Dance of the Damned

Eight

No. No. This could not be happening right now. I glanced at Mira, unable to conceal the fear etched across my face. However, she maintained her composure, holding my hand firmly and giving it a gentle squeeze as she kept her head held high. I wanted to speak up, but Greta was hovering beside Kalyani on the opposite side of Zeddicus, and I dreaded facing her fury. That creature had an incredibly short temper that I did not wish to provoke.

Zeddicus took a few steps forward, positioning himself just a foot away from Mira and me. He scrutinized us both intently, his gaze shifting back and forth. I knew it. He intended to exact revenge for how I had spoken to him at the party that day. At least it wouldn't be Mira dying here today; she had a husband and daughter waiting for her at home. I, on the other hand, had no one of that sort in my life. My brother would mourn, but he would eventually move on.

"If my memory serves me right, you always had a thing for redheads, didn't you, Zed?" Kalyani's voice held a hint of a purr, and I could have sworn I detected a flicker of anger in his eyes, although it vanished in an instant.

"I've developed a preference for blondes these days." He winked at me, and a wave of nausea washed over me. Don't pick me. Don't pick me. I couldn't bear to live while my only friend died.

"I don't care which one you choose. Select your favorite and let the other one burn alive. I find it rather enjoyable when you do that," she mused from her throne, sweeping her dark hair over her pale shoulder.

"I'll take the skinny blonde. I'm certain we can find some form of work for her in Ardor." He informed her, his eyes still fixed on me, observing me intensely, as if anticipating a reaction. It was as if his eyes were silently pleading with me to take action, though I couldn't comprehend why, there was nothing I could do. But I couldn't allow him to kill Mira. Her greatest fear was for Delphini to grow up without a mother, and no child deserved such a fate. I begged the monster lurking within me to awaken, to break free from the witches' binding, and to aid us. I sensed the monster attempting to emerge, but nothing happened. I was powerless.

"Take her instead. I'm of no use to you. I possess no magic of my own," I declared bravely, maintaining eye contact with Zeddicus. Greta growled menacingly from behind him, but thankfully, she didn't advance any closer.

"Venya—" Mira began, but I interrupted her.

"Kill me. I deserve it more than she does. She is a good person, I am not," I swallowed hard, avoiding Mira's gaze. I could feel her eyes piercing into me.

"Perhaps that is precisely why I have chosen you," he replied in a low, nonchalant tone.

"Please, she has a family. I do not," I pleaded, attempting to sound strong as I silently begged the monster within me to unleash its power. Even a single claw would suffice as a weapon against them. It would provide us with some semblance of a chance, or at least give Mira an opportunity to escape. The beast struggled to break free, but the restraints held firm. I swore that if I survived this ordeal, I would rather die than ever bind my powers again.

"I recall you mentioning your skills in cooking and cleaning," Kalyani remarked sweetly from her throne, and I couldn't help but glare at her.

"I lied," I stated flatly, staring into her gray eyes. "I am incapable of performing either of those tasks."

Before another word could be spoken, Greta pounced on me, her massive claws digging deeply into my flesh. I curled up on the ground, attempting to shield myself, but I could feel every slash, the warm blood saturating my clothes and hair. Mira's horrified screams echoed beside me.

"Kalyani, control your manangal better. I would prefer not to take home a broken toy," Zeddicus spoke calmly. Kalyani let out an annoyed sigh but called Greta back to her side, leaving me lying on the ground in a pool of my own blood. Mira attempted to kneel beside me, but I forced myself to my feet.

"Now, I am truly useless to you," I declared, maintaining eye contact with Zeddicus as I spat out blood. "Take Mira instead."

"We have healers in Ardor." He said with a hint of amusement.

"I'm growing bored of this. Choose one and get the fuck out of my kingdom, or I will simply kill them both," the Shadow Queen stated with a yawn.

He turned towards Mira, and I rushed to intervene, pleading with him not to proceed. However, Mira turned to me, her emerald eyes shimmering with tears, and offered a small smile. "It's alright, Venya. Fate has chosen you for a reason, not me. Despite your belief that you lack magic, you possess the power to make a significant impact on this world. I can feel it."

"This... This isn't fair," I whimpered, tears streaming down my face. "It should be me."

"No, it shouldn't. You get to see Ardor, the Kingdom of Death. Very few have ever had that opportunity," she replied, her smile widening as tears mingled with her freckles. She actually sounded excited for me. "Just promise me that you won't get yourself killed right away. I want to see you again, but not too soon."

I nodded, at a loss for words. Overwhelmed by shock, I sat there, barely registering the pain or the blood loss throughout my body. As Mira gave Zeddicus a slight nod, she raised her arms gently, closed her eyes, and tilted her head back. "I am ready."

I couldn't suppress my scream as her entire body ignited into pure flames. Mira did not echo my cries; she faced death boldly, without fear of regret. I couldn't comprehend how she endured such agony. In response, I pressed my hand firmly against my trembling lips and collapsed to my knees, sobbing uncontrollably. If she could make it through this without screaming, so could I. Within moments, her lifeless body fell to the ground, and the flames extinguished. Zeddicus approached me, standing between me and Mira's body, and lifted me to my feet before I caught a glimpse of her. My entire being quivered, and I struggled to process the events that just happened as the King of Death wrapped his arm around my waist. In an instant, we vanished into a shroud of black shadows.