Chapter 15

CHAPTER 15

T he halls are left vacant after Asra's little gesture, ensuring I have time to do what Oryn and I had planned.

Stealing a cloak off one of the guards' chairs in the hall, I move with haste, halfway to the other side of the palace when I overhear a guard being invited to a celebratory occasion in Haddon's rooms, and I silently thank the gods for my luck.

I thought I would have to wander the halls for a while before finding his room, but maybe the guards might lead me to it instead.

Following them, I keep my distance and eyes watchful as they make their way to what I hope is Haddon's room. We pass the entrance to the arena before coming to an open corridor.

Loud, boisterous shouts echo across the area, giving me hope that I am exactly where I need to be.

With no way to conceal myself from them, I wait a moment and stay in the hallway, giving it a couple of minutes for the guards to pass through before pulling my hood over me and following them down a dark brick stairwell.

It opens up to a large common room with tables spread out around the space. There are four doors, two on each side of the room. One is open, revealing a sleeping quarter.

There must be over two dozen men and women celebrating, but only some of them are faces I remember from the competition. But there are also guards and many other faces I have not met nor want to if their treatment of the servers is anything to go by.

Some of the servers are dressed in scanty clothing, rushing around tables, quickly refilling drinks and trying to fend off wandering hands. And if the stench of ale permeating the room is anything to go by, I would say most of these people are drunk too. Which should only aid my plan.

I move into the shadows under the staircase, and no one takes notice of me as I disappear from view and glance around the room, looking for my intended target.

My gaze falls on a group of familiar guards and the small scar on one of their necks. His little promise comes to mind, and a small plan to buy me some time starts to form.

A couple of tables over from them, I spot my mark. Levon sits in the middle of the room, with Haddon on his left and a female with long brown hair and revealing clothing to his right. He ignores her completely, while she tries her best to gain his attention. It seems his sole focus is on whatever intense conversation he is having with Haddon. He doesn't look as drunk as the rest, but maybe that is something I can help him with.

I wait and watch for a while longer, letting the light in the room grow dim and the people grow more intoxicated and foolish.

Stealing some bread from the table closest to me, I fill my stomach with it, chewing slowly so as not to make myself sick after not getting the chance to eat in a while.

Pocketing the rest for later, I watch as Haddon stands up and starts swaying clumsily, an obnoxious smile on his face as he and Levon slowly become enraptured by a new dark-haired beauty dancing around them, slowly removing her flimsy clothing.

Seeing an opportunity, I make sure the cloak and hood cover me as I head for the makeshift bar, purposely bumping into one of the servers and mumbling an apology. She drops her tray on the counter and quickly moves to one of the rooms to change.

Glancing around to make sure no one is watching, I take the discarded tray of drinks and swap it out for the wine.

With my tray of wine in hand, I turn to head over to my targets when I notice a discarded small empty vial on the side of a table.

Quickly pocketing it, I move around the tables, coming up behind Levon and Haddon.

While their complete attention is on the practically naked woman, I swap out their drinks and move over to the other table and do the same to the guards' drinks before quickly moving back to my spot under the staircase.

The dark-haired woman seems to have garnered not only Levon and Haddon's attention but the entire room's. At least for those not already passed out across the tables and on the floor.

The female continues to bewitch and seduce them with her beauty and sway of her hips, and the men finally reach for their drinks, knocking back the entire glass as she slowly takes off the last piece of her clothing.

Veles said they would only need a small amount for it to work. But even with the blood bound vow, I didn't trust him. Giving the men an entire glass ensures the plan will work and hopefully make Levon so intoxicated that he will not wake upon feeling my blade against his skin.

My doubts and worries, though, are unfounded when minutes pass and Levon, Haddon, and my newest targets end up so inebriated that they are stumbling about. A few minutes later, they're practically comatose.

The rest of the room slowly dies down. Some of the women move to one of the four rooms, with men who still have some of their senses, while the rest steal the coin owed to them for having to put up with such vulgarity most of the night.

