Page 7 of Secrets & Curses of Crimson

“No, tell me, Sybil.”

“We can’t!” She threw her hands into the air. “I've tried to tell you who the man with golden eyes is, and I’ve tried to tell you what you need to do, but I am silenced each time. If I could tell you, I would.”

I wanted to say something to Sybil, but a yell in the distance had both of us glancing at the door. The scream was blood-curdling, making both of us hold our breath for a moment. My body tensed; I had never heard screams like that here.

“What was that?” I whispered.

“Nothing good.” Sybil moved to grab a knife. Sybil was not a violent woman, so it surprised me to see her grab a weapon.

We both watched the door as I pulled my dagger out. It was dark outside now, almost as if a storm was approaching, but it did not rain in Exile. Dread filled me as I waited for anything to happen. Another yell somewhere closer to our home startled both of us. I stepped forward so Sybil would be protected. The twins said I was a natural fighter. I could protect Sybil if needed. Our door burst open a few moments later, and before I could lunge forward with my blade, I recognized Kai and Kaz.

“We're under attack,” one of them whispered.

“How? We’re in a shielded prison." I questioned. They looked to Sybil for guidance or something else. Sybil gave them a nod to their silent question.

“We need to get Thea to the border now. She’s who they are after,” Kai said. My heart raced quickly.

“Me?” I frowned. “I don’t understand what’s going on.”

Sybil came up to me and grabbed my hands in hers to comfort me, but it only terrified me more. She looked at me with sadness and guilt.

“You don’t remember, but you can go through the border without dying.”

I shook my head, trying to understand what she was saying. The twins were guarding the door, but the screams were getting closer to us, and I knew we only had minutes before they found us.

“It’s been almost a year since you’ve been back. I’m sure they are here to stop you from the trials.”

“Who? What trials?”

Tears streamed down my cheeks as confusion hit me in a new wave.

“We can’t say until your curse is broken, and only you can do that. You need to go, and don’t worry about us. Once they realize you're gone, we’ll be alright.”

“They are getting closer. We need to go now,” Kai demanded.

“You’re scaring me. I don’t understand.”

Sybil’s hand wiped the tears from my cheeks softly.

“I know, sweetheart, but it’s all we can say. Break your curse and free us all from Exile. Can you do that, Thea?”

“Yes,” I said.

“Yes, you can.” She smiled softly. “The twins will take you to the border.”

Kaz grabbed my hand and started dragging me to the door, but I pulled back so I could hug Sybil.

“I’ll get you out,” Ipromised.

“I know.” She hugged me back. "Remember, you just have to make the right choice when the time comes. Red is right, blue is wrong.”

I nodded, confused. What did any of this mean? Kaz and Kai rushed me from the house, and we ran towards the shadow border. I could hear houses being ransacked and other fae yelling in fear and pain. I didn’t look back. I couldn’t because it would make me want to stay and protect Sybil.

The twins led me through the field of dying grass to the spot by the border I always sat by. Once we were there, they stopped and turned towards me. Both of them bowed at me like I was superior to them.

“We can’t go with you, Captain, but you’ll figure it out this time.”

This time? Captain?

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