Beyond A Queen's Whisper

Chapter Twenty Eight

Ama felt her heart drop as she stepped into the room, the stench of burning wood and decay stinging her nostrils. The oppressive air pressed against her like a weight, making it hard to breathe, and the flickering flames from the hearth cast eerie shadows that danced across the walls. She tightened her grip on her weapon, her eyes darting to every corner of the room. But it wasn't the darkness or the flames that held her attention – it was the sight of Cassie, tied to wooden planks, her form slumped and lifeless.

Cassie's body hung limply, suspended in the air as if she were a rag doll discarded by some careless child. Ama's stomach churned, rage boiling beneath her skin as she took in the sight of her lover's battered form. Her clothes were torn, her skin marred with bruises and cuts, and her eyes, usually so full of life, stared blankly ahead. Ama's heart pounded in her chest, the sound of her own pulse thundering in her ears.

Tupi stood beside Cassie, his back still turned to Ama and Mara, his fingers moving with strange, delicate precision as he raised Cassie from the planks. The ropes that had bound her slid away, vanishing into the shadows, and Cassie's feet touched the ground softly, her body upright but unnaturally still.

"Tupi," Mara whispered, her voice a mixture of anger and sorrow.

Tupi turned slowly, and Ama finally saw his face—cold, calculating, and twisted by a smug satisfaction that made her blood run cold.

His eyes shifted, landing first on Ama and then on Mara. The change was immediate – his expression twisted from calm arrogance to something darker, something unhinged. His jaw clenched, and for a moment, it seemed as if he might lunge forward, but he held his ground, his gaze locked on Mara with an intensity that bordered on madness.

"Mara," Tupi hissed, his voice laced with a venom that sent chills down Ama's spine. "I should have known; I should have seen this coming. You've always chosen her over me." His eyes flicked to Ama, burning with a mix of fury and betrayal. "You chose her before, and now here you are, doing it again."

Ama's breath caught, confusion washing over her. She glanced at Mara, whose face had gone pale, her eyes filled with a mixture of sorrow and something else Ama couldn't quite place. Mara didn't respond to Tupi's accusation, but Ama could see the tension in her posture, the way her hands clenched at her sides. Ama's mind raced, trying to piece together the puzzle that Tupi's words had thrown at her. Chosen before? She had no idea what he was talking about.

"What are you yapping on about, old man?" Ama demanded, her voice cracking with a mix of anger and fear. "What do you mean, she chose me? I don't even know either of you."

Tupi's gaze snapped back to Ama, his eyes narrowing. "Of course you don't. You wouldn't. She kept you safe from it all, didn't she? The great Mara, always protecting, always hiding the truth. She couldn't bear to see her precious one get hurt." He spat the words, his contempt palpable. Pointing at Ama he continued, "But you're no different from the rest of them. And now, you're here, thinking you can save her, too."

Ama took a step forward, her eyes fixed on Cassie. She called out to her, her voice breaking as she pleaded, "Cassie! Cassie, it's me. It's Ama. Can you hear me?"

Cassie didn't respond. She didn't even flinch. Her eyes remained vacant, staring straight ahead as if Ama's voice hadn't reached her at all. Slowly, Cassie began to move, her steps stiff and jerky as she walked forward into the light. Ama's breath hitched at the sight of her, the dim glow revealing the full extent of Cassie's injuries—her face was swollen, her lip split, and blood matted her hair. Ama felt a surge of helplessness, the sight of her best friend in such a state almost more than she could bear. It was her dream come to life, though without the haunting smile, now her living nightmare.