Cloak, Torn: Book 2 [ON HOLD]

Chapter 25

There were horses tied up several hundred yards from the battle. We took them back to the castle while the knights led the rest of the Lost through the woods on foot. The ride passed in a rush of wind. Warren clung to my waist on one horse and Grandmother did the same for Father as we bolted for the castle. My mind rebelled when we passed under the portcullis and all I could think of was the bars closing on a jail cell, but at the same time, I knew this was what I deserved. My adventures were done the second I swung off my horse in the courtyard.

Father and Grandmother dashed for the castle, I ran after them, and Warren ran after me. Father accosted one of the servants in the hallway for information and directions, but the girl was so shocked that she could only point towards a room at the end of the hall. From behind the door there was into silence. Rowena emerged from the room, looking about to collapse.

“Rowena, what's going on? What happened? Is she okay? The baby, is it-,”

Rowena held up a hand, massaging her forehead with the other.

“Sir, please.”

“I'll see what I can do,” Grandmother said. She nodded to Rowena and my father, and gave me a hard look. I looked at my feet.

“Rowena, will you find some better clothes for Warren? He can't wear my cloak forever,” I said. The maid nodded.

“Follow me please, young man.”

Warren cast a backward glance at me before leaving with Rowena. I watched her retreating back.

Should we say something?

Like what? Hey, I saw your fiancé, but Jayla cursed him again, and I don't even know if he’s still alive or where he is. Yeah, that would go over well. Like we need someone else mad at us right now.

I snuck a glance at Father. He seemed like he would burn a hole in the door, the way he was staring at it. He was leaning against the wall opposite the door, the stone of which was being shredded like clay beneath his fingernails.

For now, he was too distracted by Mother to be mad at me, but I didn't dare move. Invisibility was now my only defense.

It seemed like an epoch passed before Grandmother came out of the bedroom. The sun had risen another hour's worth on the horizon at least. Her expression was unreadable. She nodded to my Father and he ran into the room. I started after him, but Grandmother stopped me with an arm.

“Give them time alone, Scarlet,” she whispered. “These things aren't easy.”

I watched Father disappear into the bedroom.

Despite everything I had done, this was my family. I wanted to know if the baby was okay. If mother was okay. From the sound of the vision Jayla had given him, it wasn't good.

But I sighed.

“Okay,” I said. “I'll wait.”

And wait we did, in silence, for about a minute. But my fingers couldn't lie still and my feet wouldn't stop tapping. All the nerves in my body were buzzing with tension.

“Is- is she going to be okay?”

Grandmother kept staring at the door. Her mouth pressed into an ever thinner line.

“Is the baby- is it-,”

Grandmother closed her eyes. Her brow furrowed.

The blood drained from my cheeks.

It’s dead.

“Grandmother,” I said, urgence in the strain of my voice.

My heart was slamming in my chest.