Chapter 24 #3
I looked at the woman, my brows raised as skepticism filled my mind. “The goddesses have abducted the women of this town? For what purpose?”
A wild look entered the woman’s eyes as she stepped closer to me. “They promise a better life for giving life. But when we ask for what we have been promised, they discard us. Then they find new ones to trick.” Furiously the woman rubbed at her belly.
I reached out and held the woman’s hands, stilling them from their frantic movements. “Are you saying the goddesses tricked you?”
The woman stared at the ground, muttering.
An elderly woman then came over and wrapped an arm around her while rubbing her back in soothing motions.
“You’ll have to excuse Zara. She’s just a bit tired.
” The older woman turned Zara toward her.
“Come, sweetheart. Let’s get you back home and into bed.
Can’t have you wandering around and potentially losing that. ”
I stepped toward Zara, gently grabbing her hand. “Thank you for speaking with me, Zara. Get home safe.”
The two women took their leave and headed down the street together. Watching them walk away, I couldn’t get over how weird a conversation that was. Did the people of this town really believe the goddesses had come and taken their women and girls? Or did Zara have some psychosis?
*
By the time the sun began to set in the late afternoon, the oil lanterns had been lit, providing a warm orange glow that illuminated the town.
I had wandered onto what felt like the last street when I noticed a crudely drawn outline of a pregnant woman hanging above a doorway.
Just below was scrawled the word Healer.
I had finally found the healer. Hopefully, now I could get some actual answers about the missing posters and the pregnant woman.
I was making my way up to the steps of the healer’s shop when a large hand grabbed me by the arm and yanked me back violently.
“Are you trying to get fucking killed, Aurelia?” Everett hissed at me.
I tried to free my arm from the guardian’s firm grip, but he was unyielding. “Let go of me. You’re hurting me!” Looking at Everett’s face, I could tell he was equal parts scared and pissed off.
People began to gather on the street, watching our heated interaction.
“Everett, stop!” I pleaded, his grip on my arm tightening.
Everett turned to the gathering crowd. “Everyone, get inside! Now!” he bellowed.
Like scared little creatures, they all scattered into their homes at the screaming guardian’s command.
Everett dragged me away from the healer’s shop and toward a carriage.
“Please don’t make me go back. Please, Everett,” I begged.
I tried digging my heels into the soft dirt road but was unable to get any traction.
My foot caught in some mud, and I tripped, falling into the dirt.
Undeterred, Everett hauled me up by my arm and continued to drag me to the carriage waiting nearby.
By the time we made it to the carriage, I was fully sobbing from the pain and humiliation Everett was making me endure.
Everett threw open the carriage door and shoved me onto one of the plush emerald seats. He hit the carriage roof three times, and then we were in motion. I stared out of the window, refusing to look at Everett.
“Aurelia, I am really sorry for doing that. We have to keep up certain appearances in the human quarter.”
I turned to the guardian. “What appearances? That you’re fucking monsters?” I shrieked, tears and snot running down my face. I wiped my face with the arm of my cloak, trying to regain whatever shred of dignity I had left.
“You took off, Aurelia! I am charged with keeping an eye on you. King Julian explicitly said you had to stay on the palace grounds until your testing was done. You clearly mistake him for someone you can push boundaries with. Had he found out you’d left the grounds, it would have been Captain Evergreen hunting you down and not me.
And I know that you’re aware of how that would have ended. ”
I sniffled. “What about the guardians who let me out?”
Everett smiled. “Trust me, they like their hearts where they currently reside. They won’t be saying a thing.”
I sank back into the bench seat. “I just wanted a break from this place. I wanted to feel like I belonged and I was normal. Not a hilariously inept, stupid human.”
Everett sighed, his elbows planted on his legs as he leaned forward. “I’m sorry about what happened today with Prince Sterling. He did all of that on purpose, just to hurt and get a rise out of you. I wasn’t exaggerating when I said he was a prick.”
I looked down at the floor, unable to make eye contact with the guardian. “I regret saving him and letting him into my life. I regret bringing him back here, and I hate giving him the pleasure of getting underneath my skin.”
Everett reached over and patted my knee reassuringly just as we passed through the palace gates. I took a deep breath and let out a long sigh as I willingly went back into my gilded cage, like the good little pet that I was.