Chapter Nineteen

Kadie

The horses raced through the night, as if hellish fiends chased them. When the wicked, needle-like spires of the castle came into view, my stomach twisted and my body quaked beneath me. I squeezed my eyes tight, trying not to imagine the horrific punishment I’d receive.

I shouldn’t have run. They’re going to kill me now.

Panic rushed through me. Could Etienne come to my rescue again without putting himself in danger?

A whimper sounded from beside me, and I turned to see Teodor’s horse come to a halt. He shoved Demetria off the side of it, then hopped down next to her, hunched over and whispering what I was sure were horrific things in her ear.

“Knock it off!” I screeched, jerking free from Etienne and bolting off our horse. “Haven’t you caused her enough pain?” Without a second thought, I jerked my dagger from its sheath and raced the short distance over the frozen landscape. Teodor turned just in time to see me lunging for him.

My blade sliced across his face. He grabbed me by the throat and threw me to the side. He touched the fresh cut along his cheek, then fisted his hand. “You scarred me? You will pay for this, you human bitch.”

Before he could strike me, Etienne caught his arm. “No. She’s my prisoner.”

“You would keep me from punishing her? You really are a traitor. You’re choosing her over us.”

“No, I’m not, but the queen will deal with them soon enough.” He turned to me. “You might want to hold your tongue,” Etienne whispered. “You’re in enough trouble. Don’t give him more reason to hurt you.”

“I doubt it’s gonna matter at this point if I stand up to Prince Asshole.”

“Enough.” His arm tightened around me. “We can still salvage you.”

Salvage? I wasn’t some junked out car. Besides, once the queen got hold of me, I’d likely become a new lamp in her bedroom…or worse.

Grisselle emerged from the gates, guards at her heels.

“Bring them to the throne room,” she ordered.

One of the guards jerked me and shoved me forward. I caught myself on the stone wall, my legs weak beneath me. I wasn’t sure I’d be able to deal with what was to come. I swallowed hard, biting back the fear that paralyzed me. Maybe now would be a good time to turn my dagger on myself. At least then I could make it quick and not be tortured.

Oh God. I can’t go back in there. I can’t.

“Get moving,” the troll growled.

Demetria staggered inside ahead of me, Teodor giving her a shove as he went.

Hatred burned through me, and it was all I could do not to chase after Teodor and kick him in the nuts. My hands fisted as I glared after him. Another push from the troll sent me stumbling down the hallway toward the throne room. When we stood before the throne made of bones, Grisselle sat, back rigid, with her face frozen in a horrific sneer.

My gaze flickered around. There were four guards, Etienne, Teodor, Demetria, me, and the queen. And at the center of the room sat a large stone block. I couldn’t breathe. What did they plan to do to us?

Grisselle stared at me. “I know this plan to escape was your idea. Teodor’s pet wouldn’t have dared such a thing if you hadn’t put her up to it. But nevertheless, she’ll be taught a lesson. You’ll know I’m not playing games with you.”

My chest tightened. I stiffened and took several staggered breaths as my heart pounded in my ears.

“Bring your pet here,” the queen said to Teodor. She stood, long black gown swishing at her feet. Excitement radiated from her as she made her way to the block at the center of the room.

A troll guard stalked forward with a large axe propped over his shoulder. Teodor gripped hold of Demetria’s dress and pulled her across the marble floor. When they got to the stone, he heaved her onto her knees, then shoved her body across it so that her head and neck hung off the edge.

A sob retched through me as I attempted to run for her, but one of the guards caught my arm and tugged me back.

“No—please…” I begged. “Maybe I can tell you some information you need—if—if you spare her. I’m begging you.”

“No, you had your chance,” Grisselle said. “You should’ve thought about this before you chose to deceive me.” She sat back down, cradling a wine goblet in her hand as if to watch a show.

“It’s okay, Kadie. I’m ready to meet my maker,” Demetria said. Tears flowed down her face.

“Please. Don’t do this,” I shrieked. “I’ll tell you whatever you want to know about Salome.” Except I knew that if it came down to it, I couldn’t tell her everything she wanted to know, which meant I was playing a very dangerous game. I couldn’t betray my friends, but I also couldn’t stand here and let her kill Demetria.

“My, aren’t you cooperative now? And so quickly you turn on your dearest, closest friend. But no matter; whatever information you have will not save Teodor’s pet.” She turned away from me. “Off with her head,” Grisselle said, pointing at Demetria.

I squeezed my eyes shut, refusing to watch. A thwack echoed through the room.

“Open your eyes—see what you’ve caused,” Grisselle said.

Her head had been severed from her body

“I should’ve had your head too, but to see you suffer like this, watching your friend die, is much more pleasurable.”

An angry sob erupted from my lips. “You’re a sick fucker! You all are. And I hope one day that you burn in hell.”

The queen’s head snapped around. “You’d do well to keep quiet or you’ll be the next one put on the block. Now get this wretched girl out of my face. In fact, I think another night in the Red Room will do her some good.”

Etienne caught me around the waist. “You, come with me.”

“I just want this over with,” I whispered, my shoulders hunched.

He led me down the familiar hallway. When we got to the room, he gave me a sad look. “Be strong. You’re alive, which means you still have a chance to get out of here.” He turned to leave, then stopped and said, “Do you think Demetria would have wanted you to give up?” With that, he locked me in.

