Prologue
I slump into the chair, as Evelyn moves my arm away from her shoulders. Amari sits down on the chair on the opposite side from me, June sits by her side. Cordelia sits beside me. Evelyn stays standing behind me.
“Now that we all have agreed not to harm each other, and are bound by a blood oath... I think it’s best if I tell you the truth about Alice,” I start reluctantly. June’s about to stand, but Amari puts a hand on her arm, to keep her seated. I nod to Amari, and wave a hand at the bookshelf. The servant who’s been standing quietly, quickly walks over to the bookshelf and pulls out a book which they place on the table.
“The splitting of souls,” June reads aloud. “We split our souls tonight, which is why I’m not at my strongest,” I can see the concern in June’s eyes, as she looks from me, to the book, to her mother. “Alice... Has yet to wake up. And at the moment, I’m afraid, we are unsure if she ever will.” My voice is shaking. Saying the words out loud feels like a bad omen.
June looks at me with her eyes wide and her lips slightly parted. Amari’s brows frown slightly. I can’t tell if it’s anger, concern or something else entirely. June abruptly stands, her hands placed calmly on the table. She takes a deep breath, while I’m anxiously holding mine.
“Did any of you try to stop her?” she asks, voice is eerily calm. “We all warned her and tried to dissuade her. But she was certain of her decision,” Cordelia responds, a sadness lingering behind her words. “So, it was entirely her decision?” she lifts her head slightly to look at me, her eyes looking like they can kill if met with the wrong response. “It was” I confirm.
Evelyn placing a comforting hand on my shoulder. “Okay then,” she finishes and walks out of the room. Amari doesn’t say anything, nor try to stop her. A low sigh leaves her mouth as the door closes behind June. “I hope for all of your sakes that she wakes up,” she says, breaking her silence. Her eyes run over us with a glare carrying a threat.
I sit and stare at the book in silence. Everyone left a little while ago. Evelyn had asked if I wanted her to stay, but I refused. I carefully touch the book’s cover, my fingers trace over the words. A heaviness settles somewhere deep inside my chest.
What will I do if she never wakes up? What will any of us do? I slam my fist into the table and stand up. “Hells be damned!” I scream and kick the chair I had been sitting on. I push at the table, but fall to the floor as my knees give in under me.
Fresh warm tears stream uncontrollably down my face. I hold my hands against my face with my forehead against the floor, in an attempt to dampen the sounds of my sobs.
Alice... You have to wake up. I will give my life for yours if that’s what it takes.
