Charades

Chapter 24

     The wedding was tomorrow. My back was pressed against the cold dingy wall and my knees were pulled up to my chest. I wrapped my arms around my legs and held them, trying my best not to fall apart. Time had flown by. And with the wedding tomorrow, I didn't know what to do.

     "Amara?" Ronan said.

     My eyes darted to him. He had awoken from a nap and he was near the bars keeping us apart. His eyes were solemn, his hair a mess. Ronan slept constantly and it terrified me.

     "How are you?" I asked.

     "Fine, and you?"

     Horrible. I wanted to say horrible and miserable and depressed. But, I was silent. Ronan should be the miserable one. But somehow, I was the one falling apart.

     "It was my uncle who killed my parents," I confessed. "Emir told me that and honestly, it makes sense. Horses losing control of their carriages is unheard of and... well, I guess it wasn't a freak accident."

     I paused. Tears pooled my eyes and my bottom lip quivered. I had spent the entire night sobbing and Ronan had been asleep. It was my first time telling someone what happened and to hear it said aloud made me want to drown in my tears.

     "You uncle and Emir are monsters," Ronan spat. "We'll make sure they won't win."

     "I feel like it's too late," I said. I sniffled, trying my best not to cry. "The wedding is tomorrow. How can I save you when we're locked in a cell!"

     Ronan paused. His eyes lowered and I could see him slumping. He'd given up days ago, I realized.

     "Miracles exist," Ronan said, smiling meekly. "And hopefully tomorrow, one appears."

     I sighed. I leaned back and rested my head against the cement wall. My eyes fell shut and I imagined a life where Ronan and I were living in peace. Indira and even Devan would be with us, and we would be happy. But unfortunately, that was a fantasy I conjured up in my mind.

     I jolted when feet thudded against the metal staircase. My eyes flew open and I groaned, hoping Emir or my uncle wouldn't appear. The last thing I wanted was to see them, especially before the wedding.

     But, I stiffened when instead, a woman with dark brown hair streaked with gray and icy blue eyes appeared, holding a man by his shirt. He was skinny and frail, his black hair a mess of curls. He had dark skin and he seemed to be around my age.

     But, when the woman glanced at me, my blood ran cold. Because I'd seen her before. Years ago, before she was thrown in jail, I'd see this very queen.

     Because she was Diana's mom. Former Queen Truman of Edolas.

     The queen threw open the jail cell across from ours and tossed the man into it. He stumbled and collapsed, his body sprawled around him and the queen threw the cell close. Her eye were cold, calculating, and she dusted her hands before turning around and walking off.

     My heart hammered against my chest and worry filled me as I slid towards my bar cells to get a better view of the man. He was writhing on the floor as if he was in pain.

     "Are you okay?" I asked.

     He groaned and pulled himself up to sit. His eyes were wild with fear and he glanced around, looking like he was on the brink of a panic attack.

     "I knew too much," he said. "I was merely a servant to Queen Truman, but I overheard their plans and they threw me in here."

     I frowned. His dark brown eyes were clouded with emotions and he slid towards the bars to get a better view of me.