A Shattered Song ✔️

Chapter Five: Lady Briar

CHAPTER FIVE: Lady Briar

THE STARS WERE EVERYWHERE.

Twisting and spiraling; leaping and dancing in every direction. It was chaos, and it was one, working together in symphony. Evelyn found herself in awe, even though she hated herself for it, and she was more than a little scared, too. Her grip on Melody's hand was tight, like she was afraid that letting go would mean her spiraling into the endless universes.

She felt like Alice in the rabbit hole; tumbling head over heels, on and on and on, never ending.

Melody was laughing in her ear.

Evelyn was screaming silently.

The wind rushed by her, tearing at her hair and clothes, grabbing and tugging her in every which way. She had no control over her movements, just like she'd had no control on the hill when Kayleigh- when Kayleigh-

Evelyn cut her thoughts off abruptly.

Melody, somehow, managed to remain calm even in the nothingness that was everything- her gaze holding Evelyn's the entire time they spiraled through the mayhem. Evelyn just wanted to get away- she wasn't supposed to be among the everything, this was wrong, she needed out-

And then, abruptly, she was.

The swift translation from solid air to a hard marble floor left Evelyn breathless, and for a moment she just laid there, staring at the smooth golden designs from flat on her face. She heard voices gliding around her, but they were in the strange tongue, and Evelyn couldn't understand a word.

The next thing to register in her scrambling mind was the smell. It was like- flowers, Evelyn decided, a million times over. Overly sweet and heavy. Evelyn found herself wrinkling her nose in disgust.

The floor was icy against her cheek, but Evelyn still didn't move. Couldn't move. Her head was still spinning at the abrupt change in environment.

And then there was the voice. High like bells, like music. Calling out to her in words she could barely understand: "Stand up, Evelyn Anderson."

And Evelyn did.

Slowly, she got to her knees, then to her feet, keeping her eyes on the ground and the tall black boots in front of her. She was sure they weren't Melody's.

"Now, now. Look me in the eye." The voice cooed. The sickly sweet tone made Evelyn want to vomit, and she didn't move. Her legs felt weak and shaky underneath her, like they might give out at any moment.
"Human, now."

Evelyn shook her head, her hair swinging limply from side to side.

"Human!"

This time, there was no question in the command; it was an order, pure and simple, one that didn't expect to be ignored. Evelyn looked up reluctantly. First she glanced around the room, knowing that would be easier than facing Kayleigh's murderer. It must have been expensive, she realized absently as she noticed the high walls and shiny silver pillars. There was one thing strange about it all: There wasn't a single window, not anywhere. Maybe these people didn't like to see the sky.

"Human." Warned the voice again.

Unable to put it off any longer, Evelyn forced herself to look up at her captors face. Forced herself to take in the long ebony hair swept into a bun, the high cheekbones, and the cold, obsidian eyes. The eyes were what held her attention. Dark and unreadable, they seemed sad, somehow, like they'd seen things no one should have to see.

That should have made Evelyn sympathetic. If she'd been anywhere but here, she would have asked what was wrong.

Instead, she was terrified.