Royal's Way

Chapter 22

My breath shivered against the cold air I felt. The world was dark for a while, my limbs numb, but I clearly felt awake.

My eyes slowly opened when I built up the strength.

But only white met my vision, and the sound of howling wind rang in my ears.

I was freezing. I felt like I was dying.

I grunted as I got one arm under myself, the one that wasn't in pain. But I was still sore all over, still confused as to where I was and what was happening.

My breathing was ragged. I could barely move.

Another's presence hovered in front of me.
I lifted my gaze, my neck sore for whatever reason.

Lily was at a large door, snow blocking its edges until she waved her hand and blew it away.

I assumed she wasn't cold because of her abilities. But I hoped she knew I was literally dying.

I yelped when I tried to sit up. I didn't understand why I was in so much pain. I complied to Lily. Why was I in such a devastated state like this? Why did my back sting so badly?

I winced again, only able to support myself on my elbows. "Lily."

She froze, turning and looking at me over her shoulder.

I grunted, not even gonna try one more time. "You won't touch anyone else after this."

She scowled, her hand hovering over the wood of the door in front of her. "I don't think you have much say in that."

"You won't," I insisted, a cough following up right after. "I don't know what you did to me, and I don't know what you will do to me, but whatever it is, no one will let you live this down."

She wasn't phased. "I've had my fair share of shame in my life..."

She suddenly approached, scooping me up bridal style. I had no way of protesting. "...your words do not affect me."

==

When we stepped out of the bridge, we were immediately hit with a rush of freezing wind.

"Hoooly shit!" Ian yelled when he stepped out, not expecting this amount of freeze at all, "It's the damn North Pole out here!" "Ian, language." "Sorry."

Ruth stepped forward, arms at her side, unlike the rest of us. Percy seemed the most uncomfortable; of course he was. He was from the south.

"Door is open," Ruth cried, "They're already here."

A silence fell.

Eliza was using one of the jackets I had tried on earlier, but still was shivering out of her mind. I imagine that the cold wasn't what caused it.

"What now, then?" Percy asked, his voice drowned out by the howling wind.

Ruth hesitated. "We go in, anyway. We still have a chance." "A chance to what?" Eliza cried, "If we were here too late, shouldn't he already be...?"

Ruth glanced at her. At her sides, her hands shook, but the rest of her never showed any sort of fear. She was confident, in a way, but she would never have true hope. "Lily has a source of power right at her fingertips. She might be crazy, but she isn't dumb." Ian obviously shifted uncomfortably. "So, we're just gonna go in?"

Ruth paused, turning back to the door. "Yes."

==

The palace inside was piled by snow and frost, broken glass and cracking flooring.