Chapter 3. Surrender.
The once clear trail to the palace was now hidden underneath a white blanket, stealing Annabelle’s every step. I tightened the cloak around myself, covering my face as much as was possible, though even that wouldn’t stop dozens of needles–like snowflakes from scraping my cheeks.
It didn’t take long for the cold to sneak into my bones, sending shivers through my already weakened body.
“You show me no mercy,” I spat at the Moon that surely laughed at me stopless.
Annabelle balked when the wind worsened its blows, almost sending us backwards.
Mother never allowed me to ride in such conditions. How could she not know that one night I might need such a skill? She wished me to fail. She wished me death—
The ache in my throat erupted like a forest catching aflame in the middle of summer. My knuckles whitened as I squeezed the reins harder, refusing to succumb to the wind’s blows.
I closed my eyes, willing my mind present, though it did nothing for my inevitably growing hunger.
Florence had forced me to feed two nights ago while I was in and out of consciousness—I couldn’t protest. Though, I won’t need to worry about that for long: I walked towards my end.
Weightless—
My body flew forward as my hands dug into the saddle—desperate to keep myself atop—when Annabelle balked against an invisible barrier on the path. She bucked again and again, until my hands surrendered their struggle and the snow caught me in its cruel, cold embrace.
The reins remained wrapped around my right wrist, digging into my flesh; my shoulder screamed in protest. The back of my eyes prickled as tears of pain threatened to escape.
“I despise you!” I shouted at the Moon. “I wish my soul to never be yours!” My voice echoed in the sudden silence of the forest.
Princess knows composure, my mother’s voice exclaimed.
Annabelle quieted.
Princess knows forethought. Mother persisted.
I mounted Annabelle once more.
Princess knows consideration.
“Enough.” I whispered.
You are to be Queen, act like it.
“Enough!” The roar that erupted from my throat silenced her at once.
The snowstorm calmed.
After the night in the woods I still struggled to navigate, and the cold spells of winter’s strikes, Annabelle was happy to stay behind once I’d said my goodbyes to her. I could only hope a kind soul would untie her reins were I to never return.
The air around me changed when the familiar battlements peered from a line of dense spruce that shielded me from the guards’ view.
The snow melted through my trousers as I sat on the cold soil; the tips of my fingers now wore a grayish tint.
My eyes scanned the now foreign grounds, unable to find a single familiar face.
I couldn’t remember the last time so many warriors had surrounded the palace from the outside.
Mother had always been against such dangerous theatrics: giving away information as intimate as the size of the Royal army was foolish, thus the guarding outposts had always remained hidden behind the stone walls.
It seemed Kane cared not to keep his numbers unknown.
Was it arrogance or ignorance? I did not know. Perhaps both.
I moved an inch closer, searching for the entrance to Mother’s passage. It’d been years since I last used it... And that day I surely hoped to never have to again.
The day before the Crimson War ended—the only day in the history of our Kingdom when the Royal palace had been invaded and nearly occupied.
Sleep wouldn’t reach me on that night, as though my consciousness knew the danger about to crash upon our home.
Gabriel barged into my room when the Moon was still bright: dressed in his armor, he commanded me to vacate the palace. I hadn’t seen him in months: he’d been at the front lines alongside my brother.
I couldn’t help but to notice the changes in his appearance. His bronze hair was now cut short, his usual cool–toned skin now wore a tan; his green—full of life eyes—were now vacant.
“My brother?” I asked, my hands wrapping around his neck.
He shook his head.
My world broke apart.
The rest of the night crumbled into a blur.
The fire, the cries, the blood...
The world swept past me as my family ran from the palace through my Mother’s passage. Royal guards surrounded us, their weapons drawn; we left our home, believing we would never come back.
Even when Mother went into labor in the depths of the forest, I couldn’t bring myself out of the trance. Stunned, I watched her bleed onto the grounds, surrounded by our most trusted guards and my younger sister. None of them knew Brian was no longer walking beside us in the Moon’s realm.
Now I couldn’t remember how we’d returned to the palace; I couldn’t remember the faces of my newborn twin siblings, or who had told me my father hadn’t survived the war either.
My father’s face became a blur in my mind.
Would I forget her face too? Would she only come to me in my nightmares—
A cold hand wrapped around my waist.
Another fell onto my mouth, drowning my growing scream.
I kicked the air when my feet no longer felt the snow.
The choking panic pushed up my throat.
The dawn was upon my struggles.
