Page 4 of War Of Fire and Fortune
“Have it your way, child. But one day, she will learn the truth. It's a shame she will learn it from anyone other than those she's closest to.” I went to walk away, but Orion grabbed one of my wrists.
“Swear it.”
“Swear what?” I asked, my brow pinched.
“Swear you won't tell her.” My eyes volleyed between him and his daughter. A small smile tugged at the corners of my mouth.
“I swear it, but only becauseI knowwhat she will truly become for this world in her own time—truly magnificent.”
“She already is.” Orion looked to his daughter with eyes so full of pride. “Thank you for your help,” he said with a nod of his head.
“Now, go, leave here, because come morning something ugly is coming,” I ordered, and Orion gathered up his family and moved quickly out of the door, leaving me in empty silence.
When Marlena woke me, she was already wearing her dress and makeup for the coronation. She looked beautiful, but I couldn't focus on anything other than the dread coursing through my veins. I had to tell her what was going to happen today, but I knew it wouldn’t change what awaited us. We wouldn’t get away, and I didn’t want to change fate. I just wanted to postpone it.
“Get up! We're going to be late.” She huffed as she tugged the covers off me. I rolled out of bed and walked over to the bathing room so I could clean up, glancing up into the small, fractured mirror. I looked as terrible as I felt. Pushing the insecurity aside, I bent water from the stream that ran behind our small home through the window and into the tub so I could quickly wash up.
After a cold bath that brought me back from the dead, I brushed out my long hair, braiding it effortlessly and leaving out a few pieces to frame my face. My sister was humming and making something in our small kitchen as I opened the closet and found the dress she had bought me hanging there.
It was the same as Marlena’s, except mine was blue rather than emerald, and both dresses were accented with gold. I threw it on quickly. I could feel Marlena’s frustrations flowing from the other room. Not literally, maybe it was just a twin thing, but I knew it was only a short matter of time before she came in here to chew my head off for making us late to one of the biggest celebrations of the year. Little did she know, we wouldn't make it there. But there was no sense in trying to argue with her. I’d let it play out just like I always did and act accordingly as we went.
The dress was flowy and comfortable. I slipped a pair of comfortable shoes on—nobody would be able to see the tattered things under the length of the dress. Not like it mattered. It wouldn’t be long now. I took a deep breath. And then another. I knew once I walked into the other room, I'd have to tell Marlena what was going to happen today. She’d see it written all over my face regardless.
I swallowed down the lump forming in my throat and walked out into the living room, where I spotted her making us both something quick to eat. She had a smile on her face until she glanced up from the two bowls in her hands to look at me. Her facial features fell. The tension grew thick.
“Willow . . . what's wrong?” she asked, and I nodded my head toward the chair, silently asking her to sit. I took the seat next to her.
“Valos is going to take the crown and Ember for himself.”
“What? Why? You saw this!?” She shook her head in disbelief as I told her about what I’d seen. The calm morning we were having quickly changed into an evacuation plan. Marlena made haste, tearing through the house, gathering all our necessities for a long trip. I didn't know where she thought we would go, but I let her lead, my vision guiding my next moves.
I grabbed my bag, throwing it over my shoulders, and Marlena did the same. We were both still in our dresses with thin cloaks over us. Marlena said she didn't want us to draw attention to ourselves and with today being the coronation, everyone would be dressed in their finest. She went on and on about how we could make it out of the Imperial District before the coronation began if we left now.We wouldn’t, but I learned long ago that you don’t mess with fate.
I ushered Marlena out the door, and as we walked down the three front steps and off the porch, she turned back and admired our small house. The longest place we had ever called home. Tears lined her eyes, and I pulled her into me.
“Hey, we'll make it out of this. We'll find somewhere new,” I assured her, even though I knew it was a lie. All she could muster was a nod as she tossed the hood of her cloak over her head, and I did the same. We walked through the back woods along the small, well-used path. Overgrowth nipped at my ankles as I tookthe lead on our journey. If we continued at this pace, we'd be at the edge of the Imperial District within the hour.
Marlena and I sat behind a fallen tree and peered over it at the row of Ember soldiers barricading the border of the Imperial District in the distance. No one could leave. Valos had planned everything. It had been calculated. He wanted people to watch. He wanted his citizens to submit to his power.
“Maybe if we stick to the thicker woods, we can make it past them unnoticed,” Marlena whispered to me, grabbing my wrist and tugging me along behind her, doing her best to keep quiet. Vines and tree limbs whipped at my ankles and face. My breathing grew heavier with anticipation and fear by the minute. We were almost there. Just a little farther and we'd be free. But then I remembered feeling this hopefulness in my vision, right before it had been plucked from me.
Marlena’s hand jerked out of mine so hard it sent me to my back. I glanced up, ignoring the pain throbbing through my head. An Ember soldier had Marlena wrapped in his arms, a dagger to her throat.
“Well, would you look at that? Where are you two off too on such a special day?” he asked, not releasing her.
“We got lost in the woods on our way to the coronation, of course, sir,” I said, giving a slight smile.
“I don't like liars.” He dug his knife a little deeper into Marlena's neck, causing a line of blood to dribble from the wound. And then the dreaded words left her mouth. Marlena would always be one to save her own ass. I’d hoped that was something I could change in her fate over the next few years.
“We’re soothsayers,” Marlena shouted, scared of losing her life.
I internally cursed. Because I knew what the soon-to-be most powerful man in all of Ember would do with that bit of information and I didn’t like it. But I also didn’t want to change it. I needed this to work.
“Hmm,” the soldier contemplated. “I would say I don't believe you, but why else would you flee?” he asked, more to himself than to us. He was eyeing both of us. “You're rarities, and I'm sure Valos will appreciate your abilities.” He shoved Marlena into my chest, and I wrapped my arms around her. More Fire Fae soldiers circled us.
“Are you alright?” I whispered. Moving her hair to the side, I pulled water from the ground to heal her wound. My hand glowed a faint blue before dissipating to nothing.
“I-I'm sorry. I shouldn't have told them,” she murmured, stumbling over her words. She was shaking. From fear, adrenaline, or both, I couldn't be certain
