"We need to tell them what happened. We didn't do anything," Iris was barely audible.
"My lady, they wouldn't even listen to us!" Terra's voice was even lower.
Since Terra said Dominic's death was caused by witches, it meant that they'd cut their heads and hang them on a spike, then burn the rest of their bodies.
Because even though the town had quite a large number of witches, using their powers was made forbidden decades ago.
Anyone caught will face that ill fate.
"Search every inch of these tunnels you fools!" Lord Dominic's Uncle came back, his yells louder and more impatient.
The guards who were once standing at different exits of the tunnels started scurrying around the dark tunnels. Looking for the murderer.
The witch.
"This way," Terra pointed at an exit.
The guard that was once there was now lurking around the tunnel with the rest.
"Let's go," She said, looking both left and right.
They lounged towards the exit, not looking back for even a second.
Just when their eyes hit the rays of sunlight shining outside, a guard came racing behind them.
"Hey!" he yelled, covering the distance.
"Keep running my Lady. Don't stop!" Terra said. And Iris did exactly as she was told.
She could barely keep her eyes open in the scorching sun. Her long, full, wedding dress was not making it any easier.
Few seconds into running, she realized the guard wasn't close anymore.
But it wasn't just him.
Terra wasn't close too.
Iris dared to look back, to see what was keeping Terra away.
That was when she noticed that Terra had gone back, and that was the reason the guard hadn't caught her yet.
She was halting the man. Barely making any progress with his big frame against her tiny figure. But she was doing something.
Iris felt her legs tug on the floor.
she wanted to go back, to help Terra who was now being clutched in the hands of the big guard like a rag doll.
"Go!" Terra mouthed, making her turn on her heels and keep running.
She could hear the voice of the guard in distant echoes as she stretched across the grounds.
The walls of the main castle was now in view from where she was.
"Home," she muttered. Once she gets there, her brother would shield her and no one can touch a hair on her head.
She'll be able to get Terra back.
Determination filled her heart.
But the troop of men looming towards her, inching closer by seconds worried her.
The castle was still a bit far.
They'd definitely catch up with her before she gets to the entrance considering how fast they were moving.
Against her better judgement, she turned to her left instead and made her way into the deep, dark woods.
A perfect way to lose them.
….
Iris was running through the long trees, the wet bushes on her feet and the uncountable number of vines clinging to her.
Her running paused when the edge of her dress caught some dry branches and dirt.
Taking deep breaths she held the dress by the already loosened muddy edges and ripped them.
"This should do," she smiled, then ran in the direction opposite from where the piece of clothing was lying.
She ran as fast as she could, knowing the part she had chosen was longer but would eventually take her to the castle.
The sky was dark by the time she made it home. Her chest heaved heavily.
Throat dry, toes sore and dress completely ripped, she was the farthest thing from okay.
What a beautiful wedding day for her.
Her stomach churned at the sight in front of her.
In front of the castle.
Men and women, children and adults,
all standing in front of the strong wooden gates, chanting and cursing, with long forks and fire lit torches.
"Bring the witch to justice!"
"Bring the Goddamned witch!" they yelled.
Iris slowly moved closer to them, even though she knew she shouldn't be.
"No wonder they lock her up in that fancy castle! A monster I swear!" she heard a lady not too far from her yell.
A crack in her heart.
She knows that lady.
The matron in the orphanage that she visits every weekend.
"The bitch must be burnt!" Another man yelled.
The crowd screamed in approval.
She couldn't believe her ears, her eyes.
These are people who only a few hours ago sang praises to her.
Thank her for remembering them. For caring for them.
Tears trickled down her cheeks.
She cleaned it hastily when she noticed that the people had stopped banging on the gates and their attention was now on something else.
Someone else.
The person was at the center of the crowd and she had to risk her life to make it close enough to see what was so pleasing, so appealing to the eyes of the people.
Lord Hencler. Her late fiancé's uncle.
And by his right, a guard, holding a long slim metal spike in his hands.
And atop the spike,
A HEAD.
Not just any head,
TERRA'S .
The whole place suddenly started blurring.
Her head was spinning.
They killed her!
Sobs racked her body but she couldn't cry.
"It's all my fault," she almost whispered.
They killed her.
She died trying to save her.
Oh Terra, the most loyal handmaiden one could ever ask for.
She doesn't deserve this.
This brutal death and unhonourable parade. She deserved better. Way better.
"We got this one!" Lord Hencler cleared his throat, and the whole buzzing crowd became silent instantly.
"But she is nothing but an accomplice. The main murderer! The witch who killed her husband, is hiding behind those walls!" He yelled.
"We wouldn't just let these witches go free! Justice for the Duke of Eldrid!"
The crowd went wild. Screaming and yelling in approval.
Iris watched her people in complete awe.
All of a sudden, they choose the words of a man from another town and turned their backs against her without even wanting to hear her side of the story.
Terra was right.
Running was all they could do after that scene.
But look where it got them.
"Terra,"
She didn't just risk her life for her to end up dead too.
"No, I can't let her down," She muttered under her breath then moved backwards a little by little, letting the darkness cover her. Hoping none of them would notice her blonde hair that was in full display.
When she had taken enough steps away from them, she started running, pacing towards another entrance that only the occupants of the castle were aware of.
After successfully making it into the walls of the castle, she did not even bother using the doors.
Too scared that the guards might hand her to the angry mob outside.
The only person that she could trust her safety with was her brother.
Once she gets to Eden, he'll bring an end to all this drama.
Holding her dress from the waist line, she struggled, then managed to rip some layers off the thick dress, making it lighter and easier for her to do as she was planning to.
CLIMB.
She held on to two rough sides of the wall that'll lead up to her bedroom window and started making her way up.
The cuts and bruises the rough texture was inflicting on her skin was totally ignored by her. Her gaze was stuck on only one thing.
Her window.
It took an eternity but finally, she was on the balcony.
Pushing the glass open, she fell into her room.
But to her surprise, a figure was already in there, waiting for her.