Page 69 of The Forgotten Life of Ella Moon
The short woman tuggedAuroraout of the room.Shehad no choice but to follow.Gracesaid nothing as she pulledAuroraalong the gray hallway.Largewindows took up an entire wall.Butthere was very little to see other than the gloomy gray sky and white landscape.Frosthad crept up the walls and glittered in the low light.
There was something about this place that putAuroraon edge.Adarkness lay hidden just beneath the surface.Nota darkness likeThane.Thisdarkness whispered lies and stole the truth from those who tried to speak it.Gracestopped abruptly and pointed to a door.Aurorastepped forward and into a bedroom.
A large copper tub filled with steaming water sat in front of a large mantel.Abright, warm fire made the air feel damp and oppressive.Thebed and most of the room were hidden in the shadows.Gracebrushed byAuroraand busied herself with bottles, pouring something into the water.Thewoman motioned forAurorato enter the room.
“Why will you not speak to me?Whatis this place?”AuroratuggedThane’sjacket closer to her.Hisscent still clung to it.
Grace shook her head and stepped closer to her, reaching forAurora’sjacket and tugging at the sleeves.Whenthat didn’t work,Gracereached for the front of her shirt and pulled on it.Auroratried to shove the older woman away, butGracehadn’t just spent hours in the cold.
“I can undress myself.”AurorashovedGraceaway. “Whywill you not speak to me?”
Grace opened her mouth to show all its missing pieces.Thewoman had no tongue, and most of her teeth were missing.Aurorastepped back, pulling her jacket tighter around her chest.Suddenly, she didn’t want to be here.Inthis room.Withthis woman. “Iwant to leave.Tellyour mistress thatIhave… changed my mind.”Aurora’sbody ached, and her head spun with confusion.Shefelt the urge to leave this place before it consumed her. “Ineed to leave.”
“You cannot.”Amale voice cut through the heavy air.
Aurora stepped back, hitting her back on the edge of the tub.Aman moved into the low light of the fire.He, too, had golden hair, but his eyes were green like spring. “Whoare you?”
“I amKingNieve.”Theman bowed slightly. “Iam the one who brought you here.”
“You?Why?”Shesat hard on the bench near the tub.Shewas too tired to stand.Tearsburned her eyes, blurring the room.Shehated fairy tales.Theycould spin your thoughts and turn them against you.Makethe world feel upside down while you stood right side up. “I’vemade a mistake.Iwant to go home.Please.”
“Hush.Don’tcry.”Theking knelt in front ofAurora, catching her first tear. “Iwas right about you.Butwe must keep quiet about what you are.”
Aurora struggled to catch her breath.Herribs ached, and her lip started to bleed again. “Please,Ijust want to leave.”
The king frowned, catching another ofAurora’stears. “Soon.Butfirst we need to get you warmed up.Grace, leave the poor girl.Iwill wait with her.”
The woman made a strangled sound.
“Do you want to be mute forever?Gotell the queen the girl is fine.Sheis soaking in the tub.”Theking looked over his shoulder.
Aurora wiped the tears away.Herteeth chattered from the coldness that leaked into her bones.Howwould she survive this?Shedidn’t even feel like herself.Shefelt empty.Dullalmost. “What’shappening to me?” she asked between chattering teeth.
“It’s this place.Youwon’t have much time.Itwill rob you of your brightness.Italready has taken some.I’llexplain more but first you need to warm up, or you will die here like the rest.”Theking stood, offeringAurorahis hand. “Please,Imean no harm.”
The king was made of all things fairy tale.Hiswarm green eyes held the promise of something better.Hismouth begged for her to kiss him.Tofall under whatever spell he could weave.Shetook his hand.Hermuscles screamed in resistance as she stood.
“Grace added a healing oil to the water.Itwill help.Butit will not take away all your aches and pains.Whateveryou do, do not fall asleep.I’llwait outside the door.Whenyou have dressed, we’ll talk.”Theking bowed before leaving the room, closing the door behind him.
Aurora waited, not sure what to do.Thetub looked so inviting, but so did a cup of poison.She’ddie for sure if she didn’t get the ice out of her veins.Aurora’snumb fingers worked the buttons on her shirt.Shestifled a cry as she pulled it over her shoulders.Hervision swam from the pain that raced up her side.Auroraleaned against the tub, fighting back the tears as she slipped out of her torn trousers.
The water lapped at her bruised knees.Herside was a mess of black and purple bruises.Shesunk into the warm water; the oils burned all the cuts on her body.Aurorahugged her knees tight, her muscles spasming against the cold.Shetook an unsteady breath, willing the tears not to fall.Shecould do this.Thiswas just a silly story.Hermother had told her hundreds of them as a child.Andno matter how bad it was, the girl always survived.Didn’tshe?
Aurora lay back in the tub, letting the warmth chase out the chill.Theceiling in the room was painted with the night sky.Silverstars had been painted on the ceiling, but three gold ones caught her attention.Shehad seen them before.Notin a painting but the real thing.Wherehad she seen them?Herthoughts moved slowly, slipping through her fingers like sand.Aurorayawned, slipping deeper into the water.
Her eyes and limbs grew heavy.Shefought back another yawn, trying to remember where she had last seen the night sky.Thewarm water swirled around her cold and tired joints.Itwhispered for her to stay.Tosink a little lower.Shefelt weightless, floating in a warmth that felt safe and better than the life she had left behind.Herlungs ached as the warmth spread to them.Everythingwas finally right, until it wasn’t.
Aurora coughed, gripping the arm around her chest.Thecold, damp air filled her aching lungs.Auroraexhaled.Thepain in her side drew her back to the cold room and the strong arm around her chest.Herthoughts raced back.ThoughtsofThane.Ofher mother and father.Allthe things she thought she had forgotten. “WhatinHel’steeth is this place?”
“A fairy tale.”Nievestepped away, reaching for a drying sheet. “I’llgive you a minute to dress.ThenI’llexplain everythingIcan.Whateveryou do, don’t fall asleep.”
CHAPTER34
AURORA
Aurora dressed in the simple, pale blue wool tunic with a white fur collar and gray wool trousers the king left for her.Therewere laces and ties thatAurorawas not familiar with.Bythe time she got everything tied up, she was sore and out of breath.Sheheard someone removing the tub.Shepulled on the heavy pair of wool socks before stepping from behind the changing screen.
The king spoke in hushed tones toGrace, who glared atAuroraas she gathered upAurora’storn clothing.Thankfully,Thane’sjacket and her boots were drying by the fire.
