Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 78259 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78259 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
Later, I never knew who Adae auctioned the child to. I only noticed the kid was no longer there. My heart had ached at the horrific realization.
I wish I could save them all. Maybe, one day.
I headed to where I remembered the beds were located.
The floor was smooth, shiny like glass, and molded into intricate shapes. Above us, a domed glass ceiling displayed thousands of shining stars.
This part of the nursery consisted of tons of ornate canopy beds filled with sleeping children lined up like boats in a harbor. A few rocking horses stood in the corner.
I tiptoed around several children as they lay fast asleep. Their little bodies were tucked safely under covers.
Damn you, Adae. How could you be an angel and exploit so many kids?
I hoped that Adae would never experience God's grace. It wouldn't be enough to weaken Lilith and Lucifer's army, Adae would have to truly show God that he had love and hope within him.
Clearly, he didn't understand the true idea of compassion.
Azar raced to the only door in the nursery and cast a spell. It was supposed to keep the guards from opening the door. He'd explained before we got to the castle that his spell casting wasn't as strong as most sorcerers but it could delay many, and give us enough time to escape.
Where are you, baby?
Silently, I searched each bed for my daughter. It was a torturous hunt. A few times, I had to softly pull back to the sheets and spot an adorable face that surely missed their parents.
So far, I hadn't found Jade.
Please. . .where are you, baby?
Sadness seeped into my pores. My heart hurt with a physical ache that pushed out against my chest until it felt like my ribs would crack from the pressure. Each breath I took turned shallow, as if it were the last.
A door opened in the corner—one I didn't know existed.
Azar blurred to my side with his sword out.
Dust exploded around Zoe.
Bessie stepped inside with a worried expression.
I let out a long breath, rushed to her, and gave Bessie a big hug. “Where is Jade?”
“No, Fatou. You must go.” She stepped back and shook her face. “I came here to warn you. Adae is already sending guards down here. He thinks you’re going to try and get Jade tonight.”
“I am.”
“Y-you can't, Fatou. Jade is too important to Adae. He would never stop searching for you—”
“Where is she? Is she here?”
Bessie raised her shaking finger and pointed to the far back of the room. “She's over there where all of the most important children are.”
“Thank you.” I hugged Bessie again. But this time, I pulled her closer to me and sank my fangs into her neck, filling her body with venom.
Like me, Bessie was paying off a debt to Adae, but she did it by taking care of the children. It was Adae’s only saving grace. He never let any harm come to the kids. Granted, he probably solely did that so they would be higher valued products to auction off.
Regardless, Bessie had to be asleep when Adae found her or he’d torture her for information.
Zoe helped me set Bessie into the rocking chair.
Once done, I turned around and rushed in the direction Bessie had pointed too.
In this section, thousands of strings hung from the ceiling, strings that held clusters of silk ribbons tied into shapes of various animals. Each ribbon shaped as a cat or rabbit or bear held a tiny portion of enchantment and moved on its own—whether shaking it's tiny head or fluttering it's paws.
I ran past the moving silk and spotted Jade. “Oh my God. There she is.”
I increased my speed. My eyes watered. Tears spilled over.
Azar blurred to my side and kept my space. “Where is she?”
“There.” I pointed to Jade and continued to her bed. “That's my baby.”
My whole body rocked with hope.
I approached the bed.
Jade slept soundly, undisturbed by the noise we'd made. Her brown face had an angelic softness to it, and her silver hair swayed gently in a current of enchanted wind.
Finally.
More tears left my eyes.
Her tiny legs stuck out from under the blanket. Her little eyelashes fluttered as she dreamed. She held on tight to the lavender teddy bear I’d asked Adae to give her for me.
“She looks just like you. Beautiful and thoroughly enchanting.” Azar kneeled and touched one of her silver curls. “Are her eyes violet too?”
I smiled. “Yes.”
“Good.” He grinned. “Are you happy, my love?”
“More than I could ever express.”
“Then, even better.”
“Hey, guys,” Zoe mumbled as he stood by the glass wall. “There must be twenty or thirty sorcerers heading our way. I can sense their magic.”
“I spelled the door, so there’s enough time to escape.” Azar stood up, glanced at Jade one last time, and rushed toward me, pressing his lips to mine.