Chapter 33
Yasmin had known fear many times in her life. From the elf who called herself Mother as she slowly poisoned Yasmin. Fear of starving. Of sweating, pawing hands endlessly groping her.
But there was one above all the others.
The one where she died within the stronghold.
And she was about to meet that one head-on.
Yasmin curled her toes on the chilly stones. She looked down at the plain white gown. They were clothes she had sworn would never grace her body again. The gown locked her into her position more firmly than chains ever could. She hated the color white and what it had represented in her life.
She wanted her clothes. They were her armor. In them, she had found her freedom. The human who had fled the inescapable stronghold.
The woman who had survived.
Gita’s nameless face had haunted her for years.
It was time for Yasmin to take back her past and sever any links she had to Shaldorn.
The stones hummed as they felt her anger and determination.
She was a human standing against elves. Yasmin likely wouldn’t win this battle, but she wasn’t going down without a fight.
Gita took a step closer and raked her gaze over Yasmin. “You made us believe we had excised your willfulness. You had us all fooled. Yet you returned. I took you for a smarter woman than that. You had to know you wouldn’t leave my fortress again.”
Indeed, Yasmin had known. And still, she’d agreed to lead Ravi inside. For a moment, she had believed they would succeed. Her fingers curled into a fist. She wanted to ask about Ravi but knew the game they were playing. She had stood in this exact spot several times before.
Gita quirked a brow. “No biting remarks or witty retorts? Surely, there are things you wish to say.”
“I’d rather you shut up and get on with whatever you plan to do.” Yasmin fought to stay upright. She wanted to shake her head to clear the fuzz from her brain, but that wouldn’t happen for hours yet.
“Oh, don’t worry. I have much in store for you,” Gita replied with a smirk.
She walked to the other side of the small room.
“The storm you and your accomplice released has been tamed. You’ve made quite a mess in my home, but there are plenty of staff to see it set to rights.
Meanwhile, every nook and cranny of Shaldorn is being searched for the Sun Elf. Who is he?”
Yasmin bit the inside of her cheek to keep from smiling at the knowledge they didn’t have Ravi. If he was still free, then there was a chance he could find the device and get out. She held that hope in her heart. “I don’t know who you mean.”
Gita tsked as she continued her slow walk. “Don’t play dumb. It’s never suited you. His name doesn’t matter. Shaldorn is locked down, and it will remain that way until we locate him.” She smiled like someone who had a secret. “I know just the way to draw him out, too.”
“You’re wasting your time. I came alone.”
“I’m going to use you. I suspect that will bring him out quickly.”
Yasmin knew Ravi’s main focus was the device. He might have promised to find her if she got into trouble, but she knew he wouldn’t fall for Gita’s tricks. At least, she hoped he wouldn’t.
Gita stopped before Yasmin. “As for the explosive you attempted to steal, it is once more in my control.”
“You won’t win.”
“I already have.”
Yasmin wanted to deny it, but she couldn’t. She had failed. Now, it was possible tens of thousands could die.
Gita touched Yasmin’s hair. “I thought you were something special. I gave you opportunities others never had. But you’re just another boring human who tried to reach beyond herself.”
But Yasmin wasn’t just human. She had magic. She sought the stones beneath her feet and heard them answer with a loud rise of music. They had tried to warn her earlier, but the elf magic had muddled her brain and made it difficult for them to reach her.
Their song turned frantic as they sounded a warning. Her gaze moved to the door as it swung open, and two guards strode in. One was the Dark Elf she had tricked hours earlier. His sinister smile filled her with dread.
The lives of thousands versus one. The answer should be a simple one, yet it wasn’t. Ravi’s priority was obtaining the device, or at least preventing it from leaving Shaldorn. But he couldn’t stop thinking about Yaz and what they might be doing to her at that very moment.
“Ravi? What’s your decision?”
He shook his head, unable to look at Arya. “I don’t know.”
“You do. You just don’t want to say it.”
“I have an objective,” he stated. “I always complete my missions.”
She came to stand before him, her dark gray eyes holding his. “Things went to shite. No one will blame you.”
“I will.” He sighed. “I’ll carry the weight of everyone who dies because I didn’t get the device.”
She shrugged indifferently. “You still can.”
He could. All he had to do was set his mind to that and forget Yaz. Once he had the device, he could look for her. If she was still alive. It’s what he would’ve done a week earlier. But his feelings interfered.
“If you wait long enough, you may not have to make a decision,” Arya announced irritably as she stalked away.
He glared at her. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
She paused and turned to him. “Your inability to make a choice will end up leaving Gita time to get the device away and kill Yasmin.”
He’d told himself the very same thing, but hearing it aloud was like being punched in the gut. “Yaz never wanted to return.”
“But she brought you here as promised. She’s honorable.”
She was that and so much more. That’s when he knew. His decision had already been made. He just had to come to terms with it. “We find Yaz.”
“It won’t be easy,” Arya warned.
“When is anything?”
Her lips flattened. “They know you two were together, and they’ll use her to draw you out.”