My head pounded, and my body ached. I swallowed hard, but my throat was raw from crying. Not even stopping long enough to glance around the room, I rushed into the courtyard to where Mr. Montgomery’s tree-like form still stood. It looked more ragged than last time I’d been in here. The bark-like skin seemed to be peeling off, and his rooted feet bled into the already dingy snow.

“Kadieeeee…what’s ha-happened?”

I collapsed at his trunk, and one of his branchlike arms touched my shoulder. “It’s all my fault. D-Demetria’s dead because of me. I-I tried to escape. I thought we’d make it…”

A low moan sounded from Mr. M’s lips. “But you’re alive—th-that’s what matterssss.”

Then how come I didn’t feel that way? Maybe if I had told Grisselle whatever she wanted to know….Maybe if I’d spilled everything I knew about Salome and Gareth and…

What good was holding on to these secrets if people died anyway? If it led to me dying, too? I couldn’t help anyone if I was dead. And I’d rather live to regret a mistake than not live at all.

I nestled closer to Mr. M’s treelike form. I was never gonna get out of here, and sometime soon, the queen might decide to do to me what she’d done to so many others. Deep down, I was a fighter, but even I couldn’t hold out forever.

They’d gotten what they wanted. I was broken.

My bloodied cloak clung to me as I lay on the stone bench. Snowflakes drifted from the sky like ashes from a crematory and landed on me. My head throbbed from crying, and I didn’t want to move—ever.

“Kadie, you should go inside. Y-You’ll freeze to death out here,” Mr. Montgomery said. Thick, gooey, blood-like sap spilled from the corners of his mouth.

“Maybe that’d be for the best.” I tugged my knees to my chest, curling into a tight ball. Too bad I couldn’t shut my eyes and just have it be over.

“No. Don’t s-say that. You’re a fighter. You always have been.” His hollow gaze met mine. Kindness radiated from him, despite the horrific mess he’d become. “You can’t give up. Not until you draw your last breath.”

If only it was that easy. Every time I fought back, something bad happened. And right now, I couldn’t bear anything else.

With a sigh, I sat up, shaking the snow from myself. “I want to go home, Mr. M. And I’ll do anything to get there.”

He bent beneath the wind, the breeze rustling what was left of his leaves. “Goooood.”

He wouldn’t be saying that if he knew what I’d be willing to give up to get there. The lump in my throat made it hard to breathe as tears streaked my face again. I’d spent my entire life protecting and looking out for everyone else. That was easy when there was so little at stake. But with my life on the line? Now I had to do whatever it took to survive.

I buried my face in my hands, wishing for the ground to swallow me whole. I had no fight left within me.

The crunch of footsteps roused me, and I glanced up to see Etienne trudging into the courtyard.

“Come along, let’s get you out of the cold.” In one swift movement, he swept me into his arms and carried me inside.

When we got to his quarters, Rena stood waiting. Hot water steamed from the tub, and the scent of roses was heavy in the air.

“Get her cleaned up and into something warm,” Etienne said. “I’ll be back soon with some soup. The queen wants you to see her later tonight.”

“What?” I snapped my head up and glanced at him. “Is she going to kill me?”

“She wants to talk. That’s all I know. But tread lightly.”

He slipped from the room, leaving me with his servant.

Rena tugged off my cloak for me and tossed it to the floor. “That was a brave but stupid thing you did.” She spun me around and undid the buttons on my gown. “No one’s ever made it as far as you.”

I stared at the logs snapping in the fireplace. “Yeah, well, it got my friend killed.”

Rena moved to the front of me. “Yes, but you’ve given people hope. That there might be a way out of here.”

“And again, someone died.”

She patted my arm, gave me a curious look I didn’t understand, and then left. She’d never talked to me before, and I wasn’t sure why she had now. But I didn’t want anyone using Demetria as a martyr to encourage them to try and break out of here. I didn’t need any more deaths on my conscience.

I tugged my dress down over my hips, and it fell to the floor in a heap. Goosebumps puckered my chapped skin as I made my way to the tub. At last, I climbed in. The hot water scalded me, but I forced myself to sink into it. I sobbed, laying my head against the edge of the bath.

My fingers trembled as I reached for the soap. Furiously, I scrubbed my body, scratching and scraping until I was raw. Then I fell back into the water, letting it cover my head.

Under the water, I could pretend I was anywhere else but here. No more pain. No more nightmares.

A hand jerked me up, and I sputtered.

It was Rena. “You’ve a visitor coming soon. You need to get ready.”

She dropped a towel around my shoulders as she ushered me from the bath.

I grabbed the cloth and dried off. Rena handed me a long nightgown, which I pulled on over my head. The older woman disappeared, and then a moment later, my visitor—Etienne—came in.

His gaze flickered over me. “Why don’t you sit near the fire so you don’t catch your death?”

“Why is everyone so concerned with my well-being?” I asked as I trudged to the overstuffed chairs and plopped down.

Weariness settled in as the heat from the flames made me sleepy. A sense of defeat washed over me, and I sank further against the seat.

“I never wanted this for you,” Etienne said. “I’ve failed you. I meant to get you out of here, and all I’ve done is make things worse.”

My gaze met his, and I watched the sadness enter his eyes. He caught my hand in his. Such a soft touch. So gentle. His kindness confused me.

“I want out of here so badly,” I whispered.

“I know. But I’m not sure if we’ll get any more opportunities. The queen has doubled the patrols.”

My vision blurred as tears welled. I was never going to get home. I’d forever be stuck in this nightmare…unless the queen decided to make an example of me tonight.

Maybe I should have stayed underwater. It was looking more and more like death would be my only escape.