Page 75 of A Kingdom so Crimson

I wrestled with the relentless pressure, struggling to fight back with each surge of force that threatened to overwhelm me entirely. With a snap, the tumultuous storm of darkness engulfed me, unleashing a torrent of memories that tore through my mind like a tempest.

I saw the cruel lash of Jesri's whip and felt the sting of his malicious words searing into my core. The relentless training, day in and day out, the hunger gnawing at my insides as I pushed myself to the brink. The self-hatred, the doubt, the excruciating pain that I buried beneath layers of determination, driving myself forward through sheer force of will.

Each failed test of the dagger and setback absorbed the torment of my wretched soul, fueling the flames of my fury. Nights drowned in salty tears, my body bruised beyond healing, my once untouched hands now calloused and scarred. Rumors, like poison, coursed through my veins, clotting my blood with each passing memory, each reminder of my past.

It seemed endless, the relentless flood of memories, each one a painful reminder of my past, my agony, my fears for parents who never returned. The bitterness welled within me, fueled by the resentment I harbored towards that wretched tree that never granted my childish wishes but seemed to heed the golden-eyed boy I adored time and time again. He was everything I was not—carefree, confident, everything that stirred up jealousy in my pathetic, wretched life.

A waste.

A sudden flash of light shattered the darkness of my thoughts, and I found myself back in Jesri's study, barely feeling the plush rug beneath my feet as I hung my head, the bruises on my arm throbbing in protest. My face burned from the recent confrontation, the echoes of Calum's voice reverberated off the closed door, his desperate pleas and cries filling the room.

"It was my fault! She didn't do it!" His voice grew more frantic with each passing moment, the sound of grunting and hurried footsteps drawing nearer. "Uncle, please. No!"

The door crashed open, and Jesri's piercing gaze bore into me, stealing the air from my lungs. I averted my eyes, focusing on the plush rug beneath me, my fingers absently tugging at the torn fabric of my shirt from the branches that had broken my fall.

Without warning, Jesri seized my arm, dragging me roughly from the chair and toward the door. Tears welled in my eyes as his grip tightened, sending waves of pain shooting through my injured arm. I glanced back at Calum, his eye swollen shut, with his face marred with scrapes mirroring my own. He collapsed to his knees, his cries echoing through the room.

I'm sorry,Calum mouthed as Jesri dragged me out the door. I noticed the line of staff watching, their faces numb with worry as he took me toward the foreboding woods, now frosted over with a bitter cold that had swept through, causing the humidity to amplify the cold air surrounding us.

He threw me into a bush that further bloodied my already pained body.

"Jesri, please," I gasped, trying to contain my trembling that would only cause more punishment.

"When Iexpectyou to be a part of my house, Iexpectyou to keep all the rules," he hissed out through gritted teeth. His anger radiating like a warm fire on the cold ground. The sun was darkening against the murky clouds as small wisps of air puffed from each breath.

"I'm sorry—"

"Sorry doesn't cut it, you foolish girl," he howled, sending the birds flying away. I sucked in a sob wishing I could fly away with them. "You sleep here for the night—"

"I'll freeze," I whimpered.

"Make that two." He took hold of my chin, rippling the pain deeper. "I don't want to see your pathetic face on my grass until then. And don't make me regret this— I need youalive."He shoved my face to the side and left, leaving frozen steps in his wake.

I shuddered in the cold, tears freezing on my cheeks until my well of sorrow ran dry, leaving me hollow beneath the ebony black sky dotted with bright stars. Gathering what little strength I had left, I forced myself to find the tree, my only solace. I steadied my chattering teeth against the damp air and stumbled forward, heedless of lurking creatures that might see a vulnerable girl as easy prey.

I stumbled onto the cold, mossy ground beneath the wishing tree, desperate for it to remember—a plea not to forget the pathetic girl too angry to follow the rules.

"Please,"I begged, collapsing against its trunk, overgrown with gnarled roots that stuck up and shielded me from the cold."Please."

The air stirred, swirling frost before me as a blinding light hissed out, shooting skyward and raining shimmering sparkles around me, thawing my frozen, aching body until I fell into a deep sleep, only waking with a warm wool blanket over me.

I jolted back to the present, a snarl escaping my lips. I struggled to shake off the icy chill gripping me, feeling as though I was staring out of my own eyes but somehow locked deep inside. Memories flashed by, some forgotten or forced into oblivion until now. Exhausted, I returned to the present, a blinding pressure building within my head.

Worried amber eyes came into view, and instantly reignited the anger, my hands curling as I was lunging for Kaizen, no longer in control of my body. My fingers wrapped around his tanned throat and squeezed as hard as I could. The veins in his neck bulged as his eyes flickered with darkness.

I screamed, but no sound emerged, and I fought against my own hands, desperate for them to release their grip. Levon was on me in seconds, tearing at my arms, his voice joining mine in frantic cries to stop. Kaizen's amber eyes were bright with concern as he grabbed my fingers, attempting to wedge his own between mine to break the hold.

I wailed as pain shot through my skull, sending my vision spinning with dizzying intensity. An oily blackness crept up my spine, suffocating me. The familiar sensation of spidery fingers wrapped around my throat, squeezing until a loud snap echoed in my ears, jolting me back to reality. Agony erupted from my fingers, radiating up my arm and side. I fought against the darkness with a violent thrash, clawing for control as my vision slowly returned.

Kaizen's worried eyes met mine, and realization struck. I abruptly released my grip, feeling guilt flood in as pain radiated through my trembling hand. Levon pulled me away, and Kaizen coughed, clutching his neck as he leaned against the wall, struggling to stand. I collapsed to the ground and sucked in a breath, seeing my little finger dislocated and jutting out at an odd angle.

"Kaizen, enough," Levon warned, shoving him harder against the wall and pinning him there. "Enough."

A tense exchange of silent words passed between them before Kaizen shoved Levon off.

"Rememberyourplace!" Kaizen hissed, pushing away from the wall and slamming the door to the small room shut, the sound echoing off the stone walls.

I closed my eyes, letting my heart swell back into my soul and drive the memories away.

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