“Before or after they hurt her?”
“Knowing Gita? After.”
That’s what he feared. “Is there any way to find her before then?”
“Maybe.”
“I leave here with Yaz or not at all,” he stated.
Arya’s brow furrowed. “What about the device?”
“That will be up to you and Dain.”
She eyed him ruefully. “The instant they locate you, Gita will send the device out.”
“You said she wouldn’t bring Yaz out in front of others, but she’ll have to if she intends to draw me out.”
“Not necessarily.”
Ravi was sure he didn’t want to hear the answer, and yet he asked, “Meaning?”
“Information is passed around Shaldorn in many ways. Gita will ensure she uses all of them to find you.”
“That doesn’t matter. We’re going to Yaz. Where do you think she’s being held?”
Arya blew out a breath. “Someplace neither of you will probably get out of.”
“I don’t plan on dying here.”
“I’m sure many have said that,” she replied.
Ravi nodded as he looked around the room. “I thought Shaldorn was like any other place. Even when we were inside, I was sure we’d get out.” He slid his gaze back to the Dark Elf. “I promised her I would free her if she got caught. Get me to her. I’ll do the rest while you find the device.”
“Gods,” she said with a sigh. “You sound like Dain. I’m not leaving you, so don’t push that agenda again. Got it?”
“Got it.”
She rubbed her hands together, a small frown puckering her brow. “Traveling with someone takes a lot out of me. And we need to be careful. Don’t move out of the shadows until I nudge you. How charged is your magic?”
“I haven’t seen the sun in hours,” he admitted.
Arya turned on her heel to walk to the bag. She dug around until she pulled out an amulet and handed it to him. “This should help.”
Ravi accepted the necklace and studied the small, glowing yellow stone. He bowed his head to her. “Thank you.”
“You can thank Dain. He thought you might need an extra.”
Ravi placed the necklace over his head and dropped the sunstone against his skin. His magic immediately reached out to it, absorbing the rays captured within. He took only a little so there would be more if he needed it later.
“Expect anything,” Arya warned.
“I always do.”
She lifted her arms, and shadows began gathering and building. Ravi walked to her and turned so his back was to her front just as the shadows closed around them.
No matter how Yasmin tried, she couldn’t distance herself from the pain that radiated from every part of her body. She had lost count of the number of ways the guards had struck her before Two and Gita had their fun.
The only reason she was still upright was because of the restraints holding her in place.
Her left eye was swollen shut. Blood ran from her nose and the corner of her lip.
She was sure her jaw was broken. Every finger had been broken, and her toes crushed.
Both knees were shattered. One of her smashed ribs may have punctured a lung if the agony in her chest was any indication.
Her ribs made her think of Ravi and how he had brought her back from drowning. She tried to stay in that memory and drift away, but Gita wouldn’t allow it. Each time Yasmin began to pass out, Gita would use a pinch of magical herbs to wake her.
“You always did have a high pain tolerance,” Gita said as she slowly ambled around Yasmin. “We’ve gotten nothing from you other than a few moans when others would’ve been screaming long ago.”
Yasmin knew that screams never helped. Besides, that would give Gita the satisfaction of knowing she’d hurt her. Yasmin might not be able to fight against them physically, but she could mentally. She tracked Gita with her one good eye.
“Imagine what you could’ve done if you had been born an elf.” Gita chuckled. “But fate decided you weren’t worthy.”
Yasmin smiled inwardly. Fate had given her something even better.
Gita stopped beside her. “I applaud you for escaping. Not many dare to even think about it, much less act on it. But you did. Then you ran without a thought to anyone else. It didn’t take us long to realize that Neela had aided you.
You two were inseparable, after all. You should know that she screamed for you in the end. ”
Yasmin had never known the depth of hate she felt in that moment. Loathing for Gita for what she had done to Neela. And disgust at herself for not taking her friend with her.
Gita grinned in amusement. “Oh, if looks could kill, I’d be singed on the spot.”
When she moved away, Yasmin spotted the clear box behind Gita. Fear snaked down her spine to settle in her stomach.
“Your special place. Made especially for you. I know how much you enjoyed the time you spent in it before. Did you miss it?” Gita shrugged. “It’s fitting that your life should end in it.”
Yasmin tried to fight as the guards unbound her, but her broken body wouldn’t respond. The minute they wrapped their hands around her, she had to focus on holding back her cries of pain. Every step jarred her wrecked body. She desperately wished to pass out, but the gods weren’t that kind.
They callously shoved her into the box. Yasmin was too consumed with agony to do anything as they shut the door.
Then she heard the lid slide into place above her, blocking her air holes.
The box was why she despised enclosed places.
She had always feared suffocating. The only good thing she could think of was that they had done so much damage to her that she might not live long enough to asphyxiate.
Somehow, above the pain, she heard the stones. Their song rose up loudly to float around her. She let the calming melody fill her. It helped to distract her from the agony of her injuries. But it wasn’t enough. She needed to take her mind somewhere else, somewhere she had been happy.
She found it with memories of Ravi.