My back collided against the stranger's chest, their body towering above mine. I was being carried away from my hiding spot. Away from the palace’s grounds...
“Shut it, before you get us both executed.” The familiar male voice hissed into my ear.
Dozens of goosebumps pierced down my neck; my nails scratched and scraped at his skin.
“It’s me!” He whispered, turning me against the tree to face him.
“Calm down, it’s me!” Caleb said, his hand still atop my mouth.
A new wave of panic stole my heart for a moment before the corners of my eyes darkened.
My hand reached for the dagger at my waist.
My mind calmed despite being cornered by the enemy, despite knowing my end neared.
My fingers wrapped around the hilt—
Before I managed to deliver my blow, his hand caught my dagger by the blade, avoiding the intended attack.
His eyes locked on mine; his body—unmoving as a statue.
Fear. Fear—something I never saw Caleb wear—flashed across his face.
My body stilled.
The crunch of snow reached my ears as countless steps shortened their distance. Dozens of Wurdulacs’ guards moved in our direction.
This was my end.
An end far worse than death.
Caleb let go off my blade, planting the bloody finger on his lips, gesturing for me to keep quiet. I wouldn’t be able to make a sound if I wished to: his other hand was still atop my mouth.
His body pushed mine against the oak tree, covering me from the view.
I squeezed the dagger tighter, drawing a small, silent breath through my nose. Sweat prickled my skin despite the cold air caressing every uncovered inch of my flesh.
The steps heavied as they neared, every bone in my body froze.
Dear Moon, take me to my family.
Dear Moon, spare me the struggle on my way to rest.
I beg of you, show me your kindness this once.
I clenched my jaw, readying for the attack. Readying for my inevitable end—
The snow crunched as the Wurdulacs’ steps... marched past us, along the perimeter of the palace’s grounds.
The forest quieted; my heart fought for its freedom.
I counted every bang in my chest. Once I reached two hundred Caleb whispered, “They're gone.” His hand freed me as he took one step backwards. “You are lucky I found you before the guards went on patrol—”
My fingers squeezed the dagger in my hand before I planted it into Caleb’s side—exactly as he taught me. Rage squeezed my throat when his eyes met mine.
No longer could I see the person in front of me—only the blurry silhouette of a man that haunted my nightmares, the silhouette of a man who’d witnessed my soul torn apart.
The fresh blood reached my nostrils and the familiar smell spun my head into an endless dance. Nausea crept inside my stomach.
Strong hands dug into my shoulders, shoving me onto the bloody snow.
The air escaped my lungs, fire erupted in my chest.
I gulped, rolling onto my back. The pale, morning Moon stared down at me as I struggled for my next breath.
A pair of boots moved my direction. “Do you feel better now that you’ve made me bleed?” Caleb offered me a hand I ignored. My hands searched for my weapon.
Every breath was as good as ash to my lungs. I stumbled to my knees when Caleb’s accusatory gaze met mine.
“I just saved your life: if anyone else saw you here you wouldn’t live to see another moonrise.” He assessed the injury I’d given him. “And this is what I get in return.”
“You deserve far more than that.” I seethed through clenched teeth when the first rays of sunshine appeared in the distance.
I retrieved my lost dagger from the crimson snow before turning back toward the palace—I was running out of time.
“Where are you going?” Caleb’s hands caught my armed wrist, pulling me back.
“Let go of me, Caleb!” I hissed.
“You are not serious.” His hold only hardened. “Where is Francis?”
“What do I know of his whereabouts?” I fought with his grasp.
“Does he know you are here?” Caleb added softer. When the silence spoke for me, he sighed. “Why are you here, Cordelia?” His eyes filled with a pity I never saw them possess.
Pity. He pitied me!
“I am here to kill him.” I spat out, forcefully freeing my wrist. How dare he pity me?
“Cordelia...” Caleb stared at me and I couldn’t help but to study his features back. The resemblance he shared with my long resting brother was astonishing and terrifying. Same dark brown eyes, dark raven hair and light skin. There was no doubt we were blood related.
I averted my gaze, the sickness twisting my stomach.
“You can’t stay here.” Caleb broke our silence. “Unless you want to burn.” He started towards the palace.
I turned towards the palace; my eyes searching Mother’s passage in the distance.
“Go to the cabin, Cordelia.” Caleb pushed past me without sparing a glance. “Wait for me there.” He said over his shoulder before stepping out of the sanctuary of the forest.
“I’m not—” The words deflated on my tongue: the perimeter of the palace caught aflame.