Resolution surrounded the growing, aching pit in my chest, locking away my grief, fear, and pain where it couldn’t be used against me. And when armored boots echoed outside my door once more, determination set in.
THE WAR ROOMthey dropped me off in was too big and bright, just like everything here. This place reminded me of the images I had seen in the book about the prestigious gods and goddesses. It was all just so gaudy and cold. The gold and cream colors screamed at me, and the high gloss of the massive table amplified it all with its reflection. Marble statues lined the walls, holding up columns wrapped in banners. They twisted in the wind, making the beasts embroidered on them seem to come alive. The back of the room was wide open, the golden city below nearly glowing. Even from here, I could see the clean streets and people wearing the finest clothes walking about. They laughed and sang, prancing through the streets as if they lived by the grace of some perfect, sweet queen.
I knew some herbs and potions, when mixed right, could create mass hallucinations, and I wondered if perhaps she had drugged the citizens below into a state of joy and peace. How could they not see the reality of her?
The enormous double doors behind me were suddenly thrust open. I jumped and spun, my hands clasped in front of me as I faced the being who sought to rule it all. Nismera’s heeled boots tapped against the polished stone floor. She smiled, and if I did not know her legacy of abuse and torture, I would think she was painfully beautiful.
Her silver hair lay in perfect spirals down her back, the sides pulled up and pinned in place by the half crown she wore. Her dress was made from the finest fabric, all soft and light as it draped the curves of her body. Tiny gold scales covered her shoulder, three chains criss-crossing over her breasts. It was armor, but it looked deceptively delicate and feminine. Stunning. She was the most hateful, beautiful being I’d ever seen.
No guards followed her in, the heavy doors closing behind her with a thud. It was just me and her.
She stopped in front of me, her perfect lips curved in a small smile. “I hope your room is to your liking.”
My room? It wasn’t my room. There wasn’t a single thing in there that was mine. My room had the assorted herbs and plants I’d grown from seeds in my window. My room had the art Samkiel had given me on the walls and the silly picture Cameron had drawn for me tacked above my bed. The closet here wasn’t full of the dresses, shirts, and shoes Dianna had made or bought just for me. It was not my room. This was not my home. This was my prison.
“I want to go home,” I said, my voice trembling.
Nismera crouched to meet my eyes and reached out. I flinched, but she ignored my reaction and slid her fingers over my hair. “But, my dear, you are home. This is your new home, and we’re going to get along so well.”
She stood and patted my head roughly as she walked past me as if I were no more than a hound. I turned to keep her in my sights, watching as she stopped beside the table. She turned to face me and tapped her fingers on the surface.
“Let’s cut to the chase here, Minci.”
“It’s Miska.”
Her lip curled. “Sure. I need poisons, and since you’re the last of your little species, I need you to make them for me. I have a workstation set up and ready for you, with everything you should need. You can even start today. How does that sound?”
My throat bobbed. Nismera wanted me to do exactly what the healers of Jade City had been doing.
“I’ll make sure not to burn you out, and you’ll have an entire staff at your beck and call. In exchange, you get that lovely room and all the food you can fit into your tiny little belly. You’ll be one of my elite staff—”
“No,” I said.
Nismera continued to smile until what I’d said registered. Then, a switch flipped, and shadows slid over her features, casting an ugly darkness over her glowing beauty.
“Excuse me?”
I took a shuddering breath. “I said no.”
Her fingers stilled against the table, and I squared my shoulders.
“Cute,” she said. “I’m offering this once. Either you make me what I want and enjoy all the amenities I’m offering, or I force you. If you choose the latter, you will sleep in the dungeons below my palace amongst the prisoners to wallow in their shit and piss.”
I had to be strong. Nismera was just like everyone else in my life before Dianna came. She was a bully, and I was over it.
“I said no.” I swallowed the lump in my throat. “I won’t let you use me to hurt my family.”
She was in front of me before I had even processed that she’d moved. Her hand whipped out, slapping me so hard I sailed across the room. I didn’t know what hurt worse, my face or my back, where it had slammed against one of the columns. I was used to being hit and treated like something stuck to the bottom of someone’s shoe. Nismera’s hit was a stark reminder of the torture I had endured and why I would never help her. I had people who loved me now. Not one of them would ever raise a hand or voice to me. They liked my stupid drawings, listened to my stories, and played games with me. They took care of me, making sure I ate and slept well. I now had a home filled with laughter and love. I would gladly die here rather than do anything to destroy it.
I pushed up on trembling arms, a tear rolling down my cheek from the force of her hit. “You all fear Dianna, claiming she is a monster. But you are actually the monster, and I’ll never help you.”
I expected another blistering blow, but she only sighed. She approached her every step made with effortless grace. She crouched before me and reached out. I winced and cradled my swollen cheek, but she simply toyed with my hair again. “Well, the healer has spunk. I’ll give you that, but you want to know a secret?”
I said nothing but continued to watch her warily.
She tipped her head to the side as she looked at me. “Whether you help me or not, your family will be nothing but dust by the time I’m through.” She said it so calmly, without anger marring her sweet tone. It was one of the most terrifying things I had ever seen.
I was gathering my courage to respond, but a sudden knock interrupted anything I might have said. Nismera’s head whipped toward the doors as they were thrust open. A single royal guard entered and bowed low.
