The Empty Ones (Fantasy Romance)

34. Rain and orchids

I can't breathe.

His hands are around my throat pressing hard on my windpipe. It hurts so much I can't help bringing my own hands up to try to unclasp his fingers.

"Please...! Stop!" I cough. "Your Highness! Please!"

He is looking at me intensely, at my face, at my half dressed body. There is so much hate in his dark eyes, they barely look human anymore.

In the distance I hear rain. It didn't rain when he came but now it does. Did he bring rain an thunder too? Can he do that? I think my father could.

I think... Can still think...

The consciousness slips slowly out of my body; pinned to the ground, strangled and barely breathing, my lower body throbbing with pain.

It appears though that I am not dead. It's dark. He is gone. I am alone, my body stretched on the floor. There is blood on my thighs and around my neck the skin broke in a few spots.

He didn't even talk just did things. Begging him to stop had no effect whatsoever. He can do it again every time he wants. He can kill me if he wants and nobody would stop him. My husband hates me and doesn't tell me why.

If he treats you badly, promise me you will come and find us.

Is this bad enough, Mairi? Whish you were here to tell me 'Weedy, you are just a coward' or something else that sounds like you. I wish you were, so there would be at least someone who I know would try to protect me.

Mechanically I dress a long, dark cloak over my dirty night shift, some shoes and exit to the garden.

It stopped raining but it's dark; there is still much time till dawn.

Without thinking, I cross the gardens and crawl under bushes. Without wanting to admit it to myself, I am searching for that door.

Running away. Maybe finding Salma and then live together somewhere where we don't have husbands. That's in the back of my mind. Now that I caught the thought I cannot escape it. Hers is making her also unhappy. Maybe she was just ashamed to tell me the details as I am too.

There it is. Hidden between bushes and weeds is the small door. But it's locked. What was I expecting?

I bang my fist in frustration against it and my eyes fall on the scar on the back of my hand.

What would Mairi do? She wouldn't walk back to that. She preferred to die than being caught. I take a deep breath and remove a pin from my hair. Mairi picked the lock to the weapons room in the priori while I was watching.

I try to do what she was saying, twist the thread till it makes the lock click. 'You are good at doing fine work with your hands', said Fera once. I hope she was right wherever she is right now.

Another deep breath and it clicks. The click feels like shackles falling from me. I exit and run.

Steep was an understatement. These steps are a crime against all races. Well, Mairi would just sprint down but I am not her. Unfortunately.

I stalk my tempo, walk slowly, grabbing everything I can on the wall to my left: weeds, stones. You are just like a weed, you cannot die.

Would I mind thought if I do? If I fall and crash into the waves? Probably not so much.

'Live and make the world a better place.' Gods, Mairi, your voice seems to be a recurring motive today. Maybe it's indeed from the gods or from you from the afterlife. Are you looking at me, making a bit of fun with the other in the Eternal Gardens of The Grand good of Everything, and then sending your care into this world to find me?