Chapter Thirty-One – Grim
Chapter Thirty-One
Grim
We landed in the grand room of a medieval castle. Even though the cold and damp didn’t bother me, I couldn’t say I would’ve chosen this place as a destination... ever. The stone walls loomed over us, making me feel small. Tattered tapestries hung sadly, like they’d given up on trying to make the place look nice. I hadn’t expected a powerful creature like Ma-Vasha to live in such a dump. The whole place reeked of misery and decay. It was like she’d decided to make her home in the most depressing spot she could find. Maybe that was the point. A weak fire flickered in a massive fireplace, barely warming the room. The flames cast creepy shadows that danced on the walls. Outside, I could see a storm raging. The wind howled like a wounded animal, making the whole scene even more dramatic.
In the center of the room stood a long table, scarred and beaten up like it had seen centuries of abuse. Ma-Vasha sat at the head. Her skin was pulled tight over her bones, and her eyes glittered with a hunger that made my skin crawl. Next to her sat Elysia, looking tiny and scared. The contrast between them was huge – Ma-Vasha, ancient and terrifying, and Elysia, young and innocent. It made me feel sick, though technically... I couldn’t be sick. But it definitely reminded me of how it felt to be sick to your stomach.
In front of Elysia was a feast fit for a king. Roasted meats, colorful fruits, and rich desserts covered the table. It was like Ma-Vasha was trying to fatten her up, which made no sense. She wasn’t going to eat Elysia’s flesh, just her soul. Maybe it was some twisted form of kindness, giving the kid one last meal before... I didn’t want to think about what came next.
A glass filled with dark red liquid sat near Elysia’s plate – poison.
“Elysia, don’t drink from that glass!” Millie’s voice echoed off the walls and down endless halls.
I watched as Elysia’s small frame jolted at the sound, her eyes wide with confusion. She looked so lost, so out of place in this hellhole.
“Millie?” Elysia’s voice quivered. Her little hands trembled as she pushed her chair away from the table. “What’s going on? Is this a bad dream?”
If only this were a nightmare she could wake up from.
Millie’s face crumpled, her eyes pleading as she turned to Ma-Vasha. She took a step forward, but I gently grabbed her arm, holding her back.
“Please, stop this. Don’t hurt her.”
Ma-Vasha didn’t even blink, her eyes fixed on Elysia like a predator eyeing its next meal. She sat unnaturally still, barely seeming to breathe.
“I can’t eat another bite,” Elysia sobbed, pushing her plate away with shaking hands. “She’s been making me eat since she brought me here.”
Why force-feed the kid? It didn’t make sense.
“Why are you making her eat?” I asked, my grip on Millie’s arm loosening slightly.
Ma-Vasha’s lips curled into a smile. She leaned forward, her bony elbows resting on the table. She seemed excited at the question, eager to explain how her diet worked.
“Souls are sweeter when the sacrifice is in no kind of discomfort,” she purred. “Including hunger and thirst.”
Millie’s eyes flashed with anger. She jerked forward, trying to break free from my hold. I pulled her back gently, wrapping an arm around her waist.
“Elysia is clearly in a lot of discomfort. She’s shivering. It’s freezing in here.”
Ma-Vasha shrugged, unbothered. Her long, spindly fingers tapped against the table.
“There’s nothing I can do about that. I can see what you think of me,” she continued, her gaze sweeping over Millie and me. “You believe I should live like a queen, not in this poverty.” She gestured around the dismal room with a sweeping motion. “But there’s a pesky little prophecy that prevents me from living the life I want. No matter. It’s a small price to pay to be alive.” Her eyes narrowed as she focused on Millie. “You should understand. After all, you’d do anything to keep yourself and your sister alive, wouldn’t you?”
I watched Millie’s face, saw the conflict and desperation in her eyes. She was trapped, her body tense against mine.
“Let Elysia go,” Millie pleaded, her voice breaking. She tried to step forward again, but I held her firmly. “I’ll drink what’s in the glass. It was always meant for me, anyway. You didn’t have to kidnap her.”
My entire being rebelled at the idea. I couldn’t let Millie sacrifice herself. Not after everything we’d been through. Not after I’d finally found someone who made me feel... human again.
Before I knew what I was doing, I stepped forward, gently pushing Millie behind me.
“I have a better offer,” I said, my voice steady.
Ma-Vasha’s eyes locked onto me, curiosity gleaming in their depths. She tilted her head, waiting.
“Let them both go. You can have my soul instead.”
I felt Millie’s hand grasp my arm, but I didn’t look back. I couldn’t bear to see the pain in her eyes.