The Broken Sky

Chapter 4: The Book and the Nightmare

Ramiel stood in the middle of her room, her breath coming in shallow gasps as she clutched the forbidden book to her chest. The weight of it was palpable, as though the dark knowledge it contained threatened to pull her down into an abyss. She had done it—she had taken the book from the forbidden section of the library, defying the rules of the Night Court, all to protect Rhysand. But now that it was in her possession, a heavy dread settled over her.

Her heart raced as she glanced around her room, searching for a place to hide the book. It couldn't be anywhere obvious; if her mother or the royal guards found it, the consequences would be dire. After a moment of frantic deliberation, she decided on the floorboards beneath her closet. It was a place no one ever checked, a space that had hidden many of her secrets over the years.

Kneeling on the cold floor, she pried up a loose board and carefully placed the book inside. The dark leather cover seemed to drink in the light, its presence a stark contrast to the warmth of her room. Ramiel hesitated for a moment, her fingers lingering on the edges of the book, before she forced herself to let go. She quickly replaced the board, covering the book with layers of dust and old clothes to ensure it remained hidden.

Rising to her feet, she let out a shaky breath, trying to steady herself. The adrenaline that had carried her this far was fading, leaving behind a gnawing fear. What had she done? She had crossed a line, one that could not be uncrossed, and the reality of it was beginning to set in.

As the night deepened and the palace grew quiet, Ramiel climbed into bed, pulling the covers up to her chin. She should have felt relieved, but instead, a sense of foreboding weighed heavily on her mind. Her thoughts drifted to Rhysand, to the horrors he might face in the Illyrian war camps. The book she had stolen was her only hope, but at what cost?

Exhaustion finally claimed her, and she drifted into a restless sleep.

The forest was dark, the trees towering overhead like ancient sentinels, their branches clawing at the sky. The moon cast a ghostly light through the dense canopy, creating eerie patterns on the forest floor. Ramiel's heart pounded as she ran, her breath coming in ragged gasps. She wasn't alone—her mother was there, too, her elegant dress torn and stained with blood.

"Mother!" Ramiel called out, her voice trembling with fear. But her mother didn't respond. She was running, running through the woods as if fleeing from some unseen terror, her face twisted in a mask of grief and desperation. Tears streamed down her cheeks, mingling with the blood that soaked her gown.

Ramiel's feet moved of their own accord, carrying her after her mother. The forest closed in around them, the shadows deepening, the air thick with dread. She felt the cold, wet ground beneath her bare feet, the sharp sting of branches tearing at her skin, but she couldn't stop. She had to catch up, had to reach her mother before it was too late.

Suddenly, the scene shifted, and Ramiel found herself looking down at her own hands—only they weren't her hands. They were older, covered in blood, her fingers trembling as she tried to wipe the red stains away. Her mother was still running ahead, her cries echoing through the woods, but now an older version of Ramiel was with her, her face pale and streaked with tears, her dress also covered in blood.

Ramiel's heart clenched as she watched herself and her mother flee through the forest, the sense of terror growing with every step. What were they running from? What had happened?

The scene shifted again, and this time she was inside a grand estate, its walls lined with gold and green. The air was thick with tension, the scent of blood and fear suffocating. She saw Rhysand—older, angrier, his eyes wild with rage. His hands were covered in blood, and he was tearing through the room, smashing everything in sight. The golden walls cracked under the force of his fury, the beautiful estate reduced to rubble in moments.

"Rhysand, stop!" Ramiel tried to shout, but her voice was drowned out by the sound of shattering glass and splintering wood. Rhysand's face was a mask of fury, his eyes burning with a darkness she had never seen before. It was as if he was lost, consumed by a rage that threatened to destroy everything in its path.

Ramiel's heart ached as she watched her brother, her mind reeling with fear and confusion. What had driven him to this? What had happened to them all?

Ramiel woke with a start, her body drenched in sweat, her heart pounding so hard it felt like it might burst from her chest. The room was dark, the soft glow of the moon filtering through the curtains. For a moment, she lay there, disoriented, the images from the dream still vivid in her mind.

She glanced around her room, half expecting to see the blood-stained walls of the golden estate, but everything was as it should be—quiet, peaceful, untouched. But the sense of dread lingered, the terror of the dream refusing to fade.

She sat up, pulling her knees to her chest as she tried to shake off the rnightmare. Her mind raced with questions, but there were no answers—only the lingering fear that something terrible was coming. She reached out with her senses, trying to feel for her mother and Rhysand, but the night was silent, offering no comfort.

Ramiel took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down. It had just been a dream, a terrible, terrifying dream. But the fear it had left behind was all too real, and as she sat there in the darkness, she couldn't shake the feeling that the nightmare had been a warning—a glimpse of a future she had to prevent.

She glanced toward her closet, where the forbidden book lay hidden beneath the floorboards. She had taken it to protect Rhysand, but now she wondered if she had unleashed something far more dangerous.

One more day, she reminded herself. Just one more day, and she would be ready. She had to be.

With that thought, she lay back down, though sleep did not come easily. The images from her nightmare haunted her, and as the first light of dawn began to creep through her window, Ramiel couldn't shake the feeling that something terrible was about to happen.