Page 114 of The Call of Crimson
Hesitantly, I reach for her. My body hums at the feel of her skin as I trail my fingertips along her jaw. Her emerald irises meet mine. I swear I forget how to breathe when her head leans softly into my touch.
Her lips form a hard line, the moment gone before I can truly savor it. She jerks her head back, stepping out of reach.
I could weep at the sudden loss of her warmth.
I’m seconds away from begging her to come back when she turns away.
“I need you to leave, Aurelius,” is all she says before crawling into bed.
“Sleep well, Breyla,” I say softly, my chest deflating at the distance she’s putting between us again.
The moment I think we’re making progress, she pulls back.
She says nothing, her silent dismissal landing like a slap to the face.
Not even two hours later, soldiers start appearing in groups at the castle gates. They’re in various stages of decline from the poison tainting their blood. Some are walking and talking normally, but others are delirious with pain and hallucinations.
For those in the late stages, Rowina moves quickly to block their pain, ensuring the only thing they feel is peace as they transition from this life into the next.
Those in the early stages spend the day eating what they please, drinking, visiting with friends, and saying goodbye to their families.
Watching soldiers who were perfectly healthy just days ago say goodbye to their loved ones was cruel torture. Some of them will last all day.
I’m not sure which scenario is worse, being faced with a quick, painful end or a slow, drawn-out one.
Rowina is depleted, her eyes dull and glassy.
“Aurelius, I could use your Gift,” she calls, tucking a loose strand of sweaty hair behind her ear. “I’m exhausted. There are a few that have requested you end it, rather than wait.”
I nod. “Take me to them.”
She leads me to a group of females, all in the end stages. Black lines creep through their skin as the poison inches its way to their hearts.
These aren’t soldiers. “They’re innocents,” I breathe.
“There are always casualties in battle, brother,” Rowina says sadly.
“Don’t fret, Prince,” one of the females says sweetly. “We stood between poisoned arrows and children. This was our choice.”
“One we would make again,” another says with a pained smile.
I nod, knowing I would do the same. “Who first?” I ask gently.
“Me, I suppose,” the first female says. She’s short with plenty of curves and mousy brown hair. Kind brown eyes crinkle at the corners when she smiles at me.
“What’s your name?”
Their names will not be forgotten.
“Trixia,” she says stiffly.
I take her small hand in mine. “It’ll be painless, Trixia.”
“Thank you,” she sighs, relief washing through her as my Gift goes to work.
Her eyes flutter shut when I reach her heart. The blood flow ceases, her heart stopping slowly to give her the peaceful death she deserves.
The remaining two females sob in unison. Staring at your own mortality didn’t make it easier to accept once it came.
