Chapter 53
The witch chants in a droning tone and sprinkles something from her fingertips onto the violet patch of skin. The queen doesn’t seem concerned that some of it falls onto her.
The patch begins to steam. The wispy mist turns into a steady stream of smoke that meanders toward the girl.
The Illiana girl screams and tries to run. The guards hold her still so that she can’t even get up off her knees. She struggles with all her might, though, and almost manages to get away.
Almost, but not quite.
I’d do anything to help her. I run up and kick the guard as hard as I can. He grunts, probably thinking it’s the girl. But whatever he feels, it isn’t enough to get him to let go.
The smoke snakes into her nostrils, her eye sockets, her mouth, her ears. She still flails, but now, it look
