Chapter 8 Secret Passage
Verena
A s the last hint of daylight fades, I know the time has come to make my move. With a trembling hand, I hastily tie off the blood flow to my arm with a ragged strip of cloth, biting down hard on the leather strap between my teeth to suppress a scream. My limb goes numb from the tourniquet, and I take a deep breath before pressing my dagger into the skin, steeling myself against the searing pain that follows.
Agony consumes me, my screams silent by the tight leather gag that threatens to choke me. With trembling hands, I carve off the intricate rune on my arm, each slice cutting deeper and drawing out more blood. As the black dots dance in my vision and tears stream down my face, I feel a sense of satisfaction knowing that this will finally sever our connection. The sharp blade makes it easier, but the excruciating pain was nothing compared to the overwhelming relief and empowerment coursing through my body.
When I finally peel off the last bit, I throw it to the ground with the blood leaking from me. Grabbing bandages, I wrap my arm until my fae healing can do its job. Tears finally spill down my face from the pain.
Taking more breaths and calming my racing heart, I finish grabbing what I need.
I crack my door open and hope to just slip out but a voice stops me. “Where do you think you’re going? ”
I froze, recognizing it. “I am the wife to the King. Am I not allowed to walk the court?” I ask him. I turn to face the man, one of the royal guards. I know him. I know all of them and their names. Along with the other help in this castle. Meanwhile, Dryston can barely remember his own personal guard’s name.
He takes in my attire, eyebrows raised. “What happened to your arm? Where did you get fighting leathers? And a sword? Can you even use it?”
“Allyric, please let me go.” At his name, he looks back into my eyes. “I know it’s surprising hearing me call you that. The king can barely remember my name, let alone all his guards. But guards and maids and everyone else who works here talk and you all know I know your names. Hundreds of them. I made it my job to know. I know of your family and where you’re from and I care about your lives. He does not. But I am not going to hurt him. Not today. I am going to grab Hadeon and leave this castle before we are both executed for a treason we did not commit.” I can see the gears turning in his brain, completely unsure of what to do. “Please. He does not deserve to die. And I do not deserve to be trapped here.” My voice was soft. But, for Hadeon, I was prepared to fight this guard. Was I prepared to end his life? No. But I will do what I needed.
“You’ll have to knock me out. If I let you go, I’ll die. You have to make it look like this was not voluntary. You know how to hit with the hilt of your blade?” He asks me, making a breath release from my body in relief. I nod and he stands like he was before I came out before adjusting his body and allowing me to knock him unconscious. I whisper a prayer to our healer goddess, Althea, to make sure he heals quickly after.
I rush down the halls, hiding in the shadows along the walls to make a clean getaway.
It was relatively easy so far. Most of everyone in this court was in bed by the time nightfall hit and asleep well before midnight like it was now. It had been hours since the coronation and I’m hoping Hadeon is fine.
A scuffle and voice sounds from around the corner and I froze, not seeing anywhere to hide. They round the hall. Two guards freeze at the sight of me. I can be mistaken for someone else since I wasn’t dressed in a way anyone had seen before but recognition flares in their eyes. And for some reason, I know this time won’t be as easy as it was with Allyric.
“Gentlemen, thank the gods I’ve found you. Someone knocked out Allyric who was stationed at my door!” I raise my voice and force tears to well in my eyes. “Please help.” Males love being heroes. They look at each other before the older one spoke.
“Jordan, go check on him. I’ll ask Princ- Lady Verena some questions.” The title halts my fake tears and my expression harden after the younger one left us.
“So, I am no longer a princess to anyone else either?” He looks at me cautiously at my voice change.
“When you commit treason by sleeping with your guard, that’s usually what happens. Although you got lucky with your fate. You get to spend your days as the king’s whore wife.” He sneers as I walk closer. “Where do you think you’re going dressed like that?”
“I do not have to explain myself to you.”
