Chapter Two

Kiandra

My search was far from over, but with newfound answers in hand, I couldn't wait to share the news. I hurried back, nearly taking a wrong turn as I eagerly made my way toward the part of the tunnel that held the "knowledge" I sought. Fortunately, I managed to correct my course and stayed on the right path. I was determined to find my sisters after uncovering this intriguing section of the book.

As I reached the end of the tunnel leading to knowledge, I noticed that there was no crack or lock this time. I pushed against the door, but it refused to budge. Frustration welled up inside me. It seemed this door to knowledge was more mysterious or perhaps aptly symbolic—knowledge was, after all, a form of power.

In my despair, I sighed and leaned against the stone wall, resigning myself to the possibility that I might never learn what knowledge meant in this context. However, as I leaned against the wall, something gave way. The sound of stone sliding against stone echoed around me. I quickly pushed away from the wall and turned to see that one of the stones behind me had been pushed inward. Simultaneously, I heard a click, and I cautiously approached the door in front of me.

Uncertain if what I had heard indicated an opening, I reached out tentatively and pushed the door forward. To my delight, it moved, allowing light to stream inside. I stepped out and found myself in a very familiar place.

"Knowledge," I chuckled. "Of course."

Surrounding me were hundreds of ancient scrolls, books, and texts. I should have guessed that the tunnel would lead me back to my home. I turned to look at the door, which now appeared as part of a bookshelf. It was remarkably well-hidden. However, I reminded myself about the need to have someone replace the portrait to conceal the entrance again.

I hurried between the tall bookshelves, entering the front part of the library. I found Solana still hunched over her paper, diligently writing her last words. When she heard my approaching footsteps, she slowly turned, her eyes widening in surprise. She quickly glanced at the double doors in the opposite direction and then back at me.

"But how are you coming from that direction? I saw you leave through there," she pointed out, using her feather pen to gesture between me and the doors.

I smiled, my excitement bubbling over as I walked around her and slammed the book onto the table in front of her. She jumped, her eyes locked on me as if I were a madwoman.

"What?" she whispered.

"Burn the letter," I urged her.

"These are my last words. Why would I burn it?"

"Because I've found the secret tunnels."

"Not this again." She sighed, clearly uninterested.

"But it's true."

"Could you...?" Solana seemed utterly defeated, pushing my book away and resuming her writing. I looked at her with confusion, uncertain what to do next.

"Solana, I'm not lying!"

"Sure, you aren't," she retorted, her tone dismissive. "Just like when you found the ghost who haunted the southern parts of the castle."

"I was ten years old, that's unfair," I snapped, crossing my arms. "And I had read about the legend of her."

"Yes, yes," she deflected, no longer willing to listen.

"Solana, come with me, and I'll show you."

"I'd rather write in peace," she firmly replied.

"But it's true!"

"Maybe to you it is," she spat, turning to look up at me. "But that's because you won't be sacrificed like the rest of us."

"Solana, I'm trying to—"

"You're nothing but a librarian mouse, hidden away, while the rest of us will be war prizes, meant to be taken over and over, whether we desire it or not. You can dance around, be excited about your books, but some of us have other things to attend to, such as preparing for our unavoidable fate."

"Solana..."

"I just want to write in peace. Could you please?" She waved her hand dismissively, making it clear she wanted to be alone.

My heart broke. Seeing the look on my sister's face, the way she averted her eyes, I knew she was scared. Normally, Solana was so composed, and nothing made her emotions flare. But in this moment, I saw her eyes nervously shifting back and forth, and her shoulders seemed tense.

"Kiandra!" she exclaimed in frustration.

"I-I will go speak to Vivina," I said, slowly slipping out of the library, making as little noise as possible.

I glanced back, seeing my sister still engrossed in her writing. I retraced my steps down the hallways that led me to the tunnels. When I reached the spot where the portrait was being replaced, my eldest sister, the queen, stood observing the process, her long golden hair flowing wildly as she shook her head in irritation.

"Vivina!" I called, hurrying over to her.

"Do you see this?" she snapped, pointing at the portrait. "Someone pulled it off. Who dares to disgrace the former queen in such a way?"

"Well, about that—"

"Have you seen Cassia?" she interrupted.

"No, I only know where Solana is," I explained.

"That girl … did you know she has been spending time learning archery?"

"I did not know, but Cassia is strong-willed," I reminded my sister.

"But did you know it has been going on for a year?"

"No, I did not."

"She has been fearful that since our father passed away, I may not be able to take care of us."

