The Empty Ones (Fantasy Romance)

19. With me

"Zara?! Try to breathe. No. Don't close your eyes. Look at me. Chioma where the fuck are they!?" Mairi's voice was just a blur. I wanted to speak and tell her that she should hold my hand because I was afraid but I couldn't form any words just coughs edged with blood.

As if she knew what I was thinking, she grabbed my hand and for the first time, I saw Mairi shed a tear.

"You are not supposed to die. Just like a weed."

Then there were more screams, Mairi got shoved away, and in her place stood The White Grace, her astonishing blue eyes blazing with magic. I was too sleepy to care so I just closed my eyes.

When I woke up it was midday and Chioma was sitting by my side. She was looking out a broken window, weeping.

Broken glass... Fera had slit my throat and broke the window to flee. Yet I was alive. I didn't die, though it felt like it a lot. The pain, the fear, that darkness.

"You are awake!" Chioma covered her mouth not to scream. "How are you feeling? Can you speak?" Her voice was trembling. "The White Grace said it might take a bit till you will wake after she healed you. She was a hair away from slitting your pulse artery. Then you would have bled out before even the White Grace could have healed you. Thank the gods, you are awake. I have to tell Mairi."

"I... I am actually good. Just a bit tired. What day is it? Why are you still here?"

"Gods, I am so happy!" Her face lit up and she plunged into hugging me."Today is Gray Day. You were a whole day unconscious."

"Where is..." I hesitated. I remembered Fera and what happened. If they caught her she was likely dead. It was really hard to escape from the fortress that the priory was so I assumed they were torturing her. "And why are you still here?" I whispered in her ear.

"We couldn't leave. Mairi grabbed the blade and cut her palms open. The White Grace said she doesn't have enough magic left to heal her after healing you so she didn't. She cannot climb like this and one of the climbing equipment is gone. Fera likely took it and escaped. And... Today is Gray Day."

I was alive. It was so strange. I felt the life pulsing strongly through me. And then I looked at Chioma and understood how she felt. Her small chance at escaping her fate was crushed the night before. She could still venture out alone but the chances to survive were slimmer without Mairi.

"Chioma, we have to prepare." Salma entered the dormitory. She looked pale and frightened, just like Chioma.

"Are the imperial guards still here?"

"Yes. They are everywhere."

Chioma sighed. So she was indeed considering leaving without Mairi. That could only mean that the life she imagined was that awful.

"Zara. I am happy that you are awake," whispered Salma and smiled faintly. She also looked terribly afraid. "I won't tell anybody; you can still act as if you didn't wake and skip this ceremony."

"No," I answered plainly. Skipping would have been the most cowardly thing to do. I brought my hand instinctively to my neck. There should have been a scar but my fingertips didn't find anything. The power of The White Grace was astonishing. Yet again I thought why she would choose to be locked away in the priory.

When we entered the bathing chamber, I felt all the eyes on me. It was understandable. For the second time, I evaded death. That made me think of Itotia and of Fera. The strange magic that killed her must have possessed Fera too. But she... Fled. That meant she was to some extent aware of what she was doing. But so did Itotia's sister. She disappeared after doing the deed.