Monsteress (The Crymzon Chronicles Book 1) by C.K. Franziska

Author:C.K. Franziska [Franziska, C.K.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: anonymous
Published: 2023-09-30T16:00:00+00:00

TWENTY-SEVEN

Cyrus

I know Crymzon’s layout by heart.

A city embedded into a sandstone bowl surrounded by a massive, circular wall. In the center towers the palace, and to the south, the temple resides to catch the highest point of the moon.

There’s no plausible explanation for why the prison was built outside the kingdom’s wall. Maybe because they ran out of space when Monsteress started incarcerating her subjects. Or because she didn’t care if the building is destroyed first if the kingdom ever goes to war.

Sneaking undetected into the dungeon under the palace, where I was held when I arrived, is impossible. It’s highly guarded.

Plus, I’m sure Devana isn’t being held there.

When I awoke in the dungeon, I only noticed male prisoners.

If I’m right, Monsteress sends the females off to rot in prison outside the Wall.

That’s where I need to go.

As I go through the empty streets, I realize the tales about Crymzon are true. The girl by the courtyard is the only soul I’ve seen since I started bolting to the south part of the Wall where the prison stands.

Piece by piece, I take off the overheating coat, boots, and pants Monsteress tossed to me and throw them into different alleyways to scatter the evidence of my path.

The Wall grows in size as I near the southern border, and I take a deep breath, my eyes fixed on the towering red sandstone barrier in front of me as I assess the obstacle. My heart pounds when I visualize what would happen to my body if I lose grip before I can reach the top. The Wall must be at least fifty feet high. One misstep and I’m done for.

But I have no other choice. I must get to the prison; it’s my only way out.

With a firm grip on the rough surface, I climb, my muscles straining with each upward movement. Sweat pours down my face, but I keep going.

The red sandstone is coarse, and my hands and feet soon ache from the blazing surface’s roughness.

Devana’s determined eyes flash before mine, and it’s enough encouragement to make me keep going, driven by the desire to at least free one other person.

As I climb higher, I can see the kingdom stretching out behind me, its buildings and streets like a miniature model far below.

Monsteress’ soldiers will soon be after me. I can’t give up.

Finally, after what seems like an eternity, I reach the top of the Wall. With one last push, I roll myself over it and land hard on my side, every muscle in my body aching.

For a moment, I just lay there, catching my breath.

The clicking sound of boots sends a fresh push of adrenaline through my body, and I scramble to my knees to analyze where the sound is coming from.

The heads of two soldiers appear, their gazes wandering over the kingdom. I can hear them whisper to each other, and one of them lets out a quiet laugh before they turn around again to march back in the direction they came from.

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