Page 51 of Guarded By the Reaper

Lady Mews. I heard a commotion behind me. The cat had freaked out, probably sensing my distress. She let out a yowl and jumped from Grim’s arms, scratching his cloak. I barely registered Grim’s grunt of surprise. My eyes were fixed on the message on the floor, the straws spelling out my worst nightmare. Ma-Vasha had Elysia. She was going to – no, I couldn’t even think it. My breath came in short, sharp gasps. The room spun with me, and I felt like I might pass out. This was all my fault. If I’d just taken the poison when I was supposed to, if I hadn’t tried to buy more time...

“Millie.” Grim’s voice cut through the fog of panic, but it sounded far away. “Millie, look at me.”

I felt his hands on my shoulders, cool and steady. I wanted to look up, to focus on him, but I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the horrible message.

“Breathe, Millie,” Grim said, his tone gentle but firm. “We’re going to fix this, but I need you to breathe.”

I tried to do as he said, forcing air into my lungs. It hurt, like my chest was too tight, but I kept at it. In and out. In and out.

“That’s it,” Grim encouraged. “Now, I need you to think. Remember Ma-Vasha’s place? Where she took you yesterday?”

I nodded, the memory crystal clear despite my panic.

“Good,” Grim said. “I need you to focus on that place. Every detail you can remember. The sights, the smells, everything.”

I closed my eyes, picturing the vast hall, the massive stone walls with faded, tattered tapestries hanging on them. I remembered the tall, narrow windows that showed a stormy sky, rain lashing against the glass. The castle perched high on a cliff, giving a dizzying view of jagged rocks and churning waves below. The huge fireplace that did little to warm the space. The long table with its blue candles. The damp, musty air.

“That’s perfect,” Grim murmured. “Hold onto that image.”

I felt his arms wrap around me, pulling me close. Despite everything, I felt a flutter in my chest at his touch. Then the world shifted and twisted around us. I would never get used to teleporting.

“Hold on tight,” Grim whispered in my ear. “We’re going to get her back.”

Chapter Thirty-One

Grim

We landed in the grand room of a medieval castle. Even though the cold and damp didn’t bother me, I couldn’t say I would’ve chosen this place as a destination... ever. The stone walls loomed over us, making me feel small. Tattered tapestries hung sadly, like they’d given up on trying to make the place look nice. I hadn’t expected a powerful creature like Ma-Vasha to live in such a dump. The whole place reeked of misery and decay. It was like she’d decided to make her home in the most depressing spot she could find. Maybe that was the point. A weak fire flickered in a massive fireplace, barely warming the room. The flames cast creepy shadows that danced on the walls. Outside, I could see a storm raging. The wind howled like a wounded animal, making the whole scene even more dramatic.

In the center of the room stood a long table, scarred and beaten up like it had seen centuries of abuse. Ma-Vasha sat at the head. Her skin was pulled tight over her bones, and her eyes glittered with a hunger that made my skin crawl. Next to her sat Elysia, looking tiny and scared. The contrast between them was huge – Ma-Vasha, ancient and terrifying, and Elysia, young and innocent. It made me feel sick, though technically... I couldn’t be sick. But it definitely reminded me of how it felt to be sick to your stomach.

In front of Elysia was a feast fit for a king. Roasted meats, colorful fruits, and rich desserts covered the table. It was like Ma-Vasha was trying to fatten her up, which made no sense. She wasn’t going to eat Elysia’s flesh, just her soul. Maybe it was some twisted form of kindness, giving the kid one last meal before... I didn’t want to think about what came next.

A glass filled with dark red liquid sat near Elysia’s plate – poison.

“Elysia, don’t drink from that glass!” Millie’s voice echoed off the walls and down endless halls.

I watched as Elysia’s small frame jolted at the sound, her eyes wide with confusion. She looked so lost, so out of place in this hellhole.

“Millie?” Elysia’s voice quivered. Her little hands trembled as she pushed her chair away from the table. “What’s going on? Is this a bad dream?”

If only this were a nightmare she could wake up from.

Millie’s face crumpled, her eyes pleading as she turned to Ma-Vasha. She took a step forward, but I gently grabbed her arm, holding her back.

“Please, stop this. Don’t hurt her.”

Ma-Vasha didn’t even blink, her eyes fixed on Elysia like a predator eyeing its next meal. She sat unnaturally still, barely seeming to breathe.

“I can’t eat another bite,” Elysia sobbed, pushing her plate away with shaking hands. “She’s been making me eat since she brought me here.”

Why force-feed the kid? It didn’t make sense.

“Why are you making her eat?” I asked, my grip on Millie’s arm loosening slightly.

Ma-Vasha’s lips curled into a smile. She leaned forward, her bony elbows resting on the table. She seemed excited at the question, eager to explain how her diet worked.

“Souls are sweeter when the sacrifice is in no kind of discomfort,” she purred. “Including hunger and thirst.”

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