Chapter 28

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

A t least a week has passed since Hethenos had me locked up in the cells. My hopes of Kyle rescuing me have dwindled away, and I have spent my days trying to avoid frostbite in the chilly conditions. Autumn has given way to winter here in the Kingdom. I’ve always been able to feel the shift in the air when the change occurs, and even locked up here in the cells, I can feel it.

The twins have been back every day to check on me, and some days Yimel returns alone in the night. Sometimes he just watches me; other times he brings me food and water. There is a kindness buried deep in his eyes, and I sense he harbours a soft spot for me. I try to use it to my advantage by not setting him off again. I don’t speak of Hethenos, Rimel, or their plans.

Instead, I keep the talk to a minimum, as that seems to be the way he likes it. I ask about casual things, like how the weather is, whether there has been a frost that morning. I ask how my father is doing, and he says he’s okay, but that’s all he will say. He told me Lissian suspects something bad happened to me, but didn’t know if I’m with Kyle or not, so didn’t push her concerns.

I ask about Demetros and Lacinda, and he says he hasn’t seen them. He tells me he will bring me a warmer blanket the following night, and I thank him. I know if I play my cards right, and build some sort of trust or connection with him, it can help. Hell, he’s literally the only chance I have of escape at this point.

Hethenos visited me once, and she was as cruel and coldhearted as ever. She taunted me about Amaros and Astelle, telling me they have been spending lots of time together now that I’m not there as a distraction. She accused me of seducing Amaros, despite me denying it. I even said to ask him herself, and that he too would deny it, but she said of course he would deny it, and she wasn’t about to put the thought into his mind again now that he’s preoccupied with Astelle.

She said Amaros is under the assumption that I have somehow escaped to be with Kyle in Zarquon and that he and Astelle are to be mated. Gross. When I asked if my father was all right, she said he’s not of concern, whatever that means. I begged her to release me, saying I wouldn’t tell anyone what she’s done to me. That she can rule the Kingdom if my father is unwell. I told her I’d leave to be with Kyle in Zarquon, but she didn’t believe me.

Truth be told, it was a lie. I would never allow her to rule this Kingdom.

I can see the sun is setting through the small window in my cell. It’s equally my most favourite part of the day, watching the beautiful colours of pink, gold, and orange fill the skies, as it is my least favourite, knowing the sun is about to descend, blanketing the Kingdom in a wintery darkness where the temperatures will drop to an almost unbearable level.

As the air cools and my body shivers beneath the thin blanket Yimel gave me, I pray to the gods that this is the evening he brings me another, warmer blanket. Despite my deep sadness, I have taught myself not to shed another tear while locked up in here. My mind and body have grown numb to the environment, and I know it’s the only chance I have to survive it.

And I have to survive it. Not just for my father and my Kingdom, but for Kyle.

Picturing his steel-blue eyes, his perfect features, and his gentle touch have helped me get through these dark days. I long to be with him again, and the next time I am, we will seal the mating bond. If only we had already, he would have been able to sense that I’m in trouble, and he would have come for me by now.

I brush the thoughts aside, knowing they will only eat away at my sanity.

Footsteps grab my attention, and I focus on the tunnel to see Yimel walking toward me, holding a thick, warm-looking blanket under his arm.

I leap to my feet. “Thank the gods,” I say, my teeth chattering as I rush to the cell gate.

He smiles at me, reaching through the bars to stroke my cheek. “Sorry it took me so long. I had to be extra careful. Rimel is starting to wonder where I’ve been going lately.”

He feeds the blanket through the bars, and it’s the softest, thickest blanket I have ever seen in a gorgeous teal colour. I press it to my face and breathe in the delicious scent of coconut and lavender, which is in stark contrast to the scent of dirt and death down here in the cells.

He laughs. “I’m glad you like it. I got it in the city from a store there. An elderly female makes them herself.”

I spread it out and wrap it around my shoulders before settling my gaze on his. “Thank you, Yimel. Truly.”

He reaches into his pocket, pulls out some food wrapped in cloth, passes it through the bars. “It’s coconut loaf. I saved you some from the stalls.”

I take it from him, excited to eat it later. “Thanks,” I say, glancing down at the cloth. “Yimel?—”

“I can’t let you out.” His voice is merely a whisper as he closes his eyes and shakes his head.

All hope drops away, and I swallow hard. His hand strokes my cheek once more, and although I can’t stand his touch, I allow it. It’s part of my plan to gain his trust.

“Don’t be sad, Zarla. If I released you, they would kill us both.”

He’s probably right, but still.

“Are there any secret doors or tunnels in here? Maybe you can’t release me, but I can escape.” The desperation in my voice is clear, but I have to try. If there’s another way out of here, I will do whatever it takes to find it.

He shakes his head. “I can’t, Zarla.”

