Page 5 of A Sky of Storms
I almost snorted. Right, brutal, because I hadn’t learnt the true meaning of that by now. Nothing could be worse than being in this place—than Victrus and Eliana and their whole gods damned House.Nothing.
“I don’t want you to go,” Hadley said, clinging on my shirt sleeve. Her green eyes were wide and full of tears.
My little sister, still so pure and good-hearted. I had to win this, if only so she never had to learn how monstrous her parents really were, so she never felt the sting of my father’s power.
“I’m not leaving until tomorrow and, when I do, it will only be for a little while, Ley-ley,” I said gently, twisting one of her brown curls around my finger. “And just think, when I’m queen, I will be able to build a toy store and ice-creamery just for you.”
Her little face brightened at that, but she cocked her head cautiously. “Will there be rainbow flavour?”
“And chocolate and strawberry.” I winked. “Whatever you want.”
Her eyes just about bugged out of her head at that, and I chuckled, but our little moment died as soon as I noticed the family watching me. We weren’t allowed treats or toys. Hours outside of education or training were supposed to be spent bettering ourselves or the House. Honestly, they could go to hell. Maybe I’d force them to work in that ice cream shop one day, wearing cute little candy-striped uniforms and bobble ice-cream hats. I almost snorted at the imagery. It would be a satisfying sight, but I had more sinister plans in mind, starting with crumbling their empire.
“Sweets make you soft and complacent,” Victrus growled, stabbing his knife into the table. “There will be no ice cream, Hadley, nor toys. Your sister knows that, and if she insists on ignoring that fact, I’ll have her whipped for her insolence. Now, off to bed.”
Hadley whimpered, and I shot up, lifting her into my arms before the servants could step in. “I’ll take her.”
He grunted but waved a dismissive hand. I left hurriedly, bolting for the door when his voice stopped me in my tracks before I managed to reach them.
“Fallon.”
I gritted my teeth before turning slowly, raising a brow. “Yes, Victrus?”
“If you fail the trials, your place in this family will be forfeit. There is no room for weaklings in our House. I’d rather see you dead than look upon your failure.”
His words slithered inside my gut, coiling into a long spool of bitterness and hatred. I didn’t reply, turning my back on him and giving him the finger once I’d stalked down the corridor. As I put Hadley to bed, I snuggled in beside her, once again promising to buy her that ice cream one day.
Pinkie swear it.
I stayed with her for a long time, stroking her hair and watching her little chest rise and fall. Ethan appeared at the door sometime later, and I carefully untangled myself from Hadley. Silently creeping out of the bedroom, I found him in the hallway.
“You need to be more careful,” Ethan whispered once I was out. “Provoking them isn’t smart.”
I sighed as we walked towards my room. “I know, but I can’t help it. Victrus makes me so mad. It’s like a reflex.”
Ethan frowned. “That so-called reflex is going to get you killed.”
“Luckily, I’m leaving tomorrow, so he will have to wait a while,” I replied, pushing my door open. I could hear Ethan grumbling under his breath behind me as I grabbed a bag from my cupboard and started filling it with clothing.
“You’re forgetting one tiny detail that other people will want you to fail instead,” he said. I turned to see him flopping onto my bed, his eyes tracking my movements. “I looked up the past Terrulian Trials. Fallon, the stories people tell aren’t exaggerations.”
“I assumed as much.”
“I’m talking trials that either drive you to insanity or literally rip you to shreds,” he continued, eyes wide and hands waving dramatically. “According to a witness to the fourteenth trails, one guy was obliterated into nothing but a bloody mist. A. Bloody. Mist.”
“Sounds painful,” I replied dryly. I didn’t want to think about all the ways my life could be ended. That shit was scary, and I didn’t have time to be afraid, not when so much hung on the line. “Ethan, you could die tomorrow just walking down the street. Life is full of unknowns; I can’t stay here and do nothing when this is such a golden opportunity for us.”
Ethan ran a hand through his hair. “I get it, but please be careful. You’re all Hadley and I have that matters, and you made a promise.”
“I swore I’d come back.” I nodded. “I never go back on my promises with you both, and I’m not about to start now.”
“Good,” Ethan replied, moving to help me pack for my journey tomorrow.
We talked for an hour, reminiscing on all the mischief we’d gotten up to and making more promises to each other that somehow, despite all the obstacles, we’d get through this together. That we would live a life free from all the bullshit at each other’s side.
Once he left, I lay in bed and thought about the life I was leaving behind. Tomorrow I’d be done with Victrus and Eliana, but I’d be stepping into the belly of the beast instead. Many people wanted my family dead, and they’d make no exception for me. The Auger family had ruined many lives and stripped so many resources from other cities. I may as well have painted a freaking target on my back as well as packed my bags, because the other participants would sure as shit be coming for me.
I frowned, rolling over in my bed. The Terrulian Trials were going to make me or break me, but I knew one thing for sure, I would never give up. I was clever, and I was strong. I’d been beaten and bruised inside and out more times than I could count and seen things I’d never forget. The things I’d been forced to participate in were so fucked up, they would haunt me forever.