They quickly leave, paying no mind to what lurks between the shadows of the stairway.

I wait until all have left and the only sound around me is the rumbling snores from the passed-out men. Using my shadows, I cast them out around the entire room, blanketing it to near complete darkness before moving.

Moving over to them, I swipe a blade I spotted earlier from a passed-out competitor and pull the vial out of my pocket. Building my shadows around me, I conceal myself among the darkness in case anything goes wrong.

Placing the blade to one of Levon's fingers, I quickly slide the tip of it across his fingertip and pause for a moment, waiting to see if he reacts. But he doesn't move an inch.

I quickly squeeze a few drops of blood into the vial before pocketing it along with the blade and stepping back.

Glancing around, I make sure no one is watching before moving to the table of guards.

It is going to take me most of the rest of the night to carry out what I have in mind for them, but I suppose it is a small blessing that I no longer have to worry about them catching me returning to my cell.

I am also lucky Haddon's rooms are so close to the arena, or this may not have been possible.

With the help of my shadows, I carry the first body to the staircase and release the rest of my shadows around the room. I keep my quick pace, making sure all the guards get the attention they deserve before making my way to Veles's cell.

Three days is all he said he has left. With nearly two days already passed, it is better not to push our luck and fulfill our side of the deal before anything happens.

Moving down the familiar dark passageways, I walk quickly to the last cell. Veles is already standing in front of the bars, a knowing smile on his face.

"I knew you could do it," he says, his voice assured and full of ease.

I narrow my eyes on him. "Tell me what to do and quickly. I need to get back before anyone notices I'm missing."

"Of course. Pass me the blood and I will do the rest." He reaches a hand out for the vial in my hand but pauses when he remembers the painful bars.

"That's it?" I ask.

"Did you think I would need you also for a sacrifice?" He smirks at me in jest, but it has been a long night already, and I am so tired that I am starting to look forward to the floor of my cold cell.

I pass the vial of blood to him, careful not to touch the bars should they have a similar defensive reaction.

Veles immediately takes the vial and places it to his lips, swallowing every last drop of blood in it before throwing the empty vial against the cell wall, smashing it.

His eyes fill with amusement when he spots my look of disgust. Ignoring me, he starts mumbling something in a strange, lyrical language that soothes something inside me. Quickly becoming entranced by it, I jolt when a loud clang of chains hitting the ground rings out.

The silver carvings on the bars and ground grab my attention as they begin to glow and swirl, getting brighter and brighter. I raise a hand to my eyes to cover them just as a burst of light shoots out around the room before completely dispersing at once.

The cell door grinds open slowly, and Veles steps through, a wide smile on his face.

"They brought me through a hidden tunnel below the cells on the other side of this one," he says, quickly gaining my interest.

"The other side of the palace?" I ask, wondering if it is the same one I am in.

"There is a brown-and-cream door with ornate carvings on one side, then go past a stairwell and another hall before coming to a room of cells. The entrance to the tunnel is a cell itself. It is the first one to the right."

My eyes light up at the mention of the carved door and his description. It sounds too similar to be a coincidence.

"The tunnels lead far enough away from that little block they have on the palace grounds. Your Caligo friend should be able to shadow jump you to and from there, allowing you to come and go as you please."

Hope fills me as my original plans come back to life. I don't need Oryn to help me shadow jump, but I don't need to tell Veles that either.

Veles takes my hand, and I look up at him to find nothing but gratitude in his eyes.

"I owe you more than you know, but I'm afraid it will have to wait until we meet again."

"But—" Oryn and his part of the deal. "Wait," I call out, but he's already gone, disappearing between the shadows and moving too quickly for my eyes to catch.

"Damn it," I whisper. Oryn isn't going to be happy with this outcome, especially since we are no closer to finding out anything about his missing sister.

Still, I feel hope that this news will aid us both.

I head back toward my cell with renewed vigor. Maybe I will have time to investigate if the hidden tunnel Veles revealed is where I think it may be.

