I think I knew what had happened. Tavlor had taken her spirit out, and then returned her to me.
But why? Why would he have done so in the first place, and why had he brought her back?
Perhaps there was more to Tavlor than his blind obedience to the Council.
“Mother, what do I do? They... they...” I couldn’t even say it.
Yes, I heard. They have sentenced you to death, for your father’s crimes. Pathetic, narcissistic asshole that he is.
I sobbed out a sound that sounded half like a laugh.
“You chose him to be my father,” I said.
Mother groaned. Not exactly. I never expected to get pregnant the first time, Ava.
I wasn’t sure I believed her. I wasn’t sure what I believed anymore.
“But you kept going back.”
Silence.
“Didn’t you?”
Yes. I know it was my choice to go back and try for Bella and Courtney. Both times I didn’t expect to conceive, and yet, both times I did. I... loved him, you know. And I wanted a piece of him with me always. It was... selfish. And a terrible thing to do to you all. But you know I love you, Ava... don’t you?
“Yes, I know,” I said with a sigh. “But how am I ever going to get out of this now?”
We need to find a way. Not just for you in this moment. But for your sisters.
Bella and Courtney. They were lazily reading and relaxing their life away in a beautiful house in a quiet realm.
They had no idea that over here, our father was an integral part of sentencing me to death, and that same man knew what they looked like.
An eerie chill shot through my body as tears coursed down my face.
Oh, my god.
The room began to shake.
I cried out and grabbed for the bed on either side of me. “What’s happening?”
I was plunged into darkness and a hand grabbed my arm.
I screamed, trying to pull away.
“Be quiet,” a female hissed.
Abigail.
My heart pounded harder and my muscles trembled.
I froze. “Is this an attack, or a rescue?”
“A rescue, you idiot,” she said from right beside me, though I couldn’t see even an inch through the darkness. “Hold onto me. I’m going to portal us out of here.”
Without a word, I held onto my locket and closed my eyes. Wind rushed past my face and my hair whipped in my eyes, so I squeezed them tighter.
Then the cold air dissipated and warmth engulfed me.