Fourth Wing: The Beginning

°•°▪︎|CHAPTER 6|▪︎°•°

"Sawyer!" I shout, struggling to break free. "Let. Me. Go!" Panic surges through me so intensely that I forget I could easily throw him over my shoulder and sprint straight to Imogen to strangle her. "Sorry, tiger, no can do," Sawyer says with a half-hearted apology, his grip firm despite my thrashing. I keep fighting, flailing in his hold, even as Dain rushes forward to pick up an almost unconscious Violet and carry her out of the sparring hall.

Rhiannon appears in front of me, her hands raised, her eyes calm and steady. "Lia, you need to calm down," she says softly, her voice gentle yet with a firmness that cuts through my panic. "You won't be able to see Violet like this. Do you hear me?" Her tone is grounding, pulling me back to reality like a lifeline.

I blink a few times, the fight draining out of me as her words sink in. Slowly, I stop struggling and take a deep breath, holding it for five counts before exhaling for ten. I repeat the cycle, forcing myself to focus on the breathing, not on the overwhelming rage burning inside me. It takes a few rounds before I'm sure I won't tear Imogen's head off the moment I'm free. My pulse steadies, and I give Rhi a small nod, signaling I'm in control again.

She returns the nod and subtly signals to Sawyer to let me go. As soon as he releases me, I sheath my dagger back into its holster, but my eyes immediately lock onto Imogen. I stand still, staring at her with a gaze so intense I can see the moment she feels it—her shoulders stiffen, and goosebumps rise on her arms as she finally turns to meet my glare.

I don't relent. My stare sharpens, hardening further, and the tension between us crackles in the air. For a brief second, it's like the whole room vanishes, and it's just me, my fury, and Imogen. I see her flinch under the weight of my gaze, but I tear my eyes away from her, unwilling to waste any more energy on her.

Instead, I glance briefly at Professor Emetterio, who's watching everything closely. Without another word, I turn on my heel and dash out of the sparring hall, sprinting straight to the healer quadrant where Violet is. Nothing else matters right now but getting to her.

I step into the familiar healer quadrant, my eyes immediately scanning the room for my sister. But before I can spot her, Dain's voice hits my ears—and what I hear makes me want to kick him where the sun doesn't shine.

"I don't want her in pain—that's why we're here. But if she's this injured, we should at least consider seeing if the scribes will take her as a late admission. It's only been a day," he says, his voice carrying an infuriating calmness that makes my blood boil.

Following the sound, I push aside the curtain, making Dain jump as I step into the room. He turns to face me, but the moment he sees my expression, he knows what's coming. My hatred is written all over my face as I glare at him.

"You even try that, and I will personally kill you with my bare hands, dispose of your body, and get away with it," I hiss, my voice low and dangerous. I don't wait for a response—I completely dismiss him, turning my focus to Violet and Winifred.

"Vi! Comment te sens-tu? Est-ce que ça fait trop mal? Je savais que j'aurais dû frapper Imogen jusqu'à ce qu'elle perde connaissance! Tu sais quoi? Je vais aller le faire tout de suite," I babble in a rush, barely stopping myself from charging out to find Imogen and finish what I started.

But before I can act, Violet's weak hand reaches out and grabs my wrist, stopping me in my tracks. "Lia, I'm okay. Winifred and Nolon are going to fix me up," she says, her voice soft but reassuring.

I grimace, clearly unconvinced by her words, but I bite back the urge to argue. Instead, I stay silent, though the frustration bubbles under the surface. I can't shake the anger—at Dain, at Imogen, at the situation—but for Violet's sake, I force myself to stay put.