I make it out of the lower-level cells and up into the palace hall where the portraits of old kings and royalty hang, when a tutting sound reaches my ear.

I turn to find a tall stout woman with graying hair glaring at me.

"We are normally here to be seen and not heard," she says as she swiftly walks toward me with purpose.

I glance around, wondering if she has confused me with someone else.

"I—"

"But I can no longer stand that foul stench another moment." She takes hold of my arm and drags me with her.

I'm too shocked to do anything but follow. When I eventually snap out of my stupor, I notice I'm already in a room full of maids and servants. They dip their heads to me, not one bit surprised to see me here.

The woman continues to drag me into a smaller room with a large white tub in the center. It sits beside a large open fire, and its crackling flames are a warm welcome.

Another woman with soft brown eyes appears with a large basin of steaming water. She pours it into the tub and smiles at me before leaving me with the older woman.

"In you go," she says as she shoves me toward the tub while pulling at my clothing.

"What are you trying to?—"

"I am trying to wash that foul smell," she says, frowning when I take a step back away from her and her attempt to undress me.

She sighs harshly. "Give me those filthy clothes, and I will wash them while you clean up."

I glance at the steaming tub of water and back at her. "You want me to have a bath?"

"For the sake of the palace, I am willing to beg at this stage." She gives me a genuine look, making me think she is serious.

I raise an arm and wince when the smell hits me, and my eyes begin watering.

Through the tears, I see her nod, a small twinkle in her eyes. "In you go."

I glance over at the tub with longing, its warmth and clean water a luxury not many in the Sidus town ever see. And an opportunity I should not look down on.

Forgoing my sleep for this rare moment will be worth it. Quickly stripping, I slip the healing stone from my pocket and pass my clothes to the woman before stepping into the tub. A gasp of pleasure slips past my lips the moment my feet hit the steaming water.

Once I'm completely inside and the stone is safely hidden in my palm, I submerge myself and bask in the warmth enveloping me whole like a warm hug.

Forgetting about the woman beside me, I am reminded of her presence when she sniffs my clothes and gags.

"Would you rather I burn them?" She gags again but asks sincerely, and I wince at her reaction.

"If you can save them, I would be very grateful." Considering I have nothing else to wear.

She glances at me with a weary sigh. "I will see what I can do." She turns and heads out of the room without another word, leaving me to have this strange yet wonderful moment by myself.

Once I've enjoyed the feel of warmth, I hide the stone in the water by my leg and start scrubbing the grime off every inch of my body, reminding myself of the cell and small hole I have to freshen up in. I scrub harder, knowing the only water I will have after this is the small cup the guards give me each morning with my slop. And with basic needs coming first, I will not have this luxury again anytime soon.

I make sure the foul stench is completely gone from my skin before moving to my hair. It takes double the time to attempt to untangle and clean it, but its pale blonde color soon returns.

Once I'm completely clean, I glance around the room for something I can throw over myself while I wait for the woman to return. But I don't need to wait long, as she returns with a robe and plate full of warm food in her hand. It reminds me of the bread I stole earlier, which is most likely wet now or has been thrown out.

My stomach rumbles as I imagine the taste of the meats and fruits on it. I feel for the stone and hide it in my palm once more.

The woman places the food aside and helps me out of the tub and into the robe.

"Eat and one of the girls will be in to sort out that hair of yours." She frowns while glancing at my head, but all I can think about is the plate of food that I am allowed to eat. I slip the stone into my robe and head straight for it as she leaves the room. I devour it as if it is the first and last thing I have ever eaten. Every bite is heavenly, and I decide that I am not leaving here without finishing every last morsel.

The girl with the soft brown eyes from earlier returns and smiles at me before motioning for me to turn around on my seat. I do as she says, too engrossed in finishing my food to question her motives.

But they become clear when I feel the bristles of a brush attempt to slide through my mangled hair. It takes a few tries, but eventually she manages to detangle the mass of knots in my hair.

"Your hair is beautiful. I can braid it if you would like?" She moves around me, and I look up at her own beautifully braided brown hair before nodding.

