dripping was barely audible in the depths of the castle as bela leaned towards her prey, used her free hand to run her fingers over the old chains that dug into grace’s wrists. her other hand tapped a pointed blade against her hostage’s fair cheek, hummed softly as if considering the words that left her mouth. whilst bela wasn’t considering anything, she appreciated the information that she was being given by grace. perhaps it was giving her valuable insight into who was parading around the village, digging his filthy man—hands into the villager’s minds. the daughters were meant to be worshipped. the lady of the house was meant to be worshipped. so what was going on down below the mountain?

❝ grace. ❞ bela whispered out the name, tapped the side of the blade against her cheek, whipped it back to slice her skin, relished in the scent of fresh blood. it caused her teeth to grit together, sucking on the inside of her insect—ridden cheek in a bid to prevent herself from indulging in an early meal. she wasn’t quite ready to feed on the woman’s blood… yet.

❝ don’t worry. you’ll be alive so much longer than the rest of them… especially if you tell me what you know. ❞ bela was never one for interrogation. it was usually cassandra, who had a knack for making people do what she wanted. but she would try her best. ❝ mhm… ❞ her nose pushed against the skin of grace’s cheek, gripped her fingers further into the cold steel.

everything that had happened occurred way too quickly. there was shouting, vociferous groaning from the mutated, the undead, the corpses who roamed around the halls with nothing human left in them. then there was gunfire, from grace and from mia, but mia had placed herself in a location that was a little too out in the open.

which had resulted in one of grace’s bullets skimming her arm. despite the pain that was in her body, and the blood streaming down her flesh, it would be a quick fix.

❝ hey, hey … it’s okay. ❞ mia delicately placed her hand on grace’s shoulder, having to place her gun down to the side to do so (which wasn’t the smartest decision, but at this moment, she had to comfort grace). ❝ it’s only a graze. it’ll heal fast. nobody’s blaming you. ❞

❝ grace !! ❞ her voice tightened uncomfortably, a snake around her neck, strangling her. this couldn’t be the end, could it? all she saw in the front of her mind was a mother. an incredible mother who had so much ahead of her— a journey to go through that would make her life flourish, love for the universe grow.

her own life flashed before her eyes as the shot was fired, as lethal weapon hit the stomach of the girl who had essentially just sacrificed herself for somebody who didn’t deserve saving.

she rushed forward, gripping her flimsy blade before letting it go onto the floor, knowing the knife wouldn’t do anything to help the girl on the floor. she wouldn’t be able to surgically remove the bullet, do anything to help grace. what was she meant to do? tell her she tried her best, make a promise to look after the little girl that was waiting for grace’s return.

but would she return?