Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 89379 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 447(@200wpm)___ 358(@250wpm)___ 298(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89379 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 447(@200wpm)___ 358(@250wpm)___ 298(@300wpm)
“Yes, but if I’m chosen for the Gift, then I’ll be able to see into my future and know exactly where my path leads.” I saw a longing in him, and it struck me for the first time that Vasilios was a boat adrift at sea. He’d come to my dimension with grand plans of avenging his father, but those plans had been swiftly derailed. Not to mention all the things Marcel said about Theodore being a madman. I knew some of it had penetrated by the look on Vasilios’s face when he heard it, even if he’d never admit it.
“What if your future isn’t what you want it to be?” I asked, softening my voice.
He pushed off the wall, his eyes traversing my body before his gaze locked with mine. “Then, at least, I’ll know what I’m in for.” A silence fell before he went on, “Are you ready to go?”
“I’m not sure if I want to go now. I don’t want to be chosen for the Curse.”
“That’s the risk you take by going. The choice is yours. I’ll go alone if you decide it’s not worth it.”
“What about Serg? You told him you were taking me.”
“I’ll tell him you had a change of heart. Honestly, Darya, I’d rather you not go. The thought of you being chosen—”
“I’m going,” I said, abruptly rising from the bed because I couldn’t stand to hear whatever he’d been about to say. I didn’t want any sentimentality from Vasilios. I could already feel myself softening toward him, my view of him no longer so black and white. Besides, if I was chosen for the Curse, I could simply send the signal to the warden and have myself removed from the prison altogether.
Vasilios straightened his shoulders. “Very well, then. Come with me.”
I followed him from my cell and up a ridiculous number of stairs. I was lucky the drop of blood he provided had replenished my energy and strength levels. Otherwise, I might not have made it to the top. Other prisoners were making their way up, too, including Cassandra. She shot me a wary glance and gave me a wide berth.
Vasilios noticed. “What’s with her? She looks terrified of you.”
I focused on the steps as we continued our climb. “That’s the elf who wouldn’t let me use the showers. Yesterday she saw I’d gotten clean somehow and was mad about it.”
“And?”
I frowned, still focusing on the steps. “And I might’ve grabbed her by the throat, dangled her over the railing, and threatened to let her fall if she didn’t back off.”
Vasilios stopped walking. I’d made it a few steps above him when I turned to see why. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
His blue eyes were aglow, and I saw his throat bob as he swallowed. “Sorry, I just … I’m disappointed I missed that.”
I tilted my head. “Do you enjoy the idea of me being violent?”
“Yes,” he answered without hesitation. “Very much so.”
I shook my head, suppressing a weird shiver from how intensely he was regarding me. “There’s something seriously wrong with you.”
I turned away and continued up the steps. After a moment, Vasilios silently followed. When we reached the top, two elves stood by a door leading to the roof.
“Invitations, please,” one of them said, and Vasilios produced a small envelope from the pocket of his jumpsuit. The envelope was matte black, with a gold embossed image of a tree on the back of it. He handed it over, and the elf gave it a scan before nodding and pushing open the door behind her.
Vasilios and I stepped through, and I was amazed at what we found. We entered a large glass building that seemed to sit atop the prison’s roof. I hadn’t noticed it when I’d been on the boat approaching the fortress, probably because it was so high up. You’d need to be in a helicopter flying above the prison to see it.
I looked around in fascination. It reminded me of a Victorian glass house in a botanical garden. It was full of plant life, and on the outside, the magical thorns that covered the prison crackled and pulsed with magic. Beyond them, you could see the stars. There were thousands of them twinkling brightly.
I was so busy taking it all in that I hadn’t even noticed Vasilios holding my hand. My skin tingled at the shocking sensation of his skin against mine, and not unpleasantly. It was a startling realisation, and I quickly drew away, rubbing my palm on the fabric of my jumpsuit. He leaned close, his breath tickling my ear, “It’s better if we stay close tonight.”
I didn’t respond, mainly because I didn’t know what to make of the strange reactions he provoked in me sometimes. I shouldn’t be enjoying the feeling of him holding my hand. I should feel ill at the very thought of it. I felt like my body was betraying me in little ways, and I resented it for every single one.