My hand instinctively reaches for my dagger as he makes a move for his sword. We both know one wrong move and this could be the end. But I can’t risk using my weapon, it will make too much noise. So I lunge forward, catching him off guard, before he can draw his sword. With a swift slice, I cut through his wrist, causing him to let out a strangled cry of pain and shock. Blood spurts from the wound, coating us both in red as I hold my weapon steady. “Get that to the medic,” I command, my voice low and deadly. “You might just survive if you go now.” He hesitates, torn between his desire for revenge and the need for medical attention. But eventually, he turns and runs toward the infirmary, leaving a trail of blood in his wake.
I cannot keep getting this lucky. There’s no way.
I rush even more now since there were two people aware of my whereabouts. The way to the dungeon was further than I wished for. I hurry down three flights of stairs and many halls before coming across the dungeon stairway. Luckily, no one else had been around to see me. After living here for your entire life, you know this sort of information. I know there would be barely anyone out .
I pull the heavy door open, running to the bottom of the steps and rounding the corner. A few men are in the cells, some sleeping, some mumbling to themselves, and a couple are whistling at me while making kissing noises. I roll my eyes. Typical.
Hadeon’s cell was at the end and while I am not surprised it was, I am surprised he has a guard assigned to his door. Lucky, again, for me he was asleep. Hadeon, however, was not.
As soon as our eyes meet, I am gripped by a sudden shock. His face is marred with bruises and splatters of blood, stark against his once flawless skin. Deep purples and dark blues form a grotesque canvas over his features, streaked with angry red gashes. The sight takes my breath away and for a moment, I am too stunned to react.
My hand covers my mouth, choking back the emotion before I steel myself and continue quietly forward. He sits up, eyeing me and not saying a word. I spot the key from the guard and expertly retrieve it to unlock the cell.
Just as the bell starts to ring.
I can barely slip the key into the lock before the guard wakes and stands, wrapping his arm around my throat. “He knew you’d come for your lover.” I roll my eyes again, trying to steady my breathing as Hadeon taught me. I watch the man in the cell, beaten so badly I wasn’t sure if I’d have to carry him out of there. He can’t help me right now. Not with the look of worry in his eyes as he watches me.
The guard’s hands press hard against my body, the cold metal of his blade digging into my side while he tightens his grip on me, cutting off my air supply. I struggle against his hold, widening my stance and drawing in a deep breath before unleashing all my force into a brutal elbow strike to his solar plexus. He grunts in pain and his grip weakens, giving me the opportunity to stomp on his foot with all my might. As he recoils from the pain, I use all my strength to break free, driving another powerful elbow strike into his nose. Blood spurts from his nostrils as he releases me completely. With no time to waste, I draw my sword and point it directly at him, my eyes blazing with unbridled fury. “I am leaving with Hadeon,” I growl, the sword trembling in my hand. “Whether I have to kill you or not.” A menacing grin spreads across my face as I prepare for whatever comes next.
“Then you’ll have to kill me.” The man states. I shrug, feigning nonchalance at the idea of murder. But my heart is racing faster than the horses we race.
“Your choice,” I growl before lunging toward him, my blade flashing in the dim light. He blocks my attack with ease, his muscles bulging as he swings his own blade in retaliation. But I am relentless, slamming my weapon against his again and again, fueled by a fierce determination to stay one step ahead.
Despite his towering stature, I refuse to back down. Instead, I use every ounce of strength and agility to land a deep slice across his forearm. As he howls in pain and falters, I see an opening and go for the kill. But at the last second, I pull back, unwilling to cross that final line.
With adrenaline still coursing through my veins, I bring down the hilt of my sword with brutal force onto his temple, knocking him unconscious. Another enemy defeated.
“You should’ve killed him.” Hadeon coughs out. I gather my wits before walking over to him pushing open the cell door.
“I couldn’t.”
“I know. You did well. What’s your plan?” I stop moving from the question.
I look down the hall, making sure it’s clear before wrapping my arm around him after sheathing my weapon. “Escape. I didn’t exactly have a lot of time to plan this. I couldn’t let you sit there till morning. You’d be dead by then.” He grunts as we move. “How bad is it?” I ask, nerves wrecking my body.
“I’m fine.”
“Liar.” He lets out a strained chuckle as we make our way down the hall, turning the opposite way of the door. “Where are we going? The exit is that way.” I try to turn him but the strength he has even like this is more than I have.
“There’s a secret passage.” My brows furrow. How in the afterworld does he know that ?
