Golden (Fairytales Retold)

Prologue

PROLOGUE

S he tore through the dense forest, branches snatching at her cloak.

Her lungs burned, every breath a desperate gasp, as she pumped her legs harder . She had to push past the fear. Push past the pain. It was her only chance of escape. She tripped and fell to the ground.

Despair clutched her in an iron grip. Get up! Do you want to die? She stumbled to her feet and kept going. She heard the persistent shuffle of footsteps behind her. Lilith was getting closer.

Her heart pounded like a war drum in her ears. The darkness was smothering. Her body was giving out, but she had to keep going. Too much was at stake to give up now. She kept running, her mind a blur.

A taunting voice rang through the darkness, “You can’t run forever.”

She would run until she had no strength left. No sooner had the words flitted through her mind when her foot caught on a root. This time, she went down hard, her hand landing on a sharp rock that pierced through her flesh. She gasped, feeling the sticky warmth of her blood flowing over her hand.

She heard the frantic thudding of footsteps and turned to see her tormentor rushing toward her.

“You can never escape me,” Lilith screamed. She looked down at her prey, a peculiar sadness weighing in her voice. “You and I both know how this is going to end. It didn’t have to be this way. Together, we could’ve been invincible.”

“Nay, for you couldn’t rest until you took possession of my amulet. Your insatiable thirst for power has cankered your soul. If only you had stopped to consider how your actions affect others.”

“Silence,” Lilith screeched. “I’ll hear no more drivel from you. This ends tonight.”

Isolde had known that Lilith would eventually find her. She’d thought she was prepared to die. But now, when the prospect was upon her, the lie unraveled. Trembles rattled through her body. She poured all of her remaining strength into the fury of her words. “You failed. Killing me won’t change anything. I’ve put measures into place—measures that will protect the amulet and ensure that good will ultimately prevail.”

“You think you can stop me from getting what I want? You’re pathetic. So na?ve. How exhausting it must be to carry around your heavy cloak of perceived righteousness. You sicken me.” She held out her hand. “Now, hand it over.”

Laughter riddled Isolde’s throat. “You’ve wasted your time hunting me down. I don’t have the amulet.”

“You lie,” Lilith raged.

She lifted her chin. “The amulet is safe from you.”

“Give me the amulet, or I’ll destroy you!”

A bitter chortle bubbled from Isolde’s lips. “I don’t have it.”

“Very well.” Her voice was quiet. Final. “Time to end this.”

Shudders ran through Isolde, knowing what was coming next.

Lilith would use the amulet against her.

A whimper rose in her throat. She clamped down her lips so that it wouldn’t escape. She had to be brave. She had to endure the pain with dignity and grace. A silent prayer went through her mind. Please help this to pass quickly.

A deafening silence pressed against her ears.

Then came the blinding light, searing through her mind and soul.

“Tell me what you did with the amulet,” Lilith shouted.

Even though she knew it was futile to resist, Isolde fought, clinging to her final shreds of willpower.

Then, her sanity was shattered as a ragged cry ripped from her throat.