The door had closed. Neonidas was gone.
What remained was the wide bed illuminated by the pale golden hue of the morning light and two sisters holding each other tightly. Elenora clung to Celeste's delicate shoulders. Her little sister's body trembled—whether from the cold or the fear within, she did not know.
Celeste rested her head against her sister's chest. She realized even her own breath was shaky. Everything had happened in the blink of an eye. War, loss, captivity… And now, Neonidas's words echoed in her mind.
"He won't leave us…" Celeste's voice was barely audible.
Elenora closed her eyes. Tears slid down her cheeks, but she refused to let go of herself. Weakness was the last thing they needed right now. But what could she do? How could she protect her sister?
Celeste's fingers tightened around the fabric of Elenora's dress. "Are we going to surrender to him?" she asked. Her voice was filled more with sorrow than anger. "Are we really… never going to escape from him?"
