13Chapter 13: The First Steps
My arm was on fire.
Liquid pain was flowing up my forearm to my shoulder through my veins and into my heart. The reaction was instantaneous, air flooded my lungs and my eyes shot open.
Death wasn't supposed to be this painful. Everything I'd ever read had said that death was peaceful, a release from mortal form and a reunion with our gods as well as our loved ones.
As I looked around, I realized I was in a place of peace but it wasn't the one I'd expected. Trent's face staring down at mine, the gurgling water nearby and the fruit trees above me; I was in the sanctuary.
"I'm alive?" I coughed.
He placed a hand firmly on my shoulder, pressing me further down into a soft bed of grass.
"Now be a good patient and lay still." He lectured, his face pale. His fingers lit with the green flame I was so familiar with, and they trailed over my wound re-knitting the flesh.
As the seconds went on, the pain ebbed away slightly and Trent began to sway from the drain.
"Stop, stop that's enough, I'll survive. Take the cream from my satchel and spread it over what's left instead. You've pushed yourself too much already." I nearly shouted, inching away before he killed himself from over exertion.
Each inch made me bleed more, until he sighed and finally relented.
"Alright, just hold still." He muttered, clearly displeased but taking my advice.
After he'd finished applying the balm and given me some water, I was more than happy to let the darkness claim me again.
The next time I came to I was in a room I wasn't familiar with, although it looked fairly similar to the room I'd had when I arrived in the castle. The difference being all the green hues in the room, it was very earthy to say the least. The walls were lined with bows and other various weapons, small ferns growing in all prime sun spots. It smelt like pine, I'd always liked pine.
"And so she awakes," declared a voice triumphantly.
Turning my head took more strength than I thought it would, and I realised then that my neck was in a splint. Frantically I began trying to pull at the ties and then quick footsteps brought Trent into my line of sight as well as his hand on mine.
"Girl, you need to leave those alone. You won't heal properly if you take it off." He lectured me sternly, it was eerie watching him do something I'd done to many others over the years. Was this what I'd looked like when I said the same things?
"Don't you girl me, what kind of big brother are you? You know I heal super quickly compared to most people. It's in our genes." I scolded him, trying my best to be convincing. If he called me out on my show because he remembered his life it was one thing, but if he didn't I had a promise to keep.
"Brother? What are you talking about girl?" He asked me confused, and my heart broke a little for him. At least, if he believed our lie he might have a chance at a proper life with a new family.
I smiled at him sadly, "We were worried this might happen, the curse didn't reverse itself. You don't remember me at all do you?"
Trent shook his head, "Should I?"
"Obviously you should. I'm your younger sister, you've been cursed and every year that went by you would forget another year of your life. I ended the life of the man responsible, and that should have broken the curse and returned you to normal but I guess it hasn't completely worked." I whispered sadly.
"Well that explains how he brought you in to see me, at least I was able to leave the sanctuary, I was trapped there for hours."
"Years. You were trapped there for years until we found you a few weeks ago, you've been missing a long time. They declared you as dead." I whispered the last part.
"Years? Are mother and father still alive? How can I believe anything you say? You don't even look familiar to me." He asked me incredulously.
"No unfortunately, they passed shortly after having me. I never really got to know them, mother was very old when she had me. You wrote yourself a letter, it'll be in my satchel. Grab it and see for yourself. Always the skeptic." I forced light laugh and tsk'd with my teeth.
I made quick work of my neck brace when he went to grab the letter, my skin underneath was black with bruising and my arm felt more than just stiff but overall I was alive and we'd eliminated Eduard once and for all.
"Well how about that.." I could hear Trent mumble from the other side of the room.
"Yeah, by the way.. Where's Felix?" I asked him softly, trying to refrain from scratching. My throat itched fiercely.
When Trent didn't answer right away my heart went haywire.
"Trent, where is Felix?" I repeated the question, trying to remain calm. A thousand scenarios running through my mind. Had I just done all that for nothing?
"After he brought you to me he went to find some girl and eventually when I managed to get you stabilized enough to leave, I went to look for him. I don't know what happened but my gifts don't work on him, and he's been unresponsive for about three days now." Trent answered me softly.
"He went to find Salvaya? What do you mean he's been unresponsive?" I was afraid to know the answer.
"Yeah, I'm not sure what she looks like though. There's a lot of dead, it looks like someone went on a rampage and started killing anyone in court. I don't recognize any of the bodies though, I haven't been much help. Whoever it was scared all the servants into hiding so all the bodies are still there though. They burnt down the library too, all of our records are gone." He answered me not meeting my eyes.
I had a feeling the records burning was Felix's work, he knew about Trent's request.
"What do you mean he's unresponsive?" I repeated, trying to process the information.
"He's in a coma Selece. I think it's magically induced, that's the only thing that would make sense with my gifts not working on him." He answered me quietly. Apparently even without remembering me he knew Felix was important.
I pushed out of bed, Trent was immediately at my side.
"You can't get out of bed yet." He said softly but firmly.
"You're taking me to see him right now. If you don't I'll rip open my own stitches until you do. I don't care if I die in the process. You will take me to see him right now." I answered forcefully.
Trent didn't do anything immediately, thinking over his options I guess, but I didn't have the luxury of time. I swung my legs over the side of the bed and he sighed, "Well I can't just stand by and not help you, what did I used to call you.. you know, before all this?"
"You used to call me Cee." Lying wasn't getting any easier. Would it ever get any easier? Could it ever get any easier? He asked you to do this for him.
Trent grabbed my uninjured elbow and helped me out of bed, well; balanced me while I got out of bed. The arm was appreciated.
I felt weaker than I thought I would, and without him to stabilize me I would have fallen. One arm over his shoulder, and his other arm around my waist, he silently directed me out of the room. The hallways weren't lit, and I could see a slight twinkling of stars through the clear ceiling. He couldn't be unresponsive, I know I can wake him. I know I can.
A few moments later we were standing in front of a mahogany door in the soldier's barracks, I forgot his quarters were with the soldiers. Trent didn't bother knocking, instead he just quickly pushed the door and it fell open to a strangely organized chamber. I hadn't taken Felix for someone so.. precise.
The lack of mementos was slightly confusing, I know photographs were very rare and generally only alloted to royalty but he is royalty. Why doesn't he have any photographs or paintings?
I could hear quiet breathing from a room over, and it felt like someone was sitting on my chest. I was so worried that what Trent said was true that I could barely breathe. Unless that feeling was a symptom of my injury, which was unlikely, I'm terrified. Truly terrified.
The door creaked kind of ominously when he twisted the handle and gave it a tug. When I looked inside my heart broke.
Felix looked like he was made of wax, his complexion was pale and sweaty. He looked sick, but like you're stuck in a fever dream. Trent didn't take me any further, despite how hard I pulled. Instead, like the good secret grandfather he is; he pulled me into his arms and patted down my hair.
What was I going to do now?