Page 51 of Pieces of Halves

I drove a blade into myself. I remember the fear I felt, but the way my father looked at me was worth it. Even though he never loved me, he lost the value of power he saw in me.

I won.I should be happy, but it feels like something is missing.

“I didn’t want my father to use me…” I whisper, watching the red spread further, the rich color lulling me to sleep.

“Victor is dead. Now, start fighting for your life!” Jona’s voice rises.

My father is dead. Relief washes over me.He’s gone.

Closing my eyes, I fight the strong urge to sleep. My eyelids heavy, I focus on the pain, willing it to fade. I imagine my wound closing and myheart beating again as blood flowsthrough my body. He is dead – he cannot take away my happiness anymore.

It’s time to live without fear. The ache in my body slowly dissipates, and blue butterflies flutter around me, their wings delicately tickling my skin.

Freedom. It is a beautiful feeling.

Bright light assaults my eyes, making me squint. I turn my head to the side, my muscles stiff. My abdomen and chest sting, making me grunt involuntarily.

“Take it easy, Izzy. I’ve got you.” I hear Jacob’s voice, and a smile tugs at my lips.

“I couldn’t let him take my memories with you,” I whisper, and my eyes become heavy again.

“I know.” He sighs. “Sleep, baby.” His lips press against my forehead.

In the safety of his arms, I drift away into a land where monsters don’t exist. I killed them all.

The Queen.

Chapter Twenty-Two

JACOB

Her chest is moving steadily with every breath she takes. It has been two days, and she’s still sleeping. She needs her rest, I understand that, but I desperately want to see her smile. I miss her random scientific facts that go way over my head.

Lying next to her, I gently play with her fingers just so I can feel her warmth. She looks so peaceful.

She’ll wake up. I inhale, the sensation of her skin soothing my burning fingers. After the attack, my power has been a little more out of control, but being next to her seems to help.

The two people who knew the most about me are gone. My pain is getting worse, and my power is becoming more chaotic. Things are becoming a little more problematic.

I’ll figure it out. The records will help.

“She’ll wake up soon enough.” A soft voice snaps me out of my thoughts. I turn my head to a young maid replacing the untouched pitcher of water next to the bed, her long brown hair cascading over her shoulders. The most I can do is offer her a small smile. “She knows you are waiting for her.” The girl looks at Izzy, her gaze tender. “And maybe you can put on another beautiful show for us.” She winks and smiles at me.

A chuckle leaves my mouth as I shake my head. It’s one way to cheer someone up, I guess. A throb reappears at the front of my skull, but I shove away the pain. I’m still alive. It will go away soon.

“Maybe,” I murmur with a small tilt of my lips.

The girl leaves with a supportive smile, leaving me alone with Izzy. The world seems to be silent and empty without the sound of her voice in it.

This meeting room has become all too familiar at this point. The five of us –Rosie, Adrian, Jorgan, Jona, and me—sit around the table, sharing what we learned over the last few days and what strategies should be used.

With my mother and Victor dead, there is a huge mess that needs to be cleaned up. Sofia had followers who would go to the grave for her, and Victor left a kingdom without an heir. Technically, Izzy could claim it, but I doubt she would want it. Once she wakes up, we will ask her, but no one knows when that will happen. The healers said her mind as well as the body is mending itself. It’s different for everyone, so they can’t say when she’ll wake up. For now, we need a plan to contain the situation.

The good part is that Sofia’s followers are panicked about her death, making it easier for us to catch them in the midst of the chaos. The bad part is that they are all over the place – multiple countries around the kingdoms. This could take months or years. It will be an unpleasant process, but it’s needed if we don’t want a war.

My soul is crowded with confusing emotions, but I shove them as far away as possible. There is no point in trying to make sense of them right now. My mother was greedy. She left me as soon as she no longer needed to carry me, and she showed no remorse for her actions. Instead, she decided to kidnap the woman who means the world to me.

I killed my own mother. I wish I didn’t have to, but she would’ve stopped at nothing.

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