Chapter Thirty Seven

I had Michael pinned against the wall in seconds.

"Put that down!" Michael shouted at me. I glared at him, the frying pan tight in my hands.

"Tell me what you know!" I shrieked at him.

"I only know that the story is true. Everything in it is true." Michael said.

"Tell me everything!" I demanded.

"Everything in the story is true!" Michael shouted.

That was not an answer.

"I will use this." I pressed the frying pan against his neck.

"Put that down." Adam sighed, and I turned to him.

"This will go across his face if he doesn't tell me what is true!" I glanced at Michael, furious.

"Calm down." Eugene spoke, and I whirled to him, the frying pan in his face. He took a cautious step back. "He won't talk because you're threatening him."

"He won't talk because he's keeping secrets." I shot back.

Michael looked over at me. "You're not feeling too good, are you?"

A sense of lightheadedness entered my mind. I staggered a step backwards, and put the frying pan on the table behind me. I looked at Michael.

"I need to lie down." I pulled a chair from the table and sat down. Sweat beads popped on my forehead, and I rubbed my cheeks aggressively.

"Are you okay?" Eugene asked me, and he placed his hand on my shoulder. Like that day so long ago, his hand was too warm.

"He's right; I'm not feeling good." I moaned and I got up to leave the room.

"Rapunzel?" Guy asked after I was halfway to the door. He must had said something because I was walking with wobbly knees. "Are you all right?"

I waved him away, and felt my stomach churn. I closed the door behind me and started walking to the washroom. As I walked, my balance returned and the nausea went away.

I stopped short of the washroom. I no longer felt ill.

Did Michael just-

I turned around, and yelped when I saw that someone was behind me.

"Anna?" I asked her, and she blinked feverish eyes at me.

She tipped her head to the side, and suddenly tipped backwards. I lurched a step closer to her and grabbed her arm. I blinked at her, and found that she wasn't feeling right. Her head was dimly aching, and her vision was blurring.

"What happened?" I asked her, and she mumbled something incorrigible. "Anna-Beth?"

Her hands went to her head and she said, "Smells funny."

"What?"

One hand went to her nose. "Something hit me."

"Where?"

Her hand on her head waved at me, and she stumbled backwards again.

"What can you smell?"

"Spice." She beamed wildly, and then she fell against me.

"Anna, who hit you?" I asked, though I already knew the answer.

"Dwayne did."

Or a man who looked like Dwayne.

Anna wrapped her arms around me. "Azalea." She mumbled to me.

So Azalea had been with him?

"Did she see you?"

She shook her head a little too wildly. "He made her drink."

"Drink what?"

"Rum?" She stated the word like it was a question. "Said he wanted to talk to her. Azal."

What did that mean?

"I'm going to get Dwayne, all right?"

"No! We. . .Find Azalea first." Anna slurred, and her arms became restraints. "Get Nat, and find her."

"We need to find him. He leads us to her."

"He hurts her, then what? Find her first."

"All right."

Someone walked down the hall. They spotted us and started running toward us. I recognized the person instantly. It was Will.

"What's happened?"

"He's hurt Anna, and he's got Azalea at a tavern. We've got to get them both." I told Will rapidly. I never had to say who he was. Everyone knew now.

Will took off, and before long guards were streaming down the hallway.

I saw Ridley and Nathan walk side-by side. Ridley was talking to Nathan, and I saw that he was holding one sword in his hand while another stayed in his sheath. He handed the sword he was holding to Nathan, and I smiled for a moment.

He saw Anna in my arms, and hurried to us.

"Anna?" he choked.

I looked down in my arms and saw that Anna-Beth had swooned. I watched when Nathan walked back up to Ridley and hand him the sword. Then he came back and scooped Anna in his arms.

"What did Ridley ask of you?" I asked Nathan, looking at the anger boiling slowly in his eyes. It wasn't meant for us.

"He asked me to join the guards again." Nathan looked down at me. "But my family is more important."

I followed him to Anna's room, and watched him gently put her on the bed.

"We're going to get her back, Nathan. If not today, then tomorrow."

Nathan smiled at me, and I was so happy to see the life in his eyes again, "Of course we'll get her back. I always keep up with my Dolls, Punz."

I didn't know where to go.

So Nathan and I walked to town. To Azalea's house, if she decided to go there.

Azalea's Point of View

"I want to talk to Azalea now." Jacob smiles at Azalea, and Avalyn winces.

"I don't want to do this. She won't talk." Azalea says to Jacob. Jacob looks at the rows of whiskey and rum bottles.

"Of course she will."

"She will hate you when she comes back." Azalea says firmly.

"I'm Fernando, and I don't care."

