Shani and Jamila still sat on the floor. Shani’s back was facing her mother as Jamila played with her curls. A soft, affectionate expression settled across the young empress's face. Shani loved the feeling, but the darkening sky beyond the window made her restless.
“Mama… Shouldn’t we go back to the party?” She asked quietly looking over her shoulder at Jamila who was humming a soft melody.
“A few more minutes will be fine.” Jamila said, finally releasing Shani’s pale curls and wrapping her arms around the girl instead. Shani pondered the idea for a second. She needed to get back her rock from the tall man she now knew was her father , but instead she leaned back against her mothers chest.
“Okay…” Shani said as she closed her eyes while listening to her mother’s heartbeat. Jamila kissed the top of her head. Jamila continued to hum a song.
My little bloom, why are you so sad?
Stormclouds do not last forever.
Soon they'll drift by, and the sun will shine,
And warm your petals once more.
My little bloom, don't hide away.
The world is waiting patiently.
When you bloom, you'll glow so beautifully,
Like the stars above the sea.
It was an old song, one her mother had sung to her since she was very small. Slow and a little melancholy, but Shani loved it nonetheless. The world seemed to slow. The only sounds in the room were Jamila's voice and the faint rattle of the crystal window as the wind picked up outside.
It was a dangerous combination.
Shani yawned, tears pricking at the corners of her eyes. She was nearly asleep when the sound of heavy footsteps entered the room.
"My... how sweet. The Empress and her little thornblood." A man's voice said. Shani turned to see the knight that escorted her into the office staring at them, a scowl across his face.
He spat on the ground towards them.
“The sight makes me sick.”
Jamila stood quickly pulling Shani behind her as quickly as possible. Her lavender eyes leveled onto the man's, her expression darkening.
“You… I’m sure I fired you, Valen.” Her voice was smooth. Not even a hint of fear. She stood firm against the man, her eyes drifting over him. He looked worse than she had last seen him.
Sunken cheeks, thinner frame, bloodshot eyes, and his skin had a sickly gray hue to it.
Valen grinned at her, his mouth now missing quite a few teeth while others were brushed with a tint of tar.
“That you did, It’s been a living hell ever since.” His voice lowered as his eyes dulled. Jamila's eyes flicked briefly to the sword hanging from his hip. Shani clenched her mothers dress as she stared between Jamila and the man anxiously.
Valen looked over Jamila slowly. A wet tongue brushing his lips which made Jamila want to gag.
“You were always quite the beauty…”
Jamila fought the urge to recoil.
“How did you get back in?” She asked with a firm tone, trying to change the direction of his attention.
He chuckled. Pulling out the sword at his hip lazily he stuck it into the ground and leaned against it. “I have a sister who works here… we’re not very close…”
His eyes turned to Shani. He rose and pointed the sword directly at the two of them.
“But she hates you and your Forestspawn so much more.” A sick smile stretched across his face as he tilted his head looking at them. Shani felt a chill run down her spine. She began to tremble and no matter how hard she tried they wouldn’t stop.
Jamila reached behind herself and gently held Shani’s trembling wrist.
Valen noticed the trembling and a small laugh escaped him for a moment before he fell still once more.
“I wonder… what color will it bleed?” He mused as his silvery blue eyes met Shani’s.
A small hiccup escaped Shani’s throat as tears pooled in her eyes. She averted her gaze and clung closer to Jamila until she could no longer see the world around her.
Jamila stared down at her daughter for a second and bit her lip. Her eyes darted around the room. The hall was still eerily quiet. Surely someone would be concerned about them by now. It was suspicious. This whole situation made a voice in the back of her head scream.
“My daughter did nothing wrong, Don’t you dare even-”
“Did nothing wrong?” He interrupted staring at Jamila, eyes wide with disbelief.
“Just being born was wrong… If that thing didn’t exist then I would not be here!” He yelled as he swung the sword angrily. Jamila stumbled back a bit. Valen stalled, taking in calming breaths.
“No…” He murmured as he ran a hand through his hair. His eyes drifted back to Jamila once more.
“If you had married inside your station… this would have never happened.”
Jamila’s heart pounded in her chest as she looked into Valen’s eyes. She took a deep breath and with the hand still behind her, she motioned for Shani to slowly backup. The young girl looked behind and noticed the large windows. Shani bit her lip and released her mothers skirt and as quietly as possible, began stepping away from her mother.
“You’re right…” Jamila said as she stepped forward. Her voice dropped into something gentler, almost affectionate. .
“I really… Should have married within my station.” She said with a slight flirtatious smile on her lips. Valen’s eyes widened as she got even closer. Jamila placed a careful hand on his shoulder. He froze.
Jamila sidestepped, causing Valen to follow her like a dance. Once Shani was outside his line of sight, she leaned in close and whispered in his ear.
“Perhaps… someone like you…” She cooed as she placed her free hand on the hilt of his sword. She fought the urge to retch as her heart hammered in her chest. His eyes widened as a slight pink tint crossed his face.
Valens grip slackened slightly. The moment his grip loosened, Jamila ripped the sword from his hand and shoved him backward. Luckily, he had gotten weaker so she was able to push him a decent distance away from herself. The sword was too heavy so instead she chucked it as far out the door as possible. Her shoulders burned with the effort.
“Mama!” Shani screamed. Jamila looked over and she was only a few feet from the window.
“Go!” Jamila ordered as she began running toward her daughter.
