Gray's POV

As I held Stella in my arms, I could breathe better. For the moment, I didn't care that it wasn't safe for her to be here in Churchwell. The only thing that mattered was that she was the only thing that was familiar to me. She was like a pleasant memory or a favorite childhood food, right in front of me.

Her being in my arms was the most at home I had felt in months. It made me not want to let go, fearing the feeling would vanish.

After what felt like forever, I pulled out of the embrace with Stella.

Stella smiled but quickly her smile faded as she stared at me. "Are you ok? You're bleeding," Stella pointed out as she looked at my shoulder.

"I'll be ok. Are you ok?" I asked as I looked at her from head to toe.

I expected something to be wrong since she was with my father. There had to have been something he did to her. My health was the least of my worries at the moment. First was Stella then Else.

Else.

My blood ran cold as I thought about her.

After hearing that Stella was here in Churchwell, she was all I could think about. But now that Stella was with me, safe at school, I could think about my other concerns.

My stomach lurched as I thought about dumping Else in the infirmary. The state she was in wasn't good. I already wasted too much time. I needed to go to see her.

Instinctually, my hand wrapped around Stella's and, saying nothing, I pulled her down the hallway.

"Gray, where are we going?" Stella asked as she ran beside me.

"I have to get to Else," I replied.

I took turns and ran down flights of stairs until I finally made it to the doors of the infirmary.

A lump formed in my throat as I stared at the door. My feet wouldn't push me past the doors and for a moment, I stared at them in silence, as if they would just magically open on their own. I was too afraid to go through them, fearing what was on the other side.

Right now I relied on the thought that Else was ok. But if I went through those doors, I wouldn't have any beliefs, I would just know facts. I wasn't sure if I was ready for that.

"Else is in there?" Stella asked.

I nodded in silence.

"Ok, then let's go," she said. With a head held high, she pulled on my hand and walked through the set of double doors.

Instantly I saw Else in a bed under a large window. Blankets were pulled around her body, and even though her eyes were closed, hinting sleep, her body looked ridged.

My breath caught in my throat as I walked up to her.

"Gray..." Birch's voice trailed off as she came from behind a curtain. Her hair was frizzy and a mess, which matched the messy blood-stained clothes she wore.

The way she murmured my name, I knew something was wrong, which caused the lump in my throat to grow.

"The curse the Forst Witch put on her in combination with her wounds... I'm sorry... but..." she didn't finish the sentence as I grabbed Else's stiff hand.

Words did not come to me as I stared at Else. The only thing that came to my mind was that I should have never pulled out that knife. I should have never attacked her. There were so many other things I could have done, but I stabbed her.

"I don't think she has long. Maybe a few hours at best," Birch whispered as she placed my hand on my shoulder.

My legs clasped under me. I did this. She would die and I was the killer. Tears came to my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. I couldn't imagine a world without Else. She was all I knew.

Quickly Birch helped me up to the nearest chair beside Else. "I think she can hear you if you have anything to say," Birch said softly.

As I stared at Else, words escaped me. What could I say at a time like this? Sorry for stabbing you? Sorry I was always so difficult for all those years? I was never an easy assignment. I made her job difficult and now I would be the death of her.

Moments ticked by in silence as I tried to formulate anything valuable to say. But I was not the first to speak, instead, it was Stella.

"Else," Stella began, being the first to talk.

My head snapped up to meet her. She was standing on the other side of the bed, looking at Else with such soft eyes. To be honest, I forgot she was here, but I guess she was the one that urged me into the infirmary.

"I know you never liked me. But I wanted to say thank you for looking out for Gray. Thank you for being a mother to him," Stella said softly, then stroked her shoulder rather awkwardly.

It was a short, and sweet message, but it brought a small sob to my lips. Else was the only mother I had. The only one I knew. She was the only family that actually felt like family. She watched out for me. Cooked meals for me. Picked up my homework from school. She did so much for me for years, with little in return. I knew that we rarely saw eye to eye, but deep down, I knew she loved me, and I loved her.

I don't think I ever told her I loved her. Looking back on it, I wasn't sure if she ever told me she loved me. But it was it. We both knew it. We didn't need to say it. However, as I stared at her, I wished I told her more often that I loved her. I wished I said a lot of things to her.

Stella met my eyes, giving me a sympathetic look, then looked back at Else. She didn't have to say anything, but we both knew as much as I complained about Else, she was still my family. Stella understood that, and I knew Stella would stay here beside me as long as I needed her to. 

I sniffled as I racked my mind with the proper things to tell her. Finally, I came up with something and though it was rough; she needed to hear it. "You were my only family that was important to me.... I mean, you are the..." my voice shook as I stared at Else. My lip quivered as I tried to work up the nerve to continue. "I just... I want to say... I love you. I am not sure if I ever said that. Honestly, I am not sure if I have ever said that to anyone. But you, Else, I love you. Deep down, you know this. But I wanted to get it off my chest."

Birch rubbed my back then, saying nothing else, left us.

Minutes ticked by as Else's breathing slowed and her body began to lax. Birch said we had a few hours, but this felt a lot less than that. Realizing I only had a few moments left, I squeezed Else's hand.

"I forgive you... for all the secrets you kept from me... And all the times you placed the royal family above me. I think I finally understand why. Please know that in the end, all of that didn't change the way I saw you..."

As my voice died out, so did every other sound in the room. It became deadly quiet. No cries or whippers. It was silent for who knows how long. Then finally, a ball of white came from Else's chest.

I didn't understand what I was looking at as it hovered in the air in front of us.

"You can go... I'll be fine..." I whispered to it as I tried to force the words out of my mouth.

That was not what I wanted to say. I wanted her to remain, to be here. There were so much missed opportunities we had. There were so many times I hated her I failed to see anything else. Else wasn't a villain. She never was. She was just confined to the rules set for her, just like I was.

I stared at the white orb for a moment before it shot through the ceiling, going who knows where.

My fist clenched as I stared at Else's limp body. Anger coursed through my veins. She was dead, and I killed her. Her blood was on my hands. But I wasn't the only one. My father also had blood on his hands.

I stood up from my chair as I paced the floor. My heart felt like it was being squeezed all over. I couldn't breathe. I couldn't think. Else, the only family I had was gone. She was gone. Just like that, it was over.

There were so many things I could have done differently. I shouldn't have fought with her so much. I shouldn't have been so difficult.

"Gray?" Stella's voice rang out, causing me to stop.

My eyes met hers as she wrapped her arms around me and pulled me into a tight embrace.

As I held onto her, a sob escaped my lips. "She's gone," I whispered.

Stella didn't reply, instead she just held me tighter. 

And that was it. I didn't need her to say anything. I just wanted her to hold me together so I wouldn't fall apart.