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Gritting my teeth, I yank my arm up and grip the next rung, and he nods in approval, running effortlessly across the rest of the wire and then sitting across from me in front of the platform.
Using all my strength, I quickly ascend the rest of the ladder, and when I pull myself up onto the wooden platform, I meet his eyes, not looking down. Fear makes my heart pound, along with anticipation. My whole body shakes from adrenaline and terror, but when he lifts his hand, holding it out to me, I step closer, heading his way, our gazes locked together. My toes hit the wire, my hand stretched to reach his, and he slides backwards. His hand is still held out to me, his lips tilted up in a smirk.
“Well, Queen?” His seductive whisper makes me swallow. “Will you go backward or forward or freeze out of terror? I can taste it. Can’t you?”
Refusing to be weak, I slide my foot onto the wire, taking a deep breath as I slide the other on after. I wobble, my eyes widening as my stomach plummets, but I spread my arms wide like I saw the others doing. It helps keep me upright, and even though I sway from side to side, I don’t fall.
His grin only grows, and he slides back again, making it look easy, his hand still held out to me. He rides the air like a bird, effortlessly, and I can’t help but slide closer.
“Good girl,” he praises. “Look at you. Our bodies weren’t built to be trapped on the ground, Ember.” He slides back the entire time he speaks. I follow, focusing on his words like a lifeline, even as terror makes my legs shake. One wrong move and I’ll fall to my death. “We’re meant to soar, to feel the highs of this world. We’re not meant to be safe at all times. That isn’t living. That’s just another form of death. Don’t you think?”
“I’ve felt death,” I murmur, moving closer still. “I don’t want to feel it again for a very long time.”
He stills then, waiting. “So then prove you’re alive. Show everyone right now you’re free.”
I keep going until my hand hits his, and he grins wider. “Look at where you are, Queen. Look at how far you’ve come.” I glance back, my eyes widening when I realize I’ve traveled over half of the tiny wire hanging in the air, and we stand hand in hand in the middle.
I know I shouldn’t, I know it’s stupid, but my head turns, and I look at the ground below. The distance from here to there sinks in. The way I’m taunting death sends me off balance. Fear freezes me, and I start to fall.
He releases my hand, letting me.
In slow motion, my feet slip from the wire and I free-fall, my scream erupting from my throat as my heart and stomach plummet.
I catch the wire with one hand at the last second. My entire body screams as my weight hangs on that one limb. My other floats below me as my feet kick, my screams filling the air.
He crouches above my hand, peering down at me.
“Help me,” I beg.
“Help yourself, Queen,” he orders darkly. “I’m not your savior. You are your own ruler. Take it. Save yourself.”
“I can’t,” I rasp. I turn my gaze back to the ground below and my certain death.
“You can and you will. You’re strong enough, Ember. It’s time you realize that. Come to me, Queen. Come to me in all your glory. Look death in the eye once more and tell it you aren’t his, that your soul is yours and yours alone. Your life is yours to lead.” I drag my gaze back to his, tears squeezing from my eyes as my heart pumps triple time, my fingers starting to slip.
I’m going to fall.
I was such a fool.
“Do it, Ember,” he roars. “Save yourself or fall. If you can’t be strong enough to grasp your life, then you haven’t changed from the woman we met all those nights ago and you might be better in death’s embrace.” He straightens, moving back over the wire, making it clear he’ll watch no matter what happens.
He won’t save me.
It’s up to me.
He’s right. It’s time I fight for this life. They saved me all those nights ago and have protected me ever since. If I can’t save myself now, then am I truly any stronger than I was?
Yes, I know I am.
That Ember is dead, and this new one is a fucking queen. She won’t die here, not like this.
I yank my other arm up and grip the wire, gritting my teeth as I try to lift myself, but my muscles burn, and I drop back down. The wire bounces, almost causing me to let go, but I hold on tighter. Sweat trickles down my temples, and I bite my tongue until I taste blood before I swing. My bottom half moves like a pendulum. I can’t rely on my upper-body strength alone, so this is the only way. I swing until I come up and over the wire, wrapping my leg around it, gripping it as it continues to bounce.
It’s not pretty or elegant at all, but I’m on it, and when it finally slows, I sit up, panting. Blood drips from my lips, and my heart is pounding, but I grin. Heart watches me with pride and hunger in his gaze.
“There you are, my beautiful queen.” He drops to his chest, sliding along the wire until he’s before me. “I knew you could do it.” He sits up, copying my pose. “Now, let’s play.” He flips to his feet. I’m not capable of that, but I climb to mine a lot less gracefully, holding my arms out for balance. He flips to the other platform, holding his arms out as he waits for me once more.
Taking a deep breath, I run across the wire, laughter tumbling from me at the floating sensation. It feels like I’m flying, and when I run into his arms, he twirls me before slamming me against the wooden platform, grinning down at me.