“You… You bitch!” Valen cursed as he watched her try and run away. He rose to his feet quickly and grabbed a lit torch. Throwing it with all the strength he had, the torch landed just lightly in front of Jamila.
A scream ripped from Jamila's throat as a tower of fire erupted before her. She fell backwards and watched the flame grow much too fast. She felt pain on her leg and looked down to see part of her gown burning. Quickly she stomped it out.
“I was going to make it quick with the sword…” Valen mused. Jamila turned her attention back to the man, her face contorted with fear and anger. He was back in the doorway, a sly smile on his face.
“But I suppose a witch deserves to burn.” He laughed and grabbed another nearby torch. He flicked it into the room. Upon impact a wall of flames began to spread between Jamila and him.
“I wish you a good night… Your Majesty.” He said with a mock bow before slamming the studies doors shut.
The fire roared and whistled as a wind that hadn't been there moments before swept through the room. Flames raced up the walls and spread across the ceiling, weaving a deadly canopy overhead. An amber haze enveloped the office while dense smoke swallowed what little clean air remained, turning every breath into a struggle.
Jamila coughed and hacked as sweat beaded all over her body, yet she didn’t feel damp at all. Soon she felt lost. She could no longer tell up from down except for the fact that she was still standing. But that wasn’t what was important at that moment.
“Shani!” She screamed as she spun around the room. Her eyes burned and stung, and the tears only made it worse.
“Shani, answer me!” She screamed the order through the storm of flames.
“Mama!” A cry echoed. Jamila turned towards the sound, finally feeling a true north.
“Mama, help!” Shani cried. Jamila felt her anxiety surge. Without hesitation she ran and jumped through one of the many walls of flames. Her arms throbbed and burned as the flames licked at her skin. Her sandals melted into the soles of her feet. Soon, she wasn't hot anymore. She was cold. Terribly cold. But she continued anyway.
A coughing fit ripped through her and her head began to spin as soon as she made it out. She looked around and could make out a small curved form and a slight glow that didn’t belong to the flames. Tears began to cascade down her cheeks as she collapsed to her knees weakly and crawled towards the small child.
The closer she got the more she was able to hear her cries despite the sea of flames. Shani had her hands over her ears, her body covered in soot save for the streaks of tears. The child looked up and noticed Jamila, her crying intensified.
“Mama… are… are we going to die?” She cried as her body began to tremble. Something Shattered in Jamila. She pulled Shani close into her arms… she was numb. She could barely feel her daughter.
“I won't let you die… I promise.” Jamila said gently, trying to sound reassuring but the tears continued. She began to pull away but Shani reached out, clinging to her mother’s tattered dress.
Jamila smiled and pulled her daughter's hands away from her.
“It’s going to be okay… Stay low.” She said softly. Shani looked less than convinced. Nonetheless, Jamila rose to her feet and turned her attention to the ash covered window.
She reached for the latch, which was now red hot but thankfully she felt nothing. Jamila tried to open it over and over again but the window would not budge.
The sound of screams and noise from the opposite direction caught her attention. Someone was trying to break down the door. But even if they opened it… the fire had become too wild.
Another cough tore through her causing her to bend over. Jamila looked back over at Shani and her heart began to pound. Shani was on the floor, her body limp, but her lavender eyes watched Jamila.
They didn’t have enough time.
Jamila stepped back from the window, and with all the strength she had she slammed her body into the window over and over again. Ignoring the cracking sounds, ignoring the wetness of blood that began to stain her dress. She continued on despite it all.
Each new collision caused a new scream to escape her lips. Although she wasn't sure whose scream it was anymore.
Again.
Please…
Again.
Please break!
She prayed as she continued on.
Until her body felt as though it was nothing more than rags. She collapsed to her knees, staring up at the window. All that pain, and all she had to show for it was a sliver of a crack.
Her breathing shallowed, it felt like she was breathing through a reed. Tears fell down her cheeks as her face contorted. It was useless… She wasn’t strong enough.
I should have never left him… I should have run away with him like he asked.
She thought as her eyes began to blur.
This… Is all my fault. Because of my stupid dreams.
She dropped onto her hands as tears dripped onto the floor. She was tired, tired of fighting. Why was she even fighting so hard to begin with? Why did she leave the forest? Leave him?
A laugh escaped her chapped lips.
I’m such a fool…
“Ma…ma…”
Jamila froze. The fog in her mind began to dissipate. Her eyes widened in horror. She looked over at Shani as the young girl's eyes slowly began to close. The flames were slowly closing in on her.
No!
Jamila tried to stand but collapsed onto her face. Her body could barely move, much less stand. She bit her lip, and slowly, began dragging herself to Shani. Placing herself between the fire and Shani, she couldn’t help but pull the girl close.
It wasn’t much… but maybe, if she could hold out long enough they would make it through the flames in time.
“I promised…” She gasped out, and this time she didn’t plan to break it.
Then, the sound of breaking glass.
“ᚠᚢᚲᚴ!” The man cursed. Jamila slowly rose to look at the most wonderful man she had ever known. Tears cascaded down her cheeks. His crimson eyes met hers and without thinking she reached toward him weakly. Her hand began to fall away but Shin reached towards her, gripping her forearm.
“I’ve got you princess…” He said, his eyes staring at her. He quickly pulled Jamila and Shani into his arms as if they were feathers. Then he turned and exited out the window.
A smile crossed Jamila’s lips. She kept her promise… Shani was safe. She looked at his face, memorizing his features once more.
Thank you… my knight.
As soon as those thoughts left her, her body went limp, she closed her eyes, and let the darkness envelope her.