Cloak, Torn: Book 2 [ON HOLD]

Chapter 26

I shoved past my Grandmother and ran inside, drawing my dagger as I went. Jayla must have gotten a monster into the castle. Father was in trouble.

But when I burst through the door, I saw my father on his knees. He was shaking, head bowed. He was gasping for air. Mother was lying on the bed. She didn't move. She didn't try to comfort him. She was asleep. But the roar would have woken her...

"Father?"

He didn't respond.

"Father, what's wrong with Mother?"

He shuddered once, then stilled. His breathing halted. He pushed himself up, back still to me. I heard him let out a long, quaking breath.

"Scarlet."

I clenched my knife.

"You... You."

Mother's face was so pale. She wasn't moving. Why wasn't she moving?

"Mother?"

"Shut up!" Father roared. I jolted. He whipped around. His cheeks were streaked with tears, his eyes halfway between fury and terror.

"She can't answer you anymore, Scarlet! You understand? She's- she's-,"

He choked. His voice quivered.

The King crashed to his knees. His nails dug into his hairline. He gasped for air, sobbing and breathing at the same time.

The blood drained from my cheeks. He- he told me to shut up... Father never did that. Mother. I- She couldn't... My wide eyes were filling with tears.

"I- I didn't-,"

"Why couldn't you have just done as I told you?"

"I didn't mean to! I- I didn't know."

My voice came out strangled, pleading.

"It's just that the Woodsman saved me and then I had to free his son so I had get a harp and- and- I didn't have a choice!"

Dangerous silence permeated the room.

"You have always had a choice," Father said. His voice was quickly turning into a growl. "And you have always chosen wrong."

I gasped. There was a jab at my chest, twisting, burying itself deeper. The tears sliced down my cheeks.

From the bed I heard a whine and then a tiny cry. I glanced towards the sound.

"I-,"

"Get out."

I blanched.

"Father-,"

"I said, get out!"

The baby cried louder.

Father's eyes were burning, condemning. Grandmother wouldn't even look at me. And mother just lay there, cold, while the baby screamed.

It's all my fault.

I turned around and ran.  

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End Act Two