He pops a bottle of rum on the table and fills her cup to the brim. He finds a second one, and sets them down as well. His cloak covers his face, and he pulls the hood of her cloak down a little more.

He had disappeared to the washroom before she obediently refilled the fifth time. Azalea looks around the tavern and spots Anna-Beth tending the bar.

She hurries to her.

"Anna, you have to help me." Azalea begged.

Anna looks up, and joy fills her eyes. "Azalea?"

"It's me, I think." Azalea says, and nearly hugs Anna in joy. "Where's the palace?"

"You lived there." A peculiar feeling fills Anna's tone.

"I can't remember where it is." Azalea explains, and Anna gulps.

"Come on then." Her green eyes darts around the nearly empty tavern nervously.

They reach the door, and someone shouts, "Wait, miss."

They both turn around and Azalea screams when something crashes against Anna's head. Anna falls down and a man gets to his knees in front of her to put a cloth on her forehead.

He looks up, and she sees that it is Jacob.

And he is livid.

Azalea couldn't breathe.

"Stop!" She wanted to scream, but he kept the cloth pressed to her face. The water of it seemed to fill her nose, and she couldn't push him off of her.

"Don't ever do that again!" He yelled at her.

I can't breathe. The panic set in, and she started breathing faster, hoping for air. He won't take it off!

"Azalyn, you just want to get hurt, don't you?"

I'm drowning! Azalea wailed. Avalyn, help me!

He's killing me! Avalyn screamed. We're dying!

"Jacob doesn't want me to throw you around, but stop giving me reasons to punish you!"

I'm drowning! Azalea flailed at him.

"I will beat you to death if Jacob will go away." Jacob threatened, pressing the cloth firmer against her face.

Avalyn! Azalea screamed.

He won't get up! Avalyn shrieked.

Azalea went wild, trying to punch him. Her hands kept hitting skin but he wasn't moving.

He wants us to die. The realization made the room darken. He wants me to die. Azalea looked at Avalyn.

Avalyn sensed something change in Azalea. Azalea?

Azalea fell to her knees, her eyes gray. He wants me dead. Jacob didn't win.

Are you all right? Avalyn went to help Azalea off the floor.

I feel sick. Azalea moaned. I feel like I'm about to die.

What? Avalyn was shocked. How does that feel?

Like I'm very afraid. I feel like I haven't done enough.

Azalea, maybe it's time.

It can't be. I can't leave you. Pain entered Azalea's voice.

Azalea, you need to go.

I'm not leaving you like my mother did me.

You are not my mother!

A sad smile crossed Azalea's face. I told my mother that too.

I think you should go. Avalyn pressed. I don't want to watch you cry anymore.

He'll kill you if I leave. Azalea sobbed.

But you won't feel it. Avalyn said soothingly. I'll be all right without you.

I thought that too when my mother died. Azalea sobbed harder.

Aza, I want you to be okay. You'll be in purgatory soon, and eventually that will fade into nothing.

How do you know?

It nearly happened to me, I've heard. But I was brought back to. . . To end you. Avalyn sniffled.

I don't want to leave you.

And I don't want you to go. But you have to, for me.

Ava, please. Azalea sobbed.

You won't be far.

But I'll be gone.

When he kills me, you'll go to heaven. We merge back. We'll both be happy.

But we'll be dead.

And with our mother. Avalyn said, and Azalea's heart tore.

If I'm going to purgatory soon, why go now? Azalea asked weakly.

I want to spare you from the pain that's coming.

Azalea was limp now, the cloth filled with water still on her face. Still choking her. Still making her feel like she was drowning.

Still making panic speed up her heart.

Ava, let me stay. You could cast me away anytime you wanted. Why don't you do it now?

I want you to have a choice.

It'd be my last one. Azalea said, and her voice was calm. Azalea had given up.

And it'd be your best one.

My best one was saying 'yes' to Nathan. My second best one was visiting my mother's grave last year.

Then your third best.

Because third time's the charm. Azalea sighed. I'm going really soon, aren't I?

I think so. I'll miss you.

I'll miss you too, Ava. I've always missed you.

Azalea?

Hm? The tears were drying on her face.

When you get to purgatory, you're going to love it there.

Why?

Because dreams come true, and you've been dreaming of a cute little girl for some time.

Anora?

She would have been older than her now, if she had lived.

Azalea blinked, not fully understanding.

She's only what your imagination makes her.

Who?

You'll see. Sorrow entered Avalyn's tone. Will you still fight?

Harder than ever. Azalea tried to sound strong, but in the end, her voice faltered.

It wasn't about strength.

Nothing ever was.

Everything was just a mind game.