Cora laid in her bed, the sheets warm from the sun that beamed against them. She pushed aside the events from today’s midday feast, wanting to forget it all and believe it never happened. She lost herself in her thoughts, daydreaming about the escape she yearned for, to the venture off into the ocean to glance upon a woman who can will the tides to her bidding. But the words of her mother saying that it was all a myth, that they weren’t real, that the woman she read about when she was young will never show a face because she did not exist.

She began to drift off, recollecting the first time she heard the stories of this lady of the sea, how she was able to will the tides. The voice of her grandmother rang through her ears, the gentle tone, the swift words, the rich vocabulary that she spoke with. Her voice was all she could remember; not her face, the color of her eyes, the texture of her skin, the tone of her voice was barely present in her memories, almost anything about her was filled with the parts from the several different women in her life putting together a woman she had hardly ever seen.

The first time she ever heard the story, as far back as she could remember, was when she was barely four years of age.

She sat in a tall chair with golden legs and silver wooden lining, cushioned with velvet seats. She climbed into her lap, barely holding onto a large book, the same book she has been reading over and over.

“This one today? It’s hefty. Would you prefer the story of the three Golden Fish?” She asked with the biggest smile on his face.

“I want this one.” She spoke with the familiar voice of her age, forming words she had never heard.

“Then we shall read it.” She opened the book, flipped through the first few pages and saw the drawing of a woman kneeling in the ocean, staring down at three black lines and dots. The memory of this story rushed back to him from when she was no older than her granddaughter.

“My father read this to me.” She flipped the page to see the sentences and words and letters that were compacted together to put as much down.

She cleared his throat and began, “a woman with skin that resembled bronze, her eyes as deep as the ocean, and her hair mimicked the push and pull of the waves sat in front of us. She was as immense as our boat, maybe more. She looked down at us as the clouds and sun ran across the sky.” She continued to read to her, her eyes sinking into her voice and losing herself in the story.

A sudden knock at her bedroom door disturbed her slight doze away from reality. She rose from the mattress the enveloped her body, giving her a warm feeling. That feeling loss when she parted for the door. She hesitated, holding the doorknob until she twisted her hand to reveal Amor and Oren. Amor’s face had been bruised and purpled, his hand covered his mouth, blood seeping through the spaces between his fingers.

“Oh, dear.” She was in shock. Her eyes were roaming his face, every discoloration of his face, every bruise, everything that developed.

“We need to leave, and we need to leave now,” Oren spoke, his eyes in desperate need. He glanced from Cora to Amor, and tears were welling in his eyes. Cora opened her mouth, no words coming out before she was disturbed by the stern, pleading voice of Oren.

“Cora, please before Anyel leaves his quarters. She inhaled a large amount of air, nodding before going to her bed and pulling a brown tote from under.

They hurried through the halls, dipping by corners to remain unseen by the servants. Cora pushed through a set of doors and into a ballroom. She held Oren’s hand as she raced through the large room that echoed their footsteps. Exiting the ballroom, they were face to face with Everdeen. She was cleaning the windows of the large atrium they stood in. Everdeen turned to see Cora, Amor, and Oren. Her face stayed plain as she turned to Cora.

Her face was flat, staring at Everdeen. Her chest heaved as she panted, letting out hot breaths into the cold room.

“Es’, it’s time.” The servant woman walked to Cora’s side and whispered into her ear before leading the group to a small room filled with brown bags of vegetables, fruits, and poultry. The room was dark, hay and dirt covered the stone floor. Everdeen handed a bag filled with food to each one of them.

“I’m sorry some bags are lighter, I only expected the princess.” She apologized as she looked through a window.

“How does she know?” Oren asked, wiping the blood from Amor’s face.

“Poor thing looks more dead than death..” She looked at Amor. He was pale, the blood on his face was dry and crust. His hair was parting in every direction, “his father is an awful man.” She held his face as she wiped the dried blood from his cheeks and lips and eyes. She reached from the water basin in the room. He groaned as she rubbed across his abrasions and contusion.

“Everdeen, is Theyo prepared?” Cora was hesitant, afraid of what would happen if they were caught. If Amor was caught. Her fears began to rush through her body, flooding her mind with inconceivable thoughts. Horripilations ran across her skin, her legs and arms felt cold.

“Of course, he is always ready. If there’s one thing he can do is be prepared. My husband may be a fool, but he is a smart fool.” She finished washing Amor’s face. Cleaner than it was before but slightly tinted from the blood.

“Take this for your wounds. There are herbs in your bags that will help with sickness on your journey.” She handed Amor a small handful of vegetation which he bit on once he took hold. His face grimaced as he swallowed.

“No one said health tasted well.” Oren faced Amor, “Thank you so much, Ms. Everdeen.” He gripped Amor’s face and laid his lips on his skin. Everdeen bowed and smiled at the two young men.

“A carriage is what you need to take to the edge of the kingdom. Tell Theyo he must leave at High Tide the following day.” SHe gripped Cora’s hands, looking into her blue eyes. “And he must leave then and no earlier. You must find refuge. They will be searching everywhere.” Her voice began to shake, “I can handle your mother, but Anyel will be a horror among Aecor.”

“Then come with us!” Cora retorted the shame she felt at the plea, how much she didn’t want Anyel to disturb her beloved friend.

“I mustn’t. I have to protect again, and if this is my last moment to watch you grow, then it shall be so.” Everdeen’s voice broke as her grip got tighter.

“I made a promise to Leticia.” Her eyes welled with tears. “No matter what, I will support you, protect you from any evil, no matter who or what.” Cora’s face fell, her brows furrowing.

“If that evil is your mother, I will. If that evil is these two pillow-biters behind us, I will. If that evil is I,” she paused as tears rolled down her cheeks, Cora’s eyes shut, and a flood poured from her eyes, her sobs were soft as she embraced Everdeen.

“You have grown to be so strong, so brilliant, and so beautiful.” Everdeen brushed her hair as Cora’s arms wrapped tighter.

She pulled from the embrace.

“Now go, your chariot awaits you, my princess.” A horse’s neigh bellowed from outside.

“But how? You did not call.” Oren complained, questioning the maid’s antics.

“I released a dove with a looking glass piece. The sun’s light shined.” She turned to Oren. “Now begone before-” a bell tolled.

“Go now!” Everdeen exclaimed as the three grabbed their bags and ran through the door and into the carriage. A man with a hood called for the horse’s departure. Once they were in. Cora looked back to see Everdeen hurry back inside. She shut the door as the carriage made its way along a stone wall.

“To freedom.” Amor’s voice called as the carriage rocked, his eyes fluttering shut, he was fatigued, exhausted, and a rest is what he needed. A final bell toll rang through the air before a long pause and dwelled in silence. The distance between them and the palace swelled and behind them was nothing but memories of either horror or gaiety. And like that, their lives have been reshaped.