"If it is not too much trouble?" I ask, wanting to stay in this moment a little while longer.

"Not at all." The woman starts braiding my hair quickly, her soft temperament not bothered by my silence. The older woman returns just as she is finishing up.

"Thank you," I tell her, and she smiles and dips her head to me before leaving.

The older woman steps up to me, a look on her face that demands I listen to her.

"My name is Visha. Should you ever need food, come here and tell them I sent you. A plate will always be ready for you should you need it."

She glances down at my body as I stand up. "You are too thin. You need a bit of meat on you if you are to continue on in the competition."

My spine straightens at her words. "You know who I am?"

The woman gives me a knowing smile. "The Sidus competitor?" She nods. "Yes. You are a great fighter and deserve your place here. Do not let anyone tell you otherwise." She pats my shoulder and hands me my clean and mended clothes before heading toward the door.

"Thank you, Visha," I whisper, hearing a soft "You're welcome" as she disappears.

After a warm bath, clean clothing, a full stomach of food, and a healing stone tucked safely in my pocket, I head back toward my cell with a renewed sense of energy.

Passing by a long hallway with large columns, I spot a view of the outside sky, and it draws me to it.

Moving to one of the columns, I lean against it and watch the upcoming sunrise and first signs of dawn slowly rise in the sky, casting its light across the darkness and bringing with it a sense of hope for the new day.

It's tranquil. Serene. The silence a soft reminder to not take moments like this for granted. I'm so lost in my own thoughts and the alluring view that I don't notice someone else in the hall until he is right beside me.

My eyes clash with ones so silver and gray, it's as if a storm is swirling inside them. Wrenching my gaze away from the pull they evoke, I take in the rest of him. He is young, possibly only a few years older than my nineteen years. He has short black hair and sun-kissed skin, and his clothes are plain and dark, as if he is attempting to conceal himself and blend in with everyone around him. But nothing about him blends in. From his strong jawline to his broad shoulders, it is clear he is every inch the warrior. And someone I should clearly stay far away from. Even if he is the most attractive man I have ever met.

"You are the Sidus competitor," he says with a deep, husky voice that sends a warm shiver down my spine.

"Is that all I am to be known as? Not just an average competitor?" I quirk a brow, in too good a mood to fight with anyone unless absolutely necessary.

"From what I hear, there is nothing average about you, Seren." He says my name with a familiarity I do not understand.

"And do you also have a name, or should I just call you a Caligo lord?" He can't be a guard. There is an air of wealth, power, and gracefulness that the Caligo guards could never imitate.

"Kestral," he says. "Besides, not many Sidus enter the competition; I meant it more as a compliment than anything else."

I wonder if he knows the real reason not many Sidus ever enter the guard's competition, especially the last few years. But I find no deception in his eyes, just a spark of interest and warmth.

I turn back to the view, and a glint of light catches my eye, drawing my attention further to my right and over in the direction of what must be the Caligo city.

"What is the Caligo city like?" I ask him, wondering if there are more kind Caligo people like Visha and Oryn. Would they let the Sidus come to their city if they knew the truth? Would they stand by or join us in the fight against the dark creatures or watch on like the Caligo guards?

Kestral moves a step closer to me with a small frown on his face.

"You've never been?" he asks.

I shake my head with a small smile, not willing to reveal the truth to him if he doesn't already know. There is already a deep sadness in his eyes that I do not wish to add to.

He glances in the direction the glint of light came from. "It is bright. Similar to the palace with its white and gold. There are bakeries, bookstores, and many clothes shops with every type of fabric you can imagine." His eyes travel down the line of my body, leaving a trace of warmth behind as his voice trails off. He blinks and frowns as if just realizing something that bothers him.

"You have lived here your entire life. You should see more of your kingdom," he says.

"Maybe one day." One day when the shadows and light join together and become one. Until then, I will just have to enjoy these moments as the sun rises high above the mountain to shine its light among the shadows.