"Well..."

"I might not be an Alpha, and I know who is banging on our doors at this very moment, but I will never allow my sisters to be hurt. If I must, I will take it all upon myself," she declared, leaving me speechless as her powerful words resonated with me.

I watched her as she turned toward the guards, who were putting the portrait back in place. She was the spitting image of our mother, yet she possessed a fire not seen in many Omegas. She stood with her arms crossed, her long, soft pink dress accentuating her magnificent figure that would make any Alpha drool. Yet her scent was as uninteresting as mine. However, she couldn't hide her dynamic, no matter how much strength she displayed or how she masked her alluring aroma.

"Vivina," I called, and she slowly turned to me, her light blue eyes softening as she gazed at me.

"Yes?"

"I … um, found something," I began, but my sister quickly turned unfocused.

"Where did you say Solana was?" she interrupted.

"In the library."

"What is she doing there?"

"Writing."

"Writing? She is writing poetry now?"

"No, she calls it her last words," I informed her. "It's sort of strange to me. I mean, I understand she must have anger that needs to come out, but … Vivina!"

I called after my older sister, seeing her storm past me. I did not understand the sudden change and decided to follow as well. She ran back the way I had come, pushed open the double doors, and shocked some Masters working in there. However, Solana merely glanced up from the table she was sitting at, a long sigh escaping her lips.

"This place is supposed to remain quiet," she informed us.

Vivina walked determinedly over to Solana, snatched the paper from her, and forced the pen to slide, creating an awful line across it.

"Now you have ruined it," she said, her voice cold and detached.

Vivina began pacing in front of Solana, tapping a finger against the arm connected to the paper. She read what Solana had written, yet there was a strange energy in the room. I could not comprehend what was happening. Solana seemed defeated, yet Vivina appeared furious. I was about to inquire with her about the letter when she let out an angry shriek before throwing the paper at Solana.

"How dare you?" Vivina yelled at my third eldest sister.

She leaned forward, placing her hands on the table, her jewelry clicking together and creating an even more powerful feeling of pure rage.

"I am merely viewing this situation in the proper way," Solana spat.

"Taking your life? Is that the way to handle this?"

"It's the only way to handle this."

"Wait, that is what you have been working on?" I questioned, walking forward and snatching the paper from the ground.

I thought it was meant as a cathartic ritual. Instead, my own sister had been literally scribbling down the last words she would ever speak to anyone. How had I not noticed? I knew I could be unattached to the world around me, but this seemed almost mortifying that I could let something like this pass. I walked forward, holding up the paper.

"Have you been ingesting something?" I inquired.

"Are you calling me insane?" she snapped.

"I am merely asking if you have been taking something that would make you temporarily crazy!" I yelled.

"I have been eating what I have been served and not ingesting anything."

"Have you felt lightheaded? Confused? Is your heat close?"

"If my heat was close, then I would already be out on the other side of the walls with my legs spread and ready for an Alpha to rut me," she retorted.

"This is not the time for laughter and sarcasm!" Vivina shouted.

"Am I laughing? Has any of us laughed for weeks since this waiting-us-out siege began?" Solana countered. "We aren't laughing. We are just waiting and waiting, and I am slightly going crazy. But I would rather hang myself or throw my body off these walls than ever let an Alpha or Alphas do whatever they wanted to me. We know the stories. We know how lucky our mother was to find a proper Alpha, but who knows the wild beasts waiting out there to take us, violate us!"

Vivina sighed, and some of her anger dissipated, as did mine. Solana had every right to be afraid. Not only had the numbers of Omegas dwindled over the years, but the desperation to have one grew as well.

"Solana, we will find a solution. No one will touch you," I assured her, but she turned her head to me, glaring at me.

"It's so easy for you to say. No one outside these walls knows what the fuck you are."

"Solana!" Vivina scolded.

"No one even outside this library knows what she is," Solana continued. "While we get taken over and over, she can walk around freely. Never having to worry!"

Solana stood up, the chair scraping against the floor as she glanced between us.

"I refuse to become any Alpha's Omega, forever in service to his needs! I am my own!" she yelled, her voice shaking and shocking the silent Masters behind us.

She stormed past us, Vivina yelling after her, before shaking her head and rubbing her forehead.

"She will be the death of me," she sighed.

"Someone should follow her, just to ensure that..."

"I will," Vivina said and turned on her heel before stopping and gazing at me. "Find Cassia. I want her close. I want you all close."

"Yes, I will go look for her."