Page 17 of Forsaken Secrets

7

Kaiya

Iwalked quickly, forcing the simmering anger in my stomach to stay contained for just a bit longer. Clouds rolled across the sky, and a few raindrops fell to further soak the cobbles of the surrounding road.

I ignored them.

Clenching my jaw, I put my head down and walked faster. I should head home now, but if I took a shortcut through the forest instead of the bridge, I could make it to the ruins at the edge of our estate, my haven, without running into anyone I knew.

I'd be safe there to let all these emotions free without reproach.

My heart throbbed in my chest, and I walked even faster. Each step was a punch to the ground, an outlet for the anger simmering inside of me.

Frustrated tears burned at the back of my eyes, but I brushed them away.

To think — that woman had dared to first insult my aunt and then to insinuate I'd be better off in her world!?!

Her world with intricate gowns and lavish Balls that served no purpose. Where words spoken rarely meant words intended. Where women were married off to the highest bidder with no concern for their own desires or safety.

No. The thought alone made my blood boil.

And, to think, my lack of response had made it sound like I agreed!

I'd wanted to scream and rage and tell her just how wrong she was. But I just stood there, curtsying and scraping while she inspected me like an animal at auction.

My fists clenched, nails biting into my palms, and I walked as fast as I could. Fast enough to outrun my emotions.

Why did she hate us so much, anyway? There were other poor people in our town, yet she consistently went out of her way to make our lives a living hell.

Finally, the forest, with its dark and tangled depths, loomed directly in front of me. I heaved a sigh of relief.

The ruins poked above the trees, and I walked faster. If I could get there, I could think in peace for a bit. Aunt Grace would probably kill me for staying out in the rain, but she'd understand when I explained the situation.

Glancing around to make sure no one was watching, I shifted my pack and ran, booted feet moving as fast as possible until I reached the first worn column. I slipped into a collapsed portion and slumped against the remnants of a statue, letting the sound of water crashing on the cliffs outside calm me.

I ran my fingers over the etched words in the stone, the Druid and the Drake. How many other people had been here and done the same thing over the years? People in similar or worse situations to mine.

It had been the start to my interest in the legend, and it felt fitting that it was also the end.

How had we gotten to this? I looked down at the pack of supplies — fabric, ribbons, thread, and needles. We'd come that close to not being able to pay our debt. My head throbbed. Without the supplies, Aunt Grace couldn't sew, and if she couldn't sew, we'd have no income to pay for our home or to repay the debt.

Gods, Uncle Calix would have been horrified to see us like this.

We always said it would end once we paid off the debt, but this was the third year and it didn't look to end anytime soon. Lady Ellingsworth always had some additional fee to add on, and we never made quite enough during the Season to set us up for the next year.

The rain picked up outside, mimicking the pain inside my chest, and I rested my chin on my knees, letting my mind drift … imagining a life where I'd never gone off to explore that day.

One where Uncle Calix was still alive, and we were still happy.

A low voice filtered through the storm. I peeked through a hole in the stone wall but saw nothing.

Perhaps it was just in my head …

Just as I settled back, the muffled sound came again. The storm masked whatever the person was saying, but it was clearly coming from near the cliffs.

It seemed my pity party was over. I didn't need someone stumbling in on me moping here.

I stood up slowly, wiped my wet cheeks, stretched my stiff limbs, and shook out the tingles that had overtaken them as I listened for more sounds.

This was why we had signs up everywhere telling people not to trespass. But of course people didn't listen.

I couldn't just leave them out there, though.

Groaning, I slipped my pack back on and stepped out of the shelter of the ruins.

A masculine scream tore through the forest, and my heart sank.

Feet flying, I broke into a run, dodging around fallen stones and new tree growth. Gods damn it … they had better be okay!

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