“What is it, Sapphire?”
“Absinthe and the entire Ivast family will get what they deserve one day. There will be someone far more powerful than you can imagine who will make them suffer fates worse than death for a very long time. That is, of course, before they are actually put to death in gruesome ways.” I swallow, drifting to sleep. “Story and Jeb will be avenged. I promise.”
56. The Blood of The Prison
Sapphire
Krimson stands on one sideof my father’s bed. I am on the other.
It’s midnight. The fireplace sends a smoky aroma of burning wood, cloves, and cinnamon wafting through the bedroom. This space used to scare me, encourage rage and bitterness… Now, it’s the sweetest place in the whole world. My father sleeping in the center of the room. Krimson watching me with his silhouette outlined by the amber blaze of the fire.
“Tell me where you are,” my brother demands.
He is usually so calm and level-headed. But not right now. Under his eyes are swollen and dark. His forehead strung together. I’ve never seen him so stressed.
“The Vexamen Prison, at least fifty years in the past,” I say quickly, unsure how long I have with him before the dream disappears again.
“No way…”
“I’ve been to asylum when Mom burned it down. I’ve been to Uncle Niles’s house when he was being influenced by Absinthe and Albatross. I’ve seen Aurick Demechnef when he was living with Mom…I can’t control it, Krimson!”
“Okay, slow down—”
“Niklaus is hurt. I need to get us home, but I don’t know how this works. It happens when I’m in danger or when I’m emotionally distressed. I cannot do this anymore. I won’t survive it. Our parents grew up in a horrific form of hell!”
“I bet I have the gift too. I will come get you. I will find you!”
I run my hands through my hair. “You could get lost too though. Have you told Mom what’s going on?”
Krimson’s gaze slides to the door and back to me.
“Yes. She’s with me now.”
“Good. We can’t do this alone.”
“She got Uncle Warrose, Aunt Ruth, and Aunt Marilynn involved.”
Chills rise each hair on the back of my neck.
“Aunt Marilynn?”
“Yes.” He gives me a knowing look. “She knew this was going to happen. She’s trying to teach me how to access the Nightlung to come get you.”
I sigh. “Oh, thank God.”
“But Sapphire, is Uncle Niles okay? It looked like he was in the Blackspire Ward of The North…”
My eyes throb from the sudden purge of tears. I stare at my brother, battling that little girl inside me that just wants to fall to pieces and let him fix everything for me.
“I don’t know…” I sob, throwing my hands to my side. “Fuck, I don’t know! I think he is there, but I’m a prisoner now too—and I can’t seem to control where I go or when. If he is a captive there, we have to save him. I’ll never forgive myself…”
“We’ll get to him, Sapphire. He’s smart and has been through much worse. He’ll know how to survive until we get there.”
As I observe my brother standing there, I can see now that we don’t look much alike. I’m far more resemblant of my mother. But he is the spitting image of our father from what I’ve seen of the past.
“And Mom doesn’t know how to travel through time?” I ask.
Krimson shakes his head. “Just the Void. Apparently, it’s like a sibling of the Nightlung.”
