Mirror

Welcome to Scythe

Grace's P.O.V

In the end Rowan and Esme didn't even need to be able to get into the palace, however we did need to get out. Bash carried Lilith whilst I led the way through the series of tunnels, eventually coming out just beyond the palace walls. The trip to Scythe was long and arduous. It was a good twelve hours of travelling to get from Siopi's square to Scythe and with Lilith unconscious and being The Princess, things were even more difficult. We had to make our way to the coast of Malevdai through the night, Adelaide using her illusions to get us through guard posts. There were more than us than I thought there would be, of course, there was Addie, Bash and I however, Blaine, Joseph, and a girl named Theia also accompanied us. To my surprise, so many of the servants had been involved with the whole affair and many remained at the palace as spies, a part of me wonders how I did not realise all this sooner. Within a couple of hours, we arrived at the southern port in Malevdai. Floating on the water, a simple boat waited for us; it was nowhere near as grand as the royal yachts but still, it was not completely unpleasant. Once on the boat, we were all given rooms to sleep in, Lilith remaining unconscious the entire time.

Instead of my normal gown, I wear a pair of tight, stretchy trousers and a loose cream sweatshirt. I try to fall asleep, yet the sound of the waves keeps me awake. In the bed next to mine, Adelaide sleeps as sound as a baby, her platinum hair sprawled out behind her. Lilith lays on the third bed in the room; she looks so peaceful as she lays there, no pain haunting her sharp features. A slight guilt pangs in my gut as I gaze at her, how will she take all of this? All Lilith had ever known was the palace. All I knew was the palace too. They would have killed her. They would figure out what she is and would kill her.

Hints of dawn begin to peak through the single window in our room and my lack of sleep begins to dawn on me as I rise from my bed. Splashing cold water on my face, I hear someone scream from the room next door- Bash. I push open the door to his room. Writhing and twisting in his bedsheets is Bash; covered in sweat and yelling out in pain. For a moment I just stand in his doorway, processing what I was seeing- this is why he asked for a room to himself. Gently, I nudge him awake, causing him to sit up rather abruptly.

"G...Grace?" He stutters, pushing his black hair off his face.

"Hey, you were having a nightmare." My hand holds his as I lightly trace my fingertips over his swirling marks.

Bash stares at me for a minute, gazing into my eyes, "have you slept at all?"

"No, the waves kept me up." More like the sense I am being led to my doom but also the waves.

"Come on." Bash scoots over and makes room for me, hesitantly I curl up next to him. His arms snake around my waist, pulling me closer. Warmth radiates of Bash's body and a sense of comfort washes over me; slowly, I begin to drift off to sleep, Bash occasionally muttering in his sleep.

By the time I wake, the sun has fully risen and next to me still lays Bash. "Good morning," I smile at him.

"Good morning to you too." He grins back before placing a light kiss on my forehead and lips. We continue to lay there, curled up against each other.

"Wakey wakey lovebirds, we're almost here." Adelaide bursts into the room and pulls open the blinds, allowing blinding sunlight to fill the room.

"Oh, piss off Addie." Bash chucks one of his pillows at her however, she narrowly misses the attack.

"Come on, we're only an hour away from home." Addie leaves the room, Bash grumbling in her wake. Home. To Bash and Adelaide Scythe was home, not some magical island that was not meant to exist.

Bash hauls himself out of bed. Somehow, I had failed to notice that he was shirtless until he stood in the centre of the room, his defined muscles tensing as he tugs on a shirt.