He whirled again to face her. “Don’t you talk about her.”
She braced herself for a second blow.
He didn’t bother to get close enough. The words he chose hurt worse than a second strike of his palm. “Don’t you say her name,ever. You put her there that night. Your mistake made Adriel?—”
Her eyes stung watching the hurt wash over her father’s face as the thought of his son choked his words to silence.
That was it, then.
The family she once knew was irreparably broken.
“I can stay hidden from now on. I’ve followed all your rules since... I won’t try to leave again, I promise.” She tried to reach for him. “Just let me stay.” She couldn’t believe what she was asking. Years ago she would have jumped to pack her bags and leave, to explore a new place. She had craved freedom for so long. Not anymore.
“It’s too late. I was a fool to believe I could handle this on my own. I was a fool to believe I could handle you.” He ran both hands through his thick waves of hair, gripping the ends tight between his fingers. His breaths grew rapid as he scrunched his eyes shut.
“Now get out of my sight.”
She remained frozen, watching him rearrange the shuffled curtains, returning the room to its grim state. He didn’t relight the candles, he simply reclaimed his seat and began staring into nothing, the same way she’d found him.
Helaina walked out and shut the door.
She closed her eyes and pictured that black room from her dreams. That dark place full of nothing, where her insecurities and self-disgust couldn’t find her.
At that very moment, she longed to stay in that forgotten place, never to be bothered again. That dark hole of a room with no doors or windows, no way in or out, no light. Where she wouldn’t be a burden to anyone.
Maybe jumping from the watchtower wasn’t such an empty threat after all.
CHAPTERSIX
BEFORE
“One... two... three...” Adriel leaned forward, covering the sides of his face against one of the statues at the center of the courtyard. A depiction of Ures, clad in armor, his helmet angling around his face.
“Six... seven...”
The giggles of two small girls sounded behind a row of wildwind bushes.
“Nine... ten! Oh where, oh where have my sisters gone?” Adriel carelessly strolled with his hands behind his back, whistling softly. “I could have sworn they were just here.”
More restrained laughter poured out through the glossy leaves and white flowers.
A rush of hands came crashing down on the two sisters, sending a flurry of soft petals raining down on their faces. Simultaneous high-pitched shrieks of glee spurred from the shrubbery.
“Got you!”
“No fair, you peeked!” Krysta objected.
Helaina grabbed her hand and proceeded to pull her in the opposite direction. “Start counting again! You won’t find us this time.”
Adriel smirked, rolling his eyes playfully. “Okay, but this is the last time!”
Before he could turn his back, a hard voice projected from the entryway of the courtyard. “Adriel... Krysta... come, we’re leaving.”
The game was over. Helaina stopped dead in her tracks as she registered the words of their father. They were leaving her behind again.
“May I come too this time?” her timid voice chimed hopefully, although she already knew the answer.
“No, Helaina,” King Oren replied sternly.
