anger. The strength of it was the only thing keeping me going. Everett would survive without me. He would be fine. But me? I wasn’t even the same person now. I wasn’t Olivia Rose or Olivia Lemont or Abigail Ross, I was something else.
Olivia Kingsmen.
Maybe nobody else in this world would ever know, but I would. They took everything else from me. Erased him from my skin, and they were going to cut off that tattoo and mark as soon as they got the chance, so I would create something they could never steal from me.
I was Olivia Kingsmen. Everett Kingsmen’s Claim, a member of the most powerful family in the world, even if I never really got a taste of it before I died.
At least I had that.
“Are you ready?”
I nodded, my eyes returning to that door.
I was ready. Ready to do whatever it took to get out of here. Either now or at the end of the drive.
I did one last check of my pants, and then reached up, touching the chunk of hair Merlin was hiding under, before straightening my shoulders and gesturing for the door.
This was the beginning of the last chapters of my story. I had to make it memorable.
Phil watched me for a few seconds longer, as if contemplating his next moves, before he headed for the door, me at his heels.
He opened it and I stepped into the doorway, looking up at the stone steps, my heart as calm as ever. The walls were made of the same packed soil that was in my room, the steps cracked and old.
I took my first step, shivering at the feeling of the cold stone under my bare feet, only slightly colder than the earth.
Phil stayed right behind me as I walked up those steps. They were steep, long, and at the top of them was a wooden door.
Phil joined me in that tight spot, sliding a key into the lock and flipping it over. He leaned back without a word.
I could see the light shining through the cracks in the wood. I wondered what the day would be like. Shining and bright, hot maybe, for a July day. I hoped the sun was shining. I hoped I would be able to feel it on my skin.
With a steady hand, I pushed open that door, a blast of fresh air whooshing over me as my hand flew to shield my face from the brightness of it.
It wasn’t even that bright. I think it was a cloudy day, I could smell the rain. I could feel it in the air, a fine mis, but my eyes were still sensitive after all that time in the room. It took me more than I liked to admit to force my hand down and take in my surroundings as quickly as I could before I lost the chance.
We were in the woods, just like I thought.
I could see the trees not far from me, the grass bright green allaround us, covered in dew.
There were thin dirt trails cut through it, leading to different buildings that were scattered about haphazardly, it felt like, and there was a pair that led right to the center where cars drove.
There was no van though. No cars anywhere.
