Chapter 7

IT took me only a moment to decide. If rebels were attacking, this might be my only chance. I could easily slip away and get lost among the crowd. Surely one more running person wouldn't be noticed.

So, I ran back, through the sewer, up the staircase. The guards were all gone, probably fighting the rebels. I ran back to the main hall.

Maids and servants were running everywhere, the guards all gone. Probably at the doors, where the rebels were trying to break in.

The hall was full of screams. I clamped my hands over my ears, trying to focus. I just had to make it to one of the back doors, and I'd run away. Out of the palace. What I'd do out of the palace would be decided later. Right now, I was focusing on staying alive.

I turned and ran the way the maids were going, but before I got too far, there was a loud crash. There were louder screams, and everyone started running faster, if that was possible.

The rebels had broken in.

The crowd was getting too thick, so I flung myself down a deserted corridor to catch my breath. As I panted, I planned my escape route. Now that the rebels were in, the doors would be unguarded.

All of them.

I went in the opposite direction and ended up in a hall with less maids running through. There were no guards, and there were a few elves dressed in brown leather, masks covering their faces.

Rebels.

One rebel's mask had come off. He didn't look too much older than me. His brown hair was messy, and his dark, green eyes widened when he saw me, though I didn't know see how he could possibly know I was the Princess.

He started running towards me, and I started to run away.

Who knew what would happen to me if I went with the rebels. They w ere against the Monarchy, so, by extension, they were against me. I wasn't fast enough, especially because I was still weak.

I felt a hand clamp around my arm, and I whirled around to see that the rebel had caught up to me.

I panicked.

I was shocked when he grabbed my arm. So shocked that I raised my other hand and hit him hard across the face.

He yelped, his deep green eyes now showing nothing but surprise and pain. He stumbled back, clutching the left side of his face. I took my chance and sprinted away, running as fast as I could. I only stopped at the end of the corridor and looked back.

He'd blended back into the group of rebels.

I sighed in relief, and continued running, not knowing where I was going, turning into unused halls, rounding corners, and occasionally hiding in a deserted room when a rebel came by. I ended up in front of a slightly familiar door.

No one was around.

It opened to somewhere behind the palace, a dark meadow. I put my hand on my chest and bent over, catching my breath.

It was perfect. Nobody was there, and, because it was dark, nobody would be able to see me either. I straightened up and looked around. This place looked familiar.

Too familiar.

I gasped, the ghostly sound echoing through the quiet night.

This wasn't just any old meadow. This was where my sisters had been murdered.

All seven of them had been killed here by my mother. From Laurel to Juniper, their dead bodies had been found here. I'd seen them, dead, lying in this very meadow, on the morning of the sixteenth birthday they'd never have.

Now, on the eve of my sixteenth birthday, I was here too.

I began to tremble as I looked at the spot where I'd seen Juniper's body, two years ago. How I'd screamed and fallen on my knees, because from then on, despite all our plans, I was alone. And how Ivy had almost smiled — I could see right through her air of mourning.

And how, two years later, I was in the same spot.

Practically asking to die.

How in the Forest had I come here? Why had I, not even realizing where I was going, subconsciously come to this spot? This meadow, of all places.

But I tried to calm myself.

Wherever she'd be expecting me, it wouldn't be here. She wouldn't think I'd come here, like a lamb to the slaughter. She definitely wouldn't think I'd escaped here, where I was supposed to have been killed. She wouldn't.

But I had to leave. However safe I'd be here, I couldn't be in the place where my older sisters had been murdered.

I turned around, planning to leave — and jumped back.

Two green eyes glowed at me from the darkness.

"Hello, darling," she cooed, as she emerged from the shadows.

How had she found me here?

For a moment, all I heard was the hem of her black dress rustling on the grass as she walked out, leering. "Ivy," I breathed, taking a step back.

She threw back her head and laughed, sending shivers down my spine. "Dear El! So nice to see you here!"

"What — what are you doing here?" It was a futile question, but I didn't know what else to say.

She raised an eyebrow at me. "Oh, I wonder," she said her tone poisonous, "But I do know that by tomorrow morning, you will have ceased to exist."

I was good as dead.

"Why? Why are you doing all of this?"

Her eyes snapped to me as soon as I asked. "Because you girls are the reminder of a past ..." She trailed off as she began circling me, forcing me to turn in circles on the spot.

We were both silent for some time. The sounds of as with wind whistling through leaves, owls hooting, and the grass rustling hung between us.

"This has to be done, daughter," she said, sighing.

My stomach flipped.

"No!" I shouted.

She tilted her head to the side, considering. "Say please."

"Absolutely not." I shook my head firmly. I knew she'd trick me. If I'd die, I wouldn't die in shame at least. I still had some pride.

"Say please and I'll let you go. I swear on Nalvia."

I hesitated. This was a big thing. Nalvia, the Forest Spirit, was the life force of the whole Forest and everything in it- including us elves.

Breaking a promise on Nalvia was tantamount to giving your soul — thereby your life — to her. It had never happened before, someone swearing on Nalvia and then breaking their oath.

"Please," I muttered.

"What was that? I didn't quite catch it."

I gritted my teeth, silently cursing her. "I said please!" I shouted.

"Hmm." She tilted her head to the side.

"No. I think I'll just kill you." I froze, cursing myself. Why did I ever think this woman would let me go? She hated me. And she had no soul to lose anyway. She had already murdered my sisters.

Her expression changed into one of true viciousness.

She thrust out her hands, and a wall of dirt rose and rushed towards me, coming closer, probably to choke me to death.

Even though this was probably the last thing I would see, I didn't close my eyes. I couldn't.

A net of vines stopped the dirt inches from me. I turned my head quick as lightning.

A man had melted out from a tree.

Yes, it happened. What do you think? Seven chapters in, she's finally getting some help! Don't forget to:

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