The Wings of the Beautifully Fallen

Chapter 15: Illiana

Chapter 15: Illiana

The week passed slowly and painfully. My siblings had tried their hardest to come and visit me, to spend time and talk to me, but we could not see each other. My body slowly grew weak from the constant crying and the little food that I was provided.

The door was only unlocked once a day, in the early morning, where Father would give me a small plate of food before disappearing. Even though he was getting rid of me, sending me away, he was starving me worse than ever. Not that my siblings know about this. I would never tell them that. I could not.

"Illiana." Leo's voice called from the other side once more. I struggled to sit up on the bed, my eyes studying the door. I knew that I had to get up but it was to much, to much effort. But I had to. With a small groan of protest, I slid my way off the bed and stumbled over to the door, my hand pressing against it slightly.

"Leo." I responded, trying to sound strong and healthy, to not tell him the truth.

"You leave soon, Illiana." His voice broke from the other side. By now, Leo had accepted what was about to happen, to accept that this was how things were going to end up and there was nothing either of us could do.

"Remember your promise?" I questioned, pressing my body against the door, using it as support. My body felt so heavy and weak, like something was pulling me down and trying to hold me to the ground. Was Father doing this because he did not want me to be able to fight? Was that his plan?

"I do. Do you remember yours?"

"Vividly." Silence developed between us, neither of us saying a single thing. Neither of us able to say anything. We were unable to talk, unable to comfort each other.

"It looks like Father is sending you in a carriage. At least you will be able to travel comfortably." Leo said. He was trying, I knew that he was and, yet, it was not helping. Whether I was sent in a carriage or on horse back, I was still being sent away.

"You should go before Father catches you here." I told him and he groaned, knowing that I was right. Not that he wanted me to be.

"I am going to shove something underneath the door, Something that the girls made for you." Leo told me and I could hear him move from the other side of the door. I glanced down to see a small, threaded bracelet lying on the ground. It was a simple brown color that looked like it was formed out of the random pieces of yarn.

"Tell them I said thank you." I told him and he grunted in response.

"Stay alive, Illiana. I will see you again." He rushed away, his footsteps disappearing as he rushed down the hall and back towards the others.

How much longer would I have to wait for Father to come and send me away? How much more would he put me through?

I stumbled back towards the bed before collapsing into it, my body relaxing into it. I just wanted to wake up, for this to be a bad dream, but I knew that it never would go away. This was reality and it was one that I did not want to live in.

The door clicked open and I struggled to push myself off the bed. Father stood in the doorway, his eyes staring at me angrily, hatefully. He stalked forward as I shoved myself off the bed and his hand lashed out around my arm.

"Time to finally get rid of you." He growled, his hand tightening around my arm and pulling me behind him, his hand holding all the tighter. My legs found it impossible to keep pace and I was constantly tripping, stumbling along behind him as he yanked me down the stairs and outside.

My eyes settled on the carriage that sat in front of the palace. It really did look different than I had thought. The black outside glinted with the sun's light and the door frame was colored almost in gold.