Page 60 of Between Soul and Vessel
“If she does what I ask of her, then she will be safe.”
My breath stilled in my chest and my hand fell from the door, seeking the comfort of my sister’s, which was already searching for mine. Our hands clasped tightly together.
“But our daughter is headstrong,” Mother said, hervoice almost pleading. “She beats to her own drum and is not one to do as she is told. I cannot assure you that she will do as you ask of her.”
“You have another daughter, yes?” Empress Avena asked.
“Yes . . .” Father begrudgingly said. It was impossible not to notice the turmoil in his tone, as if it was an answer he didn’t want to give.
“Does Sagentia love her sister?” she questioned further.
“More than anything,” Mother answered.
“Good.” The direction of her voice changed as she projected it toward us. “Girls, you may come in.”
My sister and I exchanged confused looks before we did as we were told. The rusty hinges squeaked in annoyance as I pressed the door open. Somewhat hesitantly, we stepped into the small receiving room. In the middle sat a table surrounded by chairs. On the far side was an unlit fireplace—a painting of our family, set in a golden frame, hung over top of it.
We bowed, keeping our heads like that until the empress said, “You may rise.”
When we did, I took her in. I had seen her likeness before, painted on murals and stitched into tapestries, but in person, she was exquisite. The very definition of beauty and grace.
Her gaze swept over my sister from top to bottom before it shifted to me. “Your parents tell me you love your sister more than anything. Is that indeed true?”
I swallowed, then answered, my voice shaky, “It is.”
“Aw, that is a beautiful thing. Sisterly love, how wonderful,” she exclaimed with a sunny smile, one that slowly faded. A foreboding darkness began to taint the air. She let out a heavy exhale and shook her head, offering me a look of sympathy. “It is such a shame that she will not make it to her twentieth birthday.”
“No!” my mother wailed, leaning forward in her chair as tears filled her blue eyes, twin to my own. Swiftly, my father went to her side, and he took her in his arms.
My blood turned to ice. “What do you mean?”
“There are two deadly events that stand in her way. If the first one doesn’t kill her, the second will. One of those events just happens to be”—her eyes flashed with malice—“today.”
My sister started to choke, as if she had a piece of meat lodged in her throat.
I turned to her, my voice panicked. “Artemesia, what is it?”
Father and Mother scrambled over to us, their expressions as terrified as my own.
“What are you doing to her?” Mother yelled at the empress, as she held my sister.
Artemesia clawed at her throat, her fingernails cutting into her skin. Father grabbed Artemesia’s hands, holding them to stop her from hurting herself.
“Stop it.” I turned to the empress, pleading. “Make it stop. I’ll do anything you ask of me.”
“I was hoping you’d say that,” Empress Avena said,light shifting across her eyes once more.
Wheezing, Artemesia fell to her knees, gulping down mouthfuls of air as my mother tried to comfort her. Father looked at the empress, his eyes full of fiery rage.
“I will give you a moment to pack your things, while your parents and I sign this contract,” Empress Avena said as she waved her hand and produced a stack of papers on the table, accompanied by a quill and inkpot.
“Wait,” I whispered under my breath. I met the empress’s gaze. “Before we go, I have one more request.”
“Pray tell, child, what is it?” she indulged me.
“You said my sister will die before her twentieth birthday.” The words tasted bitter on my tongue. “Is that true?”
“It is,” she conceded, and my mother began to sob again.
