She rushed forward, gripping the bars of her sister’s cell. “Olivia? Are you all right?”
Her sister’s head popped up, and she turned her blindfolded eyes toward Em. She was too thin, her hair a crazy mess. Olivia was nearly sixteen, but she was so tiny it was almost as if she’d aged backward since Em had last seen her. Her Ruined marks had almost doubled, covering more skin than Em had ever seen. She had even more than their mother.
“Where are the keys?” She whirled around and Cas pointed at the guard. She ran over and snatched them off his belt.
“The green one,” Galo said. Then softer, to Cas, “Is she going to let us out too?”
“Of course I am,” Em said, running back to Olivia’s cell. She stuck the key in the lock and the door swung open. She darted inside and yanked the blindfold off her sister’s face.
Olivia blinked several times, her gaze resting on Em. Her lips twitched, the chains around her wrists rustling as she reached for Em, but she didn’t say a word. She just stared.
“Which one unlocks these?” she asked, reaching for the chains. The iron cuffs were locked at the wrist, and the long chain attached to them went all the way to the wall.
“I don’t know,” Galo replied. “Maybe one of the smaller keys?”
She sorted through the keys, trying two small ones before one clicked in the lock. She tore the cuffs off, taking Olivia’s hands and pulling her to her feet.
“Can you walk?” she asked. She put her hands on her sister’s cheeks. “Say something. You’re scaring me.”
Olivia scrunched up her face, glancing over her shoulder at Cas and Galo’s cell. She turned back to Em, lowering her voice to a whisper.
“Did you really marry him?”
Em laughed, but the sound died as screams sounded from upstairs. Footsteps pounded the floor above them. Olivia lifted her chin, her head cocking in interest at the noise.
“Em, if the warriors corner us down here . . .” Cas looked at her pleadingly. “It’s the red key.”
She rushed to Cas’s cell and unlocked it. Cas stepped out, his fingers wrapping around hers. “I’m so sorry they did this to her,” he said quietly.
Em shook her head. “It’s not your fault.”
“It’s absolutely his fault,” Olivia said from behind her.
Em turned away from Cas and faced Olivia. “I’ll explain later. The Olso warriors are attacking, and we need to get out of here.”
Olivia’s eyes lit up. “They are?”
Em jumped over the dead guard, running up the stairs with Cas and Galo close behind. Olivia took in a deep breath as they stepped into the parlor.
“That is so much better,” she said with a sigh. “Did you smell the Weakling flower down there? They lined the cells with it. I’ve barely been able to breathe for a year.”
The sounds of yelling and swords crashing together echoed through the fort, and Cas began running toward the front door. “Galo, can you help them get out safely?” he called over his shoulder. He disappeared around the corner.
“Unnecessary.” Olivia held out her hand, and Galo’s feet left the ground. He hit the wall with a loud thud and crumpled to the floor with a grunt.
Em quickly grabbed Olivia’s hand, pulling it down. “Don’t. He’s a friend.”
“And that’s why I didn’t pull his spine out through his throat.” Olivia made a waving motion with her hand as Galo got to his feet with a wince. “Run, human. Before I change my mind.”
Em cast an apologetic look at Galo. “Go, Galo. We’ll be fine.”
Fear crossed his face, and he took off after Cas without a word.
“Are there really warriors outside?” Olivia asked, darting across the parlor.
Em caught her arm, pulling her back before she ducked through the archway. “Wait.” She pressed her back to the wall, peering around the corner. A guard walked past the front door, his sword drawn.
“Who let him out?” Jovita’s voice rumbled through the fortress, accompanied by the pounding of footsteps. She ran down the stairs, jabbing a finger at the guard. “Who let Prince Casimir out? Why did I just see him run into battle?”
Em put her arm out, telling Olivia to stay put for a moment.
“I don’t know,” the guard said. “He ran by me before I could stop him.”
Jovita turned her back to them, and Em gestured for Olivia to follow her. Em carefully snuck around the corner, taking a quick glance at the mess she’d left a few minutes earlier. The only guards in the room were dead, lying beneath piles of rubble.
Olivia yelped suddenly, and Em whirled around to see her pulling a rock off the bottom of her bare foot.
“Hey!” Jovita yelled, running around the corner. “Who’s—” Her eyes widened as they landed on Em, and she whipped her sword out. Olivia focused on the guard behind Jovita, sending him flying across the room.
Em raised her sword. “Remember how this ended for you last time.”
Jovita’s lip curled as she took a step forward.
“Move, Em,” Olivia said, nudging her arm. “Let me—”