I drag myself back to my corner, sink down onto the floor, and lean against the wall. He watches my every movement.

“Are you warm enough?” he asks.

I just nod.

He looks around as if to ensure we’re alone. “You know, I could always come in there for a while, keep you warm.”

Disgust creeps into my stomach, and I have to be careful not to let it show on my face. “Oh, no, it’s okay. I’m warm now,” I lie.

He slips his hands into his pockets. “If you change your mind, let me know,” he says and leaves back through the tunnel.

I would rather be in here with no blankets at all than to have him come in to keep me warm. Despite his sort-of kindness, I’m not fooled. He’s still a part of this, and he can still choose to let me go. But he won’t. So as far as I’m concerned, he’s as bad as Hethenos and his brother.

I glance around my cell as frustration sets in. This is a place for those who have broken the angel laws. Not for the King’s daughter. I have done no wrong. I don’t deserve this. Hethenos deserves to be in here. In fact, she deserves much worse, and I won’t stop until she’s punished for her crimes.

With nothing to lose, I call out for help and am met with nothing but silence. I stand up on my tiptoes and peer out through the tiny cell window. It’s dark out now, and I can’t see much except the faint glow of the moonlight behind a cloud.

“Help!” I call out, but there’s no response.

I’m alone out here on the far side of the Kingdom. No one is coming to save me. I sit back down, unwrap the coconut loaf, and eat it all. I don’t realise I’m so hungry until now. Rimel and Yimel didn’t bring me any food when they visited this morning, which was likely why Yimel brought me this.

It does little to satisfy my hunger, but it’s better than nothing. My body is growing weaker day by day with the lack of food. I can almost feel my powers diminishing as well. How long do they plan to keep me in here?

Footsteps sound down the tunnel, and I sit up, assuming it’s Yimel returning. Maybe he heard me calling out for help.

My heart hammers against my chest when I see Hethenos saunter toward my cell wearing a red suit with what appears to be nothing underneath it. Her blonde hair hangs straight just past her shoulders, and she’s wearing red lipstick and red heels. She doesn’t say a word and simply watches me. Her eyes shift to my blankets, and annoyance washes over her features.

“I’m going to take a guess and say Yimel brought you those?”

I don’t answer her, and her red lips curl up at the sides.

“He’s always had a soft spot for you. I don’t get what it is. You’re as boring as your mother was. But males seem to fall at your feet, nonetheless.”

I press my lips together, narrowing my eyes at her and her continuous flow of cruel lies.

She slowly walks to the cell and taps her manicured nails over her lips. “Oh yes, that’s a familiar look. Your mother often looked at me that way.”

“Do not speak of her,” I say as I get to my feet, clenching my fists at my sides.

She watches me for a moment before she replies. “I have her journal. It’s been an interesting read. I bet you don’t know why I killed her, do you?”

She halts a few feet back from the cell gate.

I take a step forward. “Because you were jealous of her.”

Anger fills her eyes, and her jaw tenses as she grips the cell bars. “She had to die. She was a threat to our kind and our Kingdom. Serona wanted to merge the Kingdoms together, and I caught her several times trying to do so. She had to be stopped.”

I take in several deep breaths. “You’re a monster. My father won’t let you get away with this.”

She laughs, shoving her hands into her suit pant pockets, and shuffles from one foot to another. “I have already taken care of that. This Kingdom is mine now, and you will pay for harming my daughter.”

I let out a strained laugh. “Harming her? She stabbed me , and I was lucky that Kyle showed up before she could kill me.”

She tilts her head to the side. “Doesn’t really matter. She was just jealous of Amaros’s affection toward you, but that hardly matters now. He would never truly be interested in a female like you. He is Astelle’s, and they will be together, in line for the throne once I am gone.”

My powers are building inside me, but when I attempt to use them, nothing happens. They just fizzle out like water to a flame.

Hethenos claps her hands and smirks in amusement. “Your powers will obviously not work within the cells, or prisoners would escape.”

She raises her hand out toward me and tilts her head to the side as green magic seeps from her fingertips and curls its way through the air toward me. I back up into the corner of the cell, trying desperately to avoid it, but it’s pointless. It eventually finds its way into my mouth. A burning pain trickles down my throat, and I scream while it settles into every cell in my body.

I fall to the ground as the green magic consumes me, and when I can no longer bear it, my vision blurs, and I black out. When I eventually open my eyes again, Alaron is hovering in the air directly above me, and I jump.

“For whatever reason, I find myself concerned about you,” he states.

My brows crease, and I quickly sit up, watching as he rights himself, still hovering just above the ground. He’s dressed in black with his shirt unbuttoned enough to reveal the contours of his chest. My focus drops to the various black markings across his pale skin, and when I meet his red eyes once more, he smirks at me, showing off his impossibly white teeth.