“I’m not even going to ask right now but I expect to be told how and why exactly you know this.”
He says nothing but we stop in front of the bare wall and I look at him incredulously as he places his palm against the bricks and it moves. “What the fuck?” It reveals a tunnel, dark and wet. I can smell the rats and moist walls and hold back a gag.
“What, fuck, what about your rune? Your wedded rune, he’ll find us.” He voices, scratchy vocal chords rubbing together. Then, he eyes my bandage and stares back into my face.
“Let’s go.” I state, not answering him but I think he knows based on the look he gives. “Do you even know where you’re going?” I ask him, following him as he starts.
* * *
As the moon rose high in the darkened sky, we press on toward our destination, our weary feet carrying us closer to the end. The gates loom ahead, bathed in silver light that filters through the ornate iron bars. Despite our exhaustion, we can still hear the distant sound of bells tolling and occasional echoes of noises coming from the tunnel. As we drew nearer to the gate, I caught glimpses of the city beyond, its buildings towering against the night sky. The scent of hay and horse manure waft toward us, signaling that we were deep within the city walls. In the distance, I can make out the hazy outlines of guards and their steeds hurrying about their duties. Our hearts race with anticipation as we approach the gates, knowing that our journey was finally reaching its end.
I look at Hadeon, noting the milky color in his eyes. “Hello? Hadeon.” I try to get his attention but he’s not looking at me.
Whatever . Ever since I’ve known him, he’s done this. It happens randomly and he’s zoned as if he is not here except in body. I’ve learned to embrace it. The only time I asked about it, he says it’s a way to communicate to his family, I assumed it was because they were dead or some weird enchantment I hadn’t heard of but it wasn’t brought up after.
I give him some space and peek around the gate, searching for a fragile spot. The gate was rusted over and looks weak. I go to push it open, but his voice stops me. “Wait.” I turn to him, still with the off look before he blinks and it’s gone. “Okay, I know where to go.”
He helps me push the gate open, with ease, and suddenly I feel wetness coating my bandage that rests against his. “You’re bleeding,” I tell him. He tries to brush it off but I grab it, showing him I know it hurts. “Stop moving real quick.” I take the bottom portion of my tunic and rip it across to get the most out without revealing all my skin. I wrap the makeshift bandage around his forearm before tying it off tightly. “The last thing I need is for you to lose more blood and pass out. I don’t know if I’ll make it to our destination without you or with you if I need to carry you.” I speak the truth. Hadeon stares into my eyes with an incredulous look.
“You are stronger than you give yourself credit for. Your entire life is proof of that. And I haven’t been training you for nothing.” Then his eyes flash. “And where, pray tell, are you planning our destination to be?” I pull my bottom lip into my mouth, lightly chewing on it with nerves. He’s waiting for an answer but I don’t think he suspects where I want to go.
“I do not know about you, but I plan to make it to Khyrel. I wish to seek out the king. I believe he and I now have a common enemy. But, if you do not wish to join me, I understand.”
Something else flashes through his face, and I want to believe it is relief but I’m not sure. Why would he be relieved? I thought he’d talk me out of it. I squint my eyes at him as he turns away.
“Let us go.”
* * *
After a long and treacherous journey, we finally emerge from the bustling city and enter the lush forests that act as a buffer between the grand capital of Zorya and its smaller surrounding towns. As we move deeper into the trees, our chances of being noticed decrease, but I can’t shake off the feeling that the guards are still on high alert. However, one positive sign was the absence of any alarm bells ringing in the distance. The air around us was cool and crisp, carrying with it the scent of pine and damp earth. The only sounds are the gentle rustling of leaves and the occasional chirping of birds, a welcome change from the constant noise of the city.
My hands stop shaking from adrenaline and I’ve calmed my heart a bit.
“We need to stop, take a breath.” Hadeon finally spoke, seemingly having a harder time breathing. “Are you hurt anywhere?” He asks, trying to look me over.
“I don’t feel any pain. The adrenaline’s worn off by now so I would feel something if there was anything wrong.” I assure, looking at him. “Aside from my arm but it’s fine.” I look down at it, noting the blood that seeped through the bandage.
The