‘Blaze,’ he responds mockingly, mimicking my tone. ‘You’re a disease. A plague upon our House. Though, at least you give us all something to laugh about.’
And then Spinner and Elaith are there, stepping out from behind him, grinning maliciously. The three of them begin to laugh, their voices high and cruel, echoing around the arena. Nausea writhes in my stomach.What is going on?
My brother cocks his head to the side. ‘Oh, I’m sorry. Did you think they were your friends? Don’t you know? Can’t you see? None of it was everreal.’
I stumble backwards away from them, scanning the mountainside for the best route down. But when I turn back round, Flint, Spinner and Elaith are gone.
It’s Kai who steps forward, his face flooded with concern. ‘Blaze. Gods, are you all right?’
I flinch as he touches my shoulder.
‘It’s me,’ he soothes, his dark eyes kind and sincere. ‘It’s over now, I promise. Come on, let’s get you out of here.’
Shaking and disorientated, I lean heavily on Kai’s arm as we start making our way down the mountain, glad for something to hold on to.
He glances sidelong at me. ‘It was soeasyto convince you that I liked you.’ Panicked, I jerk away from him, but he holds on tightly, his fingers digging into me. ‘So pitifully easy.’
I wrench my arm free from his grip and start to run, but someone blocks my way, appearing so suddenly, as if out of nowhere.
‘Well, if it isn’t the most hated girl in all the realm,’ Marina hisses.
Where did she come from? Why is she here? Why are any of them here, inmytrial?
That’s when realization dawns on me, shining like a beacon through the haze of confusion and despair.
‘You’re not real,’ I breathe. ‘This is all just a trick.’
Marina’s smirk doesn’t falter.
My hands are trembling, but I stand my ground. ‘Move.’
‘Or what, Blaze? You’ll go running to our trainer? Look around you. There’s no River here to protect you now.’ She moves towards me, coming close enough to whisper in my ear. ‘I’m going to make you a promise, Storm Weaver. I vow that when I’m crowned queen, I will make your life amisery.’
With that, she shoves me hard in the chest and I tumble backwards down the mountain.
It’s not like the free falling in my dream. I can feel every point of impact as my body slams repeatedly into the stone, the breath knocked clean out of my lungs as I flip over and over, limbs flailing as I try to grab hold of something, anything. It’s only when I come to a stop, curled in a heap at the bottom of the rock, that the pain finally arrives. All different kinds of pain at once. I lie there gasping as it washes over me. I think I’m sobbing, but can’t hear anything over the ringing in my ears.
Catching my breath feels like inhaling shards of glass. I try propping myself up into a sitting position, but something – I think it’s my tailbone – protests, and I slump back down with a yelp. Head pounding, I try again.
Once I’m sitting up, I examine myself. My hair is untethered from my two braids, my tunic ripped and tattered, and already I feel bruises blooming across my skin. My face smarts with grazes, and I dread the thought of putting weight on my right ankle. And my left wrist … Searing pain. Bent at an odd angle.
My head continues to throb like a heartbeat behind my eyes, blurring my surroundings. Dazed, I cover my face with my hands, and when at last I emerge, it is to see a woman standing before me. A beautiful woman, tall and graceful with flowing dark hair.
‘Mother,’ I whisper.
How is this possible? Am I hallucinating? Am Idead?
I don’t know. I don’t care. The pain recedes. All that’s left in the world is her and me.
My mother pulls me up into an embrace. ‘Oh, Blaze,’ she murmurs, stroking my hair.
My voice trembles. ‘I – I never thought I’d see you again.’ A tear leaks out of the corner of my eye and I hold on tightly to her, my heart bobbing up and down in the tide of emotion that threatens to sweep me away.
She’s here. She’s really here. I can feel her. I can smell her perfume. I’m nine years old again, and I’m safe.
My mother plants a kiss atop my head. ‘My girl. My raincloud. My sweet little curse. If only the storm had taken you with it.’
A chill runs through me. No.No.