I open my mouth to speak and find I’m unable to. I grab my throat as panic sets in, and Alaron reaches out and pulls green magic from my mouth, like a string of twine.

“It’s a poison spell,” he explains.

I cough several times and instantly feel better. “Thank you,” I say, my voice rough, and I rub my throat. “How are you here, and why are you helping me?”

He stares at me without blinking. “You are special, little angel, and I find myself drawn to you.”

I move across the dirty ground back into the corner and lean my back against the cold stone wall. “Were you there the night my mother was murdered?” I ask, trying to make the most of his presence.

He lowers himself to the ground and walks over to me. “You are inquisitive, aren’t you?”

I bite the inside of my cheek, somewhat annoyed that he won’t answer my question.

“Your mother cared greatly for you. She wanted to ensure her beautiful baby girl, Zarla, would be okay. She asked me to watch over you.”

Tears gently flow down my cheeks, and he watches me for a moment before he reaches out and wipes them away. He stares into my eyes, and the intensity is too much. I have to look away.

“I’m sorry you are here,” he says, almost too quietly for me to hear.

I meet his red eyes once more. “You know, for a God of Death, you aren’t as scary as I would have assumed you to be.”

He chuckles. “It’s the name that scares most.” He wanders around the cell before his gaze shifts to mine, and he stops. “There is much more to you than you know, Zarla. You will find out in time.”

Afraid he’s about to poof into thin air, I quickly ask him if he can help me get out of here.

He glances at the cell door and then back at me. “No. I cannot intervene in the balance too much, and I fear I may have already done so with you. But I simply couldn’t resist. I like you, Zarla. You are strong.”

I smile at his words. I like him too.

“I must warn you about the twins. They’re no good, which I am sure you already know.”

I raise my brows. “Oh yes, I am aware.”

He steps closer, and my breath catches. “Your weapons are special, a gift from the gods.”

He takes my hand and places something inside it before kissing my forehead and disappearing.

I glance down to see a green rock about the size of my palm. It’s smooth with flecks of gold embedded inside it. It’s stunning. But I can’t help the confusion that comes with it. Couldn’t he have given me a sword, or a magical key, or something that can actually help me?

I curl up in my corner, placing the rock next to me as I adjust my blankets and stare at it. My mind races with possibilities of its power, knowing Alaron has given it to me for a reason.

I just have to figure out what that reason is.

The following morning, I wake feeling warm. Having the extra blanket makes a difference. The air feels cool against my cheek, and I know there will be a frost outside.

I sit up and grab the rock, turning it over in my fingers. There has to be more to this. It can’t be just a rock.

“Zarla!” I look up as Amaros comes running through the tunnel toward me, and I quickly slip the rock into my pocket and rush to the cell gate to meet him.

“Please, get me out of here,” I beg him as I grasp the bars.

His worried eyes scan over my body. “Who did this? Are you hurt?”

My eyes well, and I have to swallow back the tears. “Hethenos had the twins lock me up. I’m okay. But please, let me out before they come back.”

He wraps his hand around mine. “Shh, it’s okay. I’m going to get you out. Stand back.”

I follow his demand and move to the back of my cell as he pulls a sword from his holster. He swings it down at the lock, and it makes an awful clang, but nothing happens. Grabbing the lock firmly in his hand, he pulls on it, but nothing. He hovers his hand above the lock and blasts a ball of power at it, which fizzles out as it makes contact.

He lets out a frustrated grunt. “She’s sealed it with some kind of powerful magic.”

I wipe a stray tear from my cheek. “At least you tried.”

His grey eyes bore into mine. “I’m not giving up. I will get you out, I promise.”

“Is my father all right?” I ask.

His expression shifts, and I can see there’s something he’s avoiding telling me.

“What is it?” I press him.

He rubs the side of his face. “He’s gravely ill. We’re not sure what’s happened. We think he’s been poisoned.”

My body tenses at the mention of poison. “It’s Hethenos. She did the same to me.”

He drops his hands to his sides. “You’re sure?”

I nod.

He rakes his hand through his dark hair and turns away from me for a moment. “I will fix this,” he tells me. “All of it. Can you hang in there a little while longer? I’m going to get you out.”

I walk back to the cell gate. “Please be careful. She’s powerful. And you can’t trust the twins.”

He turns to leave.

“Is it true? About you and Astelle?”

He doesn’t face me right away, which basically gives me my answer. I’m not jealous or anything, just disappointed. She tried to kill me. Why would he want anything to do with her?

“It’s complicated,” he says, slowly turning to face me.

I raise my brows and turn away from him.

“I can’t explain it to you now, but you have to trust me, okay?”

I move back over to my spot in the corner and sink down, wrapping the blanket over myself. He watches my movements, and when I finally meet his gaze, I see pain there.

“I will be back as soon as I can, I promise.”

And with that, he’s gone, leaving me alone again.