Twisted Kingdom (Royal Elite 3)

“Now, Elsa.” Ma’s grip tightens around my hair. “We’re going to fix Eli, okay?”

“Daddy!” I cry, my voice is so thick, it’s hoarse.

If I lose Daddy like I lost Eli, I won’t be able to stay here anymore. I can’t stay with Ma and them monsters in her eyes.

She hauls me down the stairs towards the basement. My feet shake the longer we walk down.

The door swings against the wall as she kicks it open. My feet turn into stones.

Grey Eyes.

There’s a large patch of red on the back of his shirt. He faces the wall and he’s not moving.

Why isn’t he moving?

“Wake up!” I shriek. “You have to escape them monsters in Ma’s eyes.”

He doesn’t even stir.

“Eli, your sister is here.” Ma coos in a soft voice, reaching into her dress’s pocket and retrieving a set of keys. “Come on, baby, let’s go outside. You love it outside.”

I stare at the keys in Ma’s hands and then back to Grey Eyes.

“Eli, if you don’t wake up, Ma is going to be mad, okay?” Her voice hardens, eyes darting back and forth.

“I’ll wake him up.” I wipe my cheeks with the back of my hands. “Give me the keys and I’ll wake him.”

“Very well, darling.” She places the keys in my hands. “You’re such a good girl. Daddy’s girl. I was Daddy’s girl, too.”

I don’t listen to her. As soon as I have the keys, I jog to the boy who added colours to my days and free the cuff at his ankle. His skin is covered in red like his back.

“Grey Eyes.” Big fat tears fall on his pale face as I clutch his cheeks. “Grey Eyes, please… You… You promised...”

Why does everyone keep breaking their promises? First Eli, then Dad, and now him.

His skin is on fire. Sweat beads down his forehead and brows.

“Are you done yet?” Ma asks from the entrance, her voice growing impatient. It’s bad if Ma loses her patience. She’ll let them monsters do as they like.

“Please… Please…” I stroke his black hair back. It’s sweaty and damp.

He stirs, his eyes slowly fluttering open. Blinking twice, he mutters, “Elsa?”

“Yes, it’s me!” I grab him by the arm. “Come on, we have to go.”

He staggers to his feet, slightly leaning on me.

We slowly reach my ma. She watches us with a serene look on her face. “My babies.”

Aiden glares up at her even though he only reaches her waist.

“Go first, Eli.” I smile at him. “Ma and I will follow. Right, Ma?”

She nods slowly.

He stares at me and hisses, “What are you doing? We have to leave the red woman. She has a gun.”

“Go, Eli!” I push him towards the entrance.