him return your powers. Possibly, with your magical healing powers, you can heal yourself. If not, you’ll need the help of the Ancient. I’ve exhausted every other option. If you don’t, you will succumb to the poison.”
Shade nodded, sniffing back the frustration which bubbled up inside. She felt so tired, so exhausted and all used up. She’d had it with everything and everyone. This wasn’t supposed to be the way things should’ve gone. Everything felt so wrong, so misaligned, and she didn’t have any idea how to fix it. She didn’t know how to make things right. Now she’d run out of time without any progress whatsoever.
Taking a deep breath, she slowly mustered the strength to stand up and paused momentarily to make sure her legs would hold. After an eternal moment where both Dylan and Ilar ial watched her apprehensively, she took a few small steps forward, until the fluidity of movement returned to her legs. Soap now stood wild-eyed and shocked as he stared at her after he’d entered the room just then. Reaching the door as everyone stood silently, she slipped out the door and turned down the hall toward her room, moving faster and faster, more in control now since the poison’s effects had worn off a bit. Almost running, she crashed through the door to the room she now occupied while she stayed at the Glass Castle and locked it swiftly behind her.
She pressed her back against the w ood and let out a breath she hadn’t even known she’d been holding. The infirmary had become suffocating, and she’d thought of nothing but getting out of it. Now in solace, she made her way to the bed where she pulled the blankets down, slipped off her shoes and crawled in between the comforter and the soft linen. Dropping her head on the luxurious fluff of pillows, she pulled the blankets to her chin and let her eyelids drop closed. Sleep beckoned her with a promise of anything but pain and everlasting broken hearts.
Chapter Nine
A LOUD KNOCK sounded and echoed in the room, waking Shade from her slumber. Her body ached in every joint and hair follicle, like she had rolled down a cliff. Pushing up off the bed, she realized the sun was long gone with the darkness surrounding her, signifying early morning. The soft glow of the impending sunrise was still overwhelmed by the black nothingness outside the window. It made the room feel as if it was part of the forest but for the silence surrounding her as the breeze pushed at the foliage and branches.
The thud against the door came louder and more urgent this time. It made her groan as she kicked off the covers, annoyed as she pushed back her wild, dark hair.
What now? No rest for the weary!
“Who is it?” she partly yelled at the silent door.
“Shade, it’s Soap.” His gentle voice sounded muffled behind the massive wooden door. Scooting to sit at the edge of the bed, Shade sighed and rubbed her face. Her body and mind told her it was around five in the morning, an absurd hour to come calling on anyone, even in Faerie. Especially a non-morning person like her.
“One sec.” Her clothes from the previous day were still on, though wrinkled and disheveled. She smoothed the creases down as best she could and walked over, unlocking the door. “What is it, Soap? It’s way early.” She glanced down both sides of the hall but Soap was her only visitor.
“I know. I couldn’t sleep. Had to see if you’re doing okay.” His shy smile made her defenses crumble down. “Can I come in? You can lie back down; I just wanted to see if you wanted to talk about anything.”
Seeing that he was not intent on leaving any time soon, she opened the door wider, letting him slip by before she locked it behind him. No need for anyone traipsing in who shouldn’t be. She was pretty paranoid now. The Land of Faerie had done that to her. Now she always locked doors, avoided mirrors and carried a really nice, sharp dagger with her everywhere she went.
Slumping back onto the bed, she
Shade nodded, sniffing back the frustration which bubbled up inside. She felt so tired, so exhausted and all used up. She’d had it with everything and everyone. This wasn’t supposed to be the way things should’ve gone. Everything felt so wrong, so misaligned, and she didn’t have any idea how to fix it. She didn’t know how to make things right. Now she’d run out of time without any progress whatsoever.
Taking a deep breath, she slowly mustered the strength to stand up and paused momentarily to make sure her legs would hold. After an eternal moment where both Dylan and Ilar ial watched her apprehensively, she took a few small steps forward, until the fluidity of movement returned to her legs. Soap now stood wild-eyed and shocked as he stared at her after he’d entered the room just then. Reaching the door as everyone stood silently, she slipped out the door and turned down the hall toward her room, moving faster and faster, more in control now since the poison’s effects had worn off a bit. Almost running, she crashed through the door to the room she now occupied while she stayed at the Glass Castle and locked it swiftly behind her.
She pressed her back against the w ood and let out a breath she hadn’t even known she’d been holding. The infirmary had become suffocating, and she’d thought of nothing but getting out of it. Now in solace, she made her way to the bed where she pulled the blankets down, slipped off her shoes and crawled in between the comforter and the soft linen. Dropping her head on the luxurious fluff of pillows, she pulled the blankets to her chin and let her eyelids drop closed. Sleep beckoned her with a promise of anything but pain and everlasting broken hearts.
Chapter Nine
A LOUD KNOCK sounded and echoed in the room, waking Shade from her slumber. Her body ached in every joint and hair follicle, like she had rolled down a cliff. Pushing up off the bed, she realized the sun was long gone with the darkness surrounding her, signifying early morning. The soft glow of the impending sunrise was still overwhelmed by the black nothingness outside the window. It made the room feel as if it was part of the forest but for the silence surrounding her as the breeze pushed at the foliage and branches.
The thud against the door came louder and more urgent this time. It made her groan as she kicked off the covers, annoyed as she pushed back her wild, dark hair.
What now? No rest for the weary!
“Who is it?” she partly yelled at the silent door.
“Shade, it’s Soap.” His gentle voice sounded muffled behind the massive wooden door. Scooting to sit at the edge of the bed, Shade sighed and rubbed her face. Her body and mind told her it was around five in the morning, an absurd hour to come calling on anyone, even in Faerie. Especially a non-morning person like her.
“One sec.” Her clothes from the previous day were still on, though wrinkled and disheveled. She smoothed the creases down as best she could and walked over, unlocking the door. “What is it, Soap? It’s way early.” She glanced down both sides of the hall but Soap was her only visitor.
“I know. I couldn’t sleep. Had to see if you’re doing okay.” His shy smile made her defenses crumble down. “Can I come in? You can lie back down; I just wanted to see if you wanted to talk about anything.”
Seeing that he was not intent on leaving any time soon, she opened the door wider, letting him slip by before she locked it behind him. No need for anyone traipsing in who shouldn’t be. She was pretty paranoid now. The Land of Faerie had done that to her. Now she always locked doors, avoided mirrors and carried a really nice, sharp dagger with her everywhere she went.
Slumping back onto the bed, she
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