Page 115 of Cages and Crowns
“Enzo, what is going on?” I ask. His face is red, his eyes bloodshot as if he, too, has been crying.
“It doesn’t matter.” He sighs and walks up to me. “Is thiswhat you want?”
“I don’t think I have a choice. My eyes, they were black. I think I’m turning into him.”
“That isn’t going to happen.” He grabs my shoulders and forces me to look at him.
“I’m scared. He said it’s going to hurt.” I whimper, tears pricking my eyes.
“Come on!” Kassius yells from the hallway. I pull myself out of Enzo’s grasp and walk to my room. Nithe looks broken, defeated. He walks over to me and brushes hair out of my face.
“Is this what you want?” He asks, the same way Enzo does. I nod and lean forward to press my head against his chest. His hand comes up to tangle in my hair, holding me against him. “Alright. How do we do this?”
I wasn’t prepared for what came next. Kassius laid towels out on the bed, and I changed into a nightdress. A medical bag was brought in, and needles were prepared. I watched everyone move silently from my place sitting cross-legged on the bed. Nithe was following Kassius around, concern and anger fighting for their place in his eyes.
Enzo sat silently off to the side, as if he was unsure what to do. I look over at him.
“What’s going on with you and Scarlett?” I ask, hoping to distract myself and him. He sighs and rubs his hands on his trousers before looking up at me.
“Emery mentioned to her that I have an old girlfriend back in Labisa. She was worried that when we left and returned, that I would also return to her.”
“Fleur?” I ask, and his eyes widen. “I heard you both talking while I was in the infirmary. You had alife oath with her?”
“We were in love. Had been for years. We pledged ourselves to one another, the only thing we could do as we weren’t old enough to marry. When we did, we both were inked. Swirls and feathers. It only happens to certain people.”
“What people?” I press.
“Soulmates.” He responds. I gasp and look over at Nithe. His arm shimmers in the sun, swirls around his already present black ink. Soulmates. That’s impossible. That can’t be right. There is no way. If I were to have a soulmate, wouldn’t it be Theo? It would have had to be Theo.
“What happened to your soulmate, Enzo?” I whisper, my eyes not leaving Nithe.
“She left me.” Kassius walks over, a handful of vials in one hand and a pot of something in another.
“Are we ready?” He asks as he sets everything down on the bed. I nod hesitantly. “Okay, lay back. I’m going to give you something to relax you and hopefully reduce pain.”
“No poppy root.” I say quickly.
“Elaenor, it is the only thing that will help during this.”
“Please, I can’t.” I shake my head and Nithe sits next to me.
“Hey, it’ll be alright. Nothing will happen to you. This is just to help you.” I whimper and look into his darkening eyes.
“You’re scared.” I whisper. He smiles softly and brushes a tear from my eye.
“Of course I’m scared.” He responds and leans forward, his lips pressing to my forehead. I nod and look back at Kassius.
“Alright.” I whisper. He steps forward, a syringe in one hand. I close my eyes and look away and he sticks it in my arm. Sharp pain is replaced by ice spreading through my veins, a feeling I know too well. I inhale slowly and open my eyes. Enzo steps up, his eyes full of concern and hesitance.
“What do I do?” He asks.
“Place your hands on her stomach.” Kass instructs and Enzo listens. His hands are shaking as they reach for me. I lean back, nestling in the cushions as I feel the poppy root spreading through my veins. “Close your eyes and feel.” I watch my brother’s face as his eyes close and his brows furrow.
“I can feel…a flutter.” He whispers. I start to feel this cold pressure on my stomach, this desire to take a deep breath. So I do, and I exhale with a rasp.
“Good. What else?” He scrunches his forehead further and then he smiles.
“It’s a boy.” He whispers and his eyes open. My pulse skips and I push his hands off of me, my limbs humming.
