The liquid metal slams down from its unsuccessful reach like a
petulant child smashing fists in a fit against the ground and sending
splatters flying. Mottled gashes of gold streak across the snow-covered
steps, marring the stone. More of it drips like blood from the window sills,
staining the glass and peeking past the frames.
We’re surrounded by the castle’s lantern-lit outer walls, and even
though it’s supposed to make us feel protected, it’s only keeping everyone
trapped out here together. I’m about to suggest to my brother that we get
away in case the gold keeps pouring out and we become trapped with the
crowd, but another loud crash happens somewhere inside, cutting me off.
My eyes wildly veer between my brother’s and Keon’s forms,
wondering what else inside has been destroyed, who else has been killed.
But then, as if that last noise was a signal for the end, the gold that’s
gripping the front walls suddenly stops glinting, stops rippling.
It hardens in place as the castle goes suddenly quiet.
The screaming of the crowd cuts off too, everyone waiting with bated
breath to see if it’s actually over. I’m not sure how long we all stand there,
watching and listening, but the splotches of gold along the grayed, frozen
stone are no longer moving, and despite the torches casting off firelight,
everything seems darker. Colder.
The movement and sounds may have ceased, yet those things instead
spring to life inside of me. My body begins to tremble, my mind a funnel of
noisy thoughts swirling around.
What in the Divine just happened?
My shoes are soaked through as I stand here in the snow, my skin
pebbled from the awful frigid night air. I wasn’t meant to be outside in this
dress. I should be in the ballroom right now. I should be celebrating my
engagement announcement and making plans for my control to now spread
to Sixth Kingdom.
At the very least, I should be warmer.
When I look down, I see blotches of gold splashed onto my deep blue
dress in a motley of gleaming spots. I don’t dare run my finger over it. Not
after what I saw in that ballroom.
“Has it stopped?” I ask.
The question is overly simplified for what just happened in there. Has
it stopped—it. The berserk gold that just rose up with furious motive. I
