Page 68 of The Forgotten Life of Ella Moon
“Are you serious right now?”Auroratried to stomp the warmth back into her feet. “Wasthis your plan all along?Leaveme to die here?”
“Yes,Aurora,Iwanted to traipse across some godforsaken frozen land so thatIcould watch you freeze to death.WhywouldIhave warned you it was cold?Icould have told you it was a fucking celebration here.Igot you this far.Nowyou need to do the rest.It’syour curse and deal withDeath.”
Fear climbed upAurora’schest and sat heavy on her shoulder.Shecould still turn around, go back toManere, and wait forDeath. “Ireally hate you right now.”
“That’s oneI’venever heard before.Goodluck.”Painsmiled before disappearing into a haze of snow.
Aurora trudged towards the wall.Hertoes and fingers were numb.Thecoldness cut through her clothing, leaving her blood sluggish and her muscles aching.Shekept her head down and walked.Therewas no sound other than her boots on the snow.Nobirds, and not even the trees that swayed in the wind made noise.Aurora’sback hurt from hunching against the wind.Shepaused.Itfelt like she had been walking for hours, and yet she was no closer to the wall.Shelooked back the way she’d come.
“What?”ThefootprintsPainhad made were still there.Shetook a couple of steps, and she was right back to where she started. “Ihate this!Allof this,” she yelled into the nothingness.Hercheeks were raw from the wind.
Aurora jogged a few steps, keeping her eye on the wall.Asshe got closer, she picked up her pace.Herlungs burned from the coldness.Sheran until her side ached and she felt like she would vomit.
But when she turned back, she was right back to where she started. “No!”Aurorascreamed, kicking the snow and ice that surrounded her. “No!No!” she cried.Thiswas not happening.Shesorted through the fairy tales she had heard about.Ifshe needed to be saved by the handsome king or prince, she would need to play the role.Aurorahated herself for this. “Oh,IwishIhad someone to save me,” she mocked, the back of her hand pressed against her forehead.
The wind picked up and swirled around her.Tinylittle needles of ice and snow cut into her cheeks and exposed flesh.Theytore at her jacket, ripping the hood from her head.Thefirst hit came from behind, knocking her to her knees.Thesound of footfalls surrounded her.Theymoved fast.
She fought to stay calm.Thiswas all part of the fairy tale.Nothingbad could happen to her.Asecond hit smashed into her mouth.Auroracried out, and her blood stained the snow.Thethird blow knocked her onto her back, taking her breath with it.Shedidn’t know if she should laugh or cry.Thiswas no fairy tale.Thiswas how she would die.
The darkness that crowded out her vision was not the one she loved.
CHAPTER33
AURORA
The ceiling aboveAuroraslowly came into focus.Itwas painted in the warm colors of the heavens.Goldstars were tucked amongst the fluffy clouds.Asher body warmed,Aurorafelt the aches of some unknown injuries.Herribs burned with each breath, and the metallic taste of blood filled her mouth.Asher brain thawed, the memories of why she was here floated to the top.Thefairy tale.Aurorasat up quickly.
“I’m going to be sick.”Aurorawilled the room to stop spinning.
“Here.”Awoman thrust a wooden bucket intoAurora’shands.
There wasn’t much to expel but a glob of bloody phlegm and bile.Herrib screamed for her to stop breathing.Auroramoaned, resting her head on the edge of the bucket. “Whathappened?”
“Take a moment.Slowyour breathing,” the woman spoke, rubbingAurora’sback. “Oh, you poor thing.Youshould’ve told me you were coming.Myguards are very protective.”
Aurora laughed, then cried in pain at the silly words the woman spoke.Shelifted her head to see a girl no older than her sitting across from her.Hergolden hair shone in the candlelight.Herdress was as white as the snowAurorahad just come from. “Whoare you?”
“I amQueenSove.However did you find my kingdom?”
Aurora must have fallen and hit her head harder than she thought.Didthe girl just call herselfQueenSove?Deathwas an old god, which meant the queen should also be old. “How…Imean… what?”
“I am sure you have so many questions.AndIwould love to answer them all, but you look dreadful.Mymen really did a number on you.I’mafraid the cut on your lip is going to leave a scar.”Thequeen pointed to her top lip.
“Cut?”Aurorastood and walked over to the mirror.Sheyelped when she saw the damage to her face.Hercheek under her right eye was bruised.Hertooth had split her upper lip, and her hands were scraped and bloody. “Whathappened to me?”
“Oh.”Sovewrung her hands. “I’msorry.It’sjust that they’re ordered not to let anyone in.It’sa miracle you are alive.Nowif you could tell me how you got here…”
Aurora opened her mouth and closed it again. “I…Imade a wish.”
“A wish.Hmmm.Whatdid you wish for?”
Aurora leaned forward.Shelooked different in the mirror.Hereyes looked just green.Herbeauty was nothing remarkable.Shelooked mortal. “What’shappened to me?”
QueenSovetook a shallow breath, nodding. “Allin good time.Pleaselet my maid see to your injuries.Wecan talk tomorrow.You’llbe fine after a good night’s sleep.Grace?”Thequeen motioned for a woman standing in the doorway.
A short, squat woman walked in.Herhair was white as the snow that beat against the windows.Shewore a simple white dress.Thewoman said nothing as her icy fingers wrapped aroundAurora’swrist. “Wait, where are you taking me?”
“Somewhere for you to get cleaned up and to rest.Youjust need a good night’s sleep.We’llhave a nice long talk tomorrow.Grace, find her something warm to wear.I’veheard the castle can get quite drafty.”
