12. Chapter Twelve
Chapter Twelve
Embla
The crowd disperses once the hunters disappear among the trees. Fog seeps out of the forest reaching for the archway. They will gather again when the first hunter returns to celebrate their victory or if they failed, they’d wait and see who succeeds. A chill wraps around me as I stand in front of the open gate, cold without Roan’s arms. A prince, I can’t believe he’s a prince, my mind cannot wrap itself around that fact. Peering into the abyss of darkness beyond, I can’t help wonder how this happened. A faint noise pulls on my ears, and I take a step forward. It sounds like something is vibrating. It gets louder before falling utterly silent. The hair on the back of my neck stands on end as the sensation of eyes on me creeps up my back.
My panic rises as I look at the trees. They lurk in the fog-laced shadows. A small movement catches my eye, and the shadows start moving. A swarming wall of wasps sweeps the distance between the forest and the gate in seconds. I don’t have a chance to shout before they fill the Square. Splitting into three streams as they rush the stage.
“Papa!” I scream, glancing back at the open gate, hoping one of the hunters hears the commotion and turns around. But I am drowned out by the hum of insect wings.
Helplessness consumes me as I watch the insects engulf Papa in a cloud of black along with Lumin Perkins of the Market District, and Lumin Raine of the Residential District. I don't know what to do, and I freeze as their screams fill the air a moment before the wasps begin to force their way down the throats of the Lumin council. Papa gags, falling to his knees while he claws at his neck for relief, leaving gashes as he tries to dig the wasps out of his body. A shriek rips through me, and I rush to my father's side. People crowd around the stage, shock written across every face. I know I should do something, my hands flutter over Papa , not wanting to make anything worse. What do I do? Where do I start to help? I cannot contain my terrified screams, but it’s too late. The last of the swarms disappeared down the throats of the district leaders. Wrapping my arms around my father’s waist, I try to lay him against the ground as his fingers grip his throat. His weight is too much for me, and I’m pulled to my knees with him.