Gilded Ruins by Chantal Gadoury

Author:Chantal Gadoury [Gadoury, Chantal]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: The Parliament House

Chapter 14

I awoke alone and cold in a darkened room, listening to the stillness.

How long had I been sleeping? Was it night already? I felt dizzy and groggy all at once.

Where was. . .

Then I remembered. I remembered Darce, chained and in pain. I remembered Morpheus and his gentle arms as he held me against his chest. I remembered the hatred that filled me as I begged Zeus for his life. My mother, and her cruel smile.

Darce’s scent still lingered on the pillow, and I borrowed my nose into it more deeply. Fresh tears began to pool in my eyes, soaking the fabric of the pillow case. The haunting image of Darce being tossed into the large, rushing whirlpool made my heart twinge.

“Darce,” I whispered as another tear rolled down my cheek and nose. “D—Darce. . .”

Somewhere, deep inside of myself, I wished. . .hoped that somehow he could hear me. If only he could hear me and know that I hadn’t given in. That I wouldn’t give up without a fight.

I jumped at the sound of my door closing and jerked myself up from the blankets. The sheet pooled around my arms as my gaze met Morpheus’. He was clothed in black, while his wings were out, extended and free.

“W—what are you…” But I paused as he took a step towards me. His eyes were soft; as if they knew. Knew how I was feeling.

“I thought you might be…” he murmured softly before pausing. “I thought I could bring you a pleasant dream.”

“I don’t want a dream,” I replied quickly, shaking my head. Diverting my gaze down to the sheets, I waited for him to leave. I just wanted him to go. “Just go away.”

Morpheus released a breath but didn’t move. Everything was so still, so silent between us.

“Summer,” he began again. I could hear the hitch in his breath as he took a step closer. Angrily, I glared at him.

“I said go away.”

“Are you sure?” Morpheus raised a brow, unwilling to give into my demands. I didn’t know what I wanted—and yet, I did. I wanted Darce, but he was gone. Did I really want to push away the one and only person I knew I could trust? Morpheus hadn’t tried to help Darce; didn’t try to reason with Zeus at all. Instead, he stood by and watched. Was he truly any different from the rest of them?

I knew, deep down, he was. He was my friend. He had been Persephone’s friend. And, for the time being, he was all I had left.

“I don’t know,” I confessed, sliding my hands over my face. Morpheus crossed the distance from the door to my bed with ease. The mattress shifted under his weight as he sat down beside me.

“He’ll be alright, Summer. You have to know this.”

“But I’m not alright,” I remarked, feeling miserable. The ache in my heart was all consuming. “I just watched my own mother. . .” my voice broke as I slipped a hand to my lips.

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