Chapter 12

CHAPTER 12

F ae.

Fae are myths. Immortal legends that I thought no longer existed. How is it that one now stands before me?

"Well, technically I'm half," Veles says with a twisted smile. One that does not put me at ease.

"You can't be Fae," Oryn says, sharing a look with me. "They don't exist."

"And yet here I am," he says.

Oryn frowns, gesturing toward the silver symbols. "What are these symbols?"

"Fae enchantments," Veles reveals.

It's as if something snaps inside Oryn on hearing Veles' words. He takes a step toward the cell without thought. "What do they do? Do all Fae use these? Are there more of you?"

"Oryn?" I give him a questioning look.

He fists his shaking hands. "The silver." He tilts his head toward it. "It looks like the residue left behind."

Oryn's previous theory could be right if Veles is what he says he is. And if that is the case, it means that the Fae might be behind this. Immortal beings we thought were long extinct could be the culprits behind the missing women.

"Do you really think the yearly competition was the guard's idea to find more precious guards?" Veles asks with a smug expression. One that hides a glint of knowing.

"What do you mean? What else is there to find?" I ask.

Veles sighs, giving us both a look full of pity. "There is so much you don't know. So many things I could tell you."

"Then tell us," I push, and Veles focuses his attention directly on me.

"Free me from here, and I will tell you anything you want to know," he vows.

Anything… I share a look with Oryn. He looks just as wary as I feel, but I can also see it in his eyes. He is willing to do anything to find his sister.

"Why are you in here?" I ask him, needing to know more than the scraps he has told us.

"I am half of what they deem perfection. My existence sullies their line, and for it, I deserve a swift death." Veles shrugs and glances around his cell, but the look he attempts to hide reveals just how much it bothers him.

A pang of sympathy hits me, understanding exactly how he feels.

"Do you know a way to come and go from the palace without the guards finding out?" I ask him.

He turns back to face me with a wicked smirk. "That I do."

"And how do we know we can trust you?" I ask with a frown, knowing damn well I won't be able to trust him in the slightest, even if we do come to some type of agreement.

"We make a deal. One that is binding." His eyes light up with a flicker of hope concealed beneath them.

"Binding?" I ask.

"It cannot be broken until both parties have upheld their end of the bargain. The deal will be binding until death."

He must see the glimmer of doubt in my eyes, as his expression turns desperate.

"The guard's competition brings more Fae here," Veles says, attempting to mask his desperation as he leans back and twirls his chains around his fingers. But I am too distracted by what he just revealed.

"How are they getting in? The shield?—"

"Was created by the Fae. They bring it partially down once a year to enter the kingdom. Only a small passageway, enough to fit a handful of people."

My stomach drops, twisting and churning at his words. It can't be true.

If that's the case, then… "Are they also letting the dark creatures in?"

Veles frowns. "Dark creatures?" He leans forward and hisses when his hands graze the bars.

" What dark creatures?" His tone is sharp, his question filled with alarm.

"I thought you knew everything," I reply with a raised brow.

He moves back, a contemplative look on his face. "If it is what I think, we are in far more trouble than I initially thought."

He glances between us both. "Help me escape this cell, and I will tell you everything I know and help you where I can. I can promise you, you both will need it."

I glance at Oryn, but I can see that he has already made his choice; he is just waiting on mine.

I sigh, regretting the decision I am about to make, knowing deep down it is somehow going to come back to haunt me.

"Fine. Let's make a deal," I tell him, watching a devilish grin slide across his face in triumph.

"A blade. I need a blade," Veles says with haste and excitement.

Oryn whips out a small dagger and passes it to him without question.

"Ladies first." Veles chuckles softly before reaching out toward me. "Your hand."

Hesitantly, I reach my hand through the bars and hiss as Veles slides the blade along my palm before quickly doing the same to his and joining them together.

"Your name?" he asks with a smile that does nothing to ease my nerves.

"Seren," I tell him reluctantly.

"Seren, I vow to help you in any way I can," he says with complete conviction in his voice.

"I promise to help you gain your freedom from this prison," I reply, the words forming without thought.

A brush of energy sweeps around our hands, settling inside my palm. I pull my hand back and he releases it as a small tingle slithers through the wound, instantly healing it. All that's left behind is a small scar.

"It is done," Veles says, pocketing Oryn's dagger.

"What about me?" Oryn moves closer to the cell bars.

Veles raises a brow. "I only need to bind myself to one of you. The deal still stands."

Oryn clenches his jaw. "Now, wait a minute?—"

"How do we set you free?" I ask, trying to move this along. It will be a miracle if the guards have not noticed I'm missing yet. I need to get back, and soon.

Veles ignores Oryn to focus on me once more. "This cell is enchanted by another Fae. The only way I can escape is to acquire the blood of the one who imprisoned me."

I narrow my eyes on him, already regretting our little deal.

He smirks at me, a glint of amusement in his eyes. "Don't worry, you won't have to kill anyone. Unless you would prefer it?"

My narrowed eyes turn to slits.

"No? Well then, I merely need a drop of blood."

"Whose blood do we need to acquire? Please tell me it is not the lieutenant's?" Oryn asks.

"No. The lieutenant would not shed even a speck of his precious blood for anyone. That is something that is beneath him. The person I need the small drop of blood from goes by the name Levon."

Veles's smile widens at my frown. "Ah, I see you've already had the pleasure of meeting him."

Oryn gives me a questioning look.

"He is Amaro's right-hand man. I met him upon my arrival. He's just as foul and ill-mannered as Amaro." I glance back at Veles. "How are we supposed to get his blood?"

A look full of mischief spreads across his face, making my stomach churn.

"I have a plan. An old friend has a bottle of wine with my name on it which you will need to acquire."

"Wine? You want us to steal wine?" Oryn frowns.

"It is special wine," he says with a smirk. "Extremely potent. Slip some into Levon's drink, and you should be able to get his blood without him noticing anything amiss."

"And how exactly am I supposed to get this drink to Levon? I doubt he will take anything from either of us," I point out. He will immediately think it is poisoned.

"That is where you will have to get a little creative." Veles glances between us. "I can't do everything for you."

Oryn scoffs at him, opening his mouth to surely curse him, when Veles's expression grows serious.

"You have three days before I'm out of time," he says with no amusement. Just a dead look in his eyes that is filled with fear.

Three days to stay out of the guards' way, try not to be killed by the Breaker, make it through the first trial, and acquire a bottle of wine from somewhere in the palace. All while I am supposedly locked up in a cell.

Maybe I should have tried to slip through the shield and take the dark creatures on myself. It might have been less trouble than whatever I have managed to get myself into now.

"What happens should I fail?" I ask him.

Veles's eyes cut to mine. " Don't fail. Believe me, neither of us will like the outcome."

G lancing around, I listen for any sound before slipping back into my cell. As I close it firmly behind me, I think over the last few hours and glance down at the small scar now on my right palm.

Don't fail…

Veles explained where I was to go to get the wine. It is a room on the east wing of the palace, the complete opposite side to where my cell is. It isn't impossible to get to, but I will need to be quick.

Starting the first trial tomorrow doesn't make things any easier, but it might just come in handy. Levon seems like the type to flaunt his achievements for all to see. He must have a favorite among the Caligo competitors.

Maybe I can help him along and make sure a celebration is needed.

A celebration that might require a special bottle of wine.

With a small smile on my face, a plan slowly starts to form.