The Crown and the Throne

Chapter Nine

 Hidden bruises stretch across my fingers, arms, and legs. Small cuts litter my fingertips. My body would be turned purple and blue by tomorrow morning if I skipped the pain relieving potion.

The trek down the stairs feels longer than ever. But the blue-glowing light washes over me in a soft, comforting way, a calming hug that pushes the anger and fear away.

Every step down sends a dull pain through my leg. The temptation to step off the side of the steps and down the center of the spiral staircase and to the bottom is great, but the thought of some form of distraction keeping me from catching myself scares me more.

Above us the ground close, grains of dirt and bits of root falling over our heads.

Each step brings us close to Romilda's hidden cave. And close to my quiet, isolated room. The terrifying, overwhelming, empty and lonely room, where I'd be left to think about all of the emotions and pain and the memories would flood again.

Those horrifying thoughts had not stopped rolling in my mind since Robin had pulled his stunt. So long I had done well in suppressing them, in ignoring them, in trying to stay the same person I was before my world had been shattered and destroyed and I was left both orphaned and traumatized.

And now, I knew, I would have to face them tonight, in the dark, alone, without anyone or anything there to guide me away.