Page 94 of Down from the Tower

My body aches in ways it hasn’t for years. The incessant chatter around me slowly becomes clear but it doesn’t lessen the tension I feel. There’s pain all along my body, reminding me of being crushed beneath the stones, but this is a different type of weight that’s settling over me. Less physical, more emotional.

My eyes snap open, glaring up at Legs and Margo and their voices quiet in an instant. And all at once, I sense something is wrong. There’s no Golden Princess in sight.

Sitting up, the two of them back away from me in my rush. My eyes look all around for Rapunzel, but there’s no sign of her. Licking my lips for the final time, I meet Legs’ gaze. It’s resigned, and I already know I’m going to hate what she has to say.

I stand without assistance although a blinding headache rips through my skull. My mouth feels like sandpaper and there’s a heaviness in my chest. None of that stops me from snatching up the scythe and staring down my old friends. “Where is Rapunzel?”

The look they exchange isn’t promising, and I growl before Legs holds up her hands. “She left.”

I hiss, pressing a hand to my chest where it aches. “Left where?”

“Tressa. In the direction we believe the spirits are going.”

My eyes widen, slamming the butt of my scythe down against the earth. That makes no sense. “Why did you let her go alone? Her father is going to be furious, and-”

“And all of the spirits in Mystica seem to be heading there,” Margo cuts in, glaring at me. I always did like her even if she’s grating on my nerves right now. Like Legs, her hair is pin straight and slicked to her head, the auburn contrasting the red in her wings. Her caramel eyes narrow on me, and I know it’s for challenging Legs. I get that she’s protecting her lover. But so am I.

“I’m sure you’ve sensed the unrest,” Margo snaps, continuing on. “Something to the southeast is calling the spirits. Tressa is the only viable place they would go. Camelot is too far north, and Swan Lake is on the opposite side. Your friends called, claiming the spirits were heading that way. Not to mention, Rapunzel is determined. She would have found her way home whether you liked it or not. If she’s running home to face her parents, you need to follow her.”

I clench my jaw. “Rapunzel knows nothing about survival. She could die out there, nevermind if she can pass The Barrens-”

“Zarev,” Legs interrupts, closing her eyes. “She left another way.”

Dread settles over me. “What?”

“Come,” she says, and Margo lifts her into her arms. “There isn’t much time. She’s already been gone for a few hours.”

After giving me one of the worst recaps I’ve ever heard, Legs makes me take off my shirt so she can inspect the gold that’s digging into my skin. I’m ready to push the both of them aside and go after Rapunzel, but they are insistent that this must happen first. I’ve ground the end of my scythe so far into the ground I’m creating a hole.

I know Rapunzel is strong. But she hasn’t mastered anything when it comes to fighting, and her skills with her hair and burning hands are pure luck at best. Someone trained and ruthless like Midas will make quick work of her, even if he hesitates at first because she’s his daughter. He’s the type that won’t allow himself to be bested.

“What difference does a bit of gold make?” I snarl. “Midas will not touch me again. I’ll let him see the monster come to reap his soul from this world.”

Legs shakes her head at me. She’s in the process of digging the gold out with a gardening pick since it seems the princess took my sickle. The pain is there, but it’s nothing compared to what could be happening to her. “Midas controls gold. Stop being an overprotective dickhead and focus for a moment.”

I blink, because I don’t think Legs has ever been so blunt to me before, and she’s pretty direct to begin with. Dickhead is definitely a new one from her.

“Rapunzel has magic hair and magic hands,” she goes on, and while I’m distracted she digs a chunk of gold from my chest. I hiss, knowing in a few hours it will be back and this will be pointless. “I told you the story of the Phoenix Roses. If she’s wise, she can hold her own.”

“With absolutely no combat training?”

Legs purses her lips, ripping another piece out of me before she looks up. “You should know, young Reaper. The wolf in you knew how to survive at any cost.”

I take a step back. We never talk about that. “That’s a low blow.”

“Oh, you took your sweet time sharing the truth with her from what I’ve heard. ,” she snaps, ripping another chunk of gold out without warning. That one hurt. “This girl is powerful, and her life is built on betrayals. People knew you as a beast, and you carried your legacy into the afterlife. She still cares for the monsters who make her life hell.”

“Her parents?” I haven’t asked her this whole time how she feels about them. I know betrayal and disgust run strong, but she has a relationship with them no matter how corrupt they may be. In the end, it’s hard to turn away from the ones who were there, even if they were in the wrong.

“Midas and Dorah might be deplorable, but they raised her. They have a great many things to answer for, and she’s going to demand the explanations. But never telling her about Little Red?” Legs lips screw up to one side, and I think she debates stabbing me with the pick on principle. “Don’t let her turn into another tragedy.”

I growl. “Red betrayed me, sold me out. Rapunzel isn’t going to do that.”

“Not knowingly,” Legs agrees. “But we do mistake things in the heat of the moment. Give her grace when you next see her. Tressa will soon crumble, either beneath the destruction of other lands seizing control or Midas standing his ground and defending the land. Either way, there will be casualties.”

I clench my jaw. “Even if Midas falls, Tressa still has a princess. The land wouldn’t be left to the victor alone.”

“Then you must be with her,” Legs snaps, pushing hard on my shoulder. “Because Arthur of Camelot thirsts for a Queen, and if the Mad Queen wants to sweep in behind his army and take the win, her soldiers will be full of bloodlust. Rapunzel is passionate, but that’s a lot of death and suffering.”

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