He felt around her head, searching for that mysterious eyeball she always talked about. He could never find it. “Where’s the extra eyeball, Mama?”
“Only adults can see it, Cahir. It developed as I grew you in my womb and was madeextra specialso I could always keep watch over you.”
He wasn’t entirely sure about that because sometimes he stuck his tongue out at her, and she didn’t notice.
“Let’s go find your father.” She reached out her hand, and they made their way out of the dark room, through the dark halls, and back into the main hallway.
The castle was so big and so tall, and not long into their walk, his legs felt tired. She pulled him up and carried him the rest of the way, and he nestled into her warm arms, pressing his ear to her chest and listening to the steady rhythm of her heartbeat.
When they crossed the familiar double doors to his parents’ wing, he heard loud sounds coming from his father’s bedroom.
His mama stilled.
“Is Daddy okay?” Ael asked her, noticing how her heart had quickly changed its beat.
She didn’t respond as she slowly set him down. “Stay here, Cahir.” Her face looked serious, and it frightened him. His mama was never serious. Only Daddy was serious.
He tried to ask again, this time whispering, “Is Daddy okay, Mama?”
“Stayhere,” she reiterated, and Ael stood frozen in the hallway, watching with wide eyes as she neared his bedroom.
She flung the door open and marched in, slamming the door behind her.
Ael heard screams and the shattering of glass. Suddenly, the door swung open, and a maid hurried out. She was the same maidLuelle often played tricks on. The maid was unclothed and dashed past him, vanishing down the corridor.
Ewwwwwwww, he thought. You only got naked when you took a bath. He shifted his eyes back onto the now open door and took a hesitant step forward.
He heard louder sounds, and the sudden scream made him lurch forward. As he entered the room, he saw his father standing over Mama. Blood dripped from a cut on her face, matching the blood on his father’s hand.
He felt so scared. She was hurt. He needed to protect her. HelovedMama.
“Cahir…” she choked out when she saw him, her eyes going wide.
Ael tried to run toward her, but Daddy turned around, and the familiar look of anger met Ael, stopping him in his tracks. The only things his daddy wore were the crown on his head and the blood on his hand. Why was he also naked?
Guards and the mean witch, Tahti, rushed into the room.
“Get him out of hereNOW!” Daddy shouted at the guards. The guards grabbed Ael, and he screamed in response, kicking his legs wildly.
He had to protect Mama and help her.
He broke free from their grasp and ran to her, embracing her tightly. Blood covered his hands, arms, and shirt as he held her close, longing for his own body to shield her from further pain.
“Mama…” he cried into her. He could feel her heart pounding rapidly beneath him. Mama was frightened. He had to be brave and strong. It was not right that Daddy hurt her!
His father quickly walked up from behind and painfully yanked him away from her. He struck his father with all his strength, but his father remained unfazed.
Daddy should never hurt Mama!
He screamed as the guards seized him again, thistime holding him more tightly. He kicked and yelled at the guards, but couldn’t break free.
Tightly clutching him, they carried him away from Daddy’s bedroom, quickly shutting the double doors behind them, leaving Daddy, the witch, and Mama behind.
He heard his Daddy say, “It’s time.”
His Mama’s screams echoed once more through the hall, and he reached out with his hands, trying to grab for the door that got farther away with each step, watching in horror as Mama’s blood covered his arms and hands.
The darkenedclouds in the sky parted, and a waterfall of sunlight filtered through, casting its rainbow of light onto Mama’s closed casket where she lay within. Everyone stood there in mourning as the magical essence swirled around them all, dancing up along the cliffside where the casket was placed.