"Don't leave it too long," he says, a hint of warning in his tone.

It makes me turn to him.

"Life is short. You should enjoy it as much as possible," he says with a soft voice and sadness in his eyes before glancing down at his hands.

It draws my attention to the item he is holding. "Is that a book?" I haven't gotten the chance to read many as of late, but I have a small collection beneath my bed at home. One my mother spent years trying to attain for me.

"Just some silly old rhymes." He clears his throat, closing the pages, and it immediately piques my interest.

"Read me one?" I ask.

He glances up at me with a raised brow. But there is a glint of amusement in his eyes that wasn't there before.

"Is that a request or a demand?"

"You choose. But read it either way," I tell him with a smirk. He shakes his head at me, but whatever sadness he felt moments ago is no longer visible in his eyes. And he starts to read.

But the more he reads, the more somber I feel. The rhyme is sorrowful, dark and full of despair. There is no happiness or hope to grasp, just a never-ending torment of suffering and pain.

I'm still waiting for that sliver of hope and happy ending when he stops all of a sudden and looks up at me.

"That's all of it?" I ask, feeling stunned.

He smiles at me, but it's not a happy smile. It's filled with sadness once more, making my heart twist. He glances down at the book in his hand and swallows hard before closing it.

"Not all endings are meant to be happy. Some just are. Some just exist to be ."

"That sounds very dark and extremely sad," I tell him, my sliver of happiness shriveling up after hearing it.

"There is beauty in sadness and among the darkness," he says, and I can see in his eyes that he believes it too.

"There is also hope and new beginnings. Try not to forget that," I tell him, and his eyes widen a fraction. It is the only acknowledgment I get as I take one last glance at the view.

I turn to head back to my cell, even when his presence draws me to stay. But as soon as I turn away from him, I immediately spin back around.

He pauses with a frown. "What?—"

"Ah, there you are. I was wondering…"

My eyes widen, and something in Kestral's eyes flash as if in understanding. He quickly moves, using his body to block me from view, his back to mine as he acknowledges Lieutenant Amaro.

"Lieutenant, I will discuss anything you need in a moment, once I finish up here."

"Of course," Amaro says, and I hear the irritation in his tone just before his footsteps move farther and farther away.

I turn when I hear his footsteps disappear, but another moment passes before Kestral turns around to me. Not realizing how close he was, I'm a step closer, leaving just an inch between us. My eyes find his once more as they draw me in and hold me captive. The silver in them swirls, and something warm jolts through my chest.

As if he's just realizing how close we are, his eyes widen, and he quickly moves a step back before clearing his throat.

"I could see you didn't particularly want to run into the lieutenant," he says as he searches my face for something.

Shaking off the strange moment, I give him a forced smile. "I seem to have ended up on his bad side."

"He has another?" Kestral raises a brow and gives me a wry smile.

A small chuckle leaves my lips. "What type of position do you hold that allows you to dismiss the lieutenant so easily?"

His smile only widens, a glint of amusement filling his eyes as he stays silent. When it is obvious that he isn't going to reveal anything, I take a step around him.

"I should get back." The cold cell is the last place I want to be, but my time here was a means to an end and nothing more. No matter how much those stormy eyes call to me.

"Good luck tomorrow," he says, bringing a smile to my face, but I don't turn back around as I leave the hallway or when I disappear into the shadows of the palace. But the smile never leaves my face the entire journey down to my cell.

Now that I don't have Veles's life on the line, I can focus back on the trials and my original plan. I just need to find that hidden tunnel Veles described. Everything now hinges on finding it.

I move down below the palace to the strange door that lies not too far from the stairwell and my cell room. I take a closer look at the carvings that crawl up it and hope that my instinct is right and that this is the door Veles recounted.

Moving down the stairway and through the hall, I head inside my cell block, ready to inspect the first cell on the right, when I hear movement from behind me.

Quickly making my way toward my cell, I lock myself inside and check to make sure the healing stone is still in my pocket before I turn and silently wait for the newcomer to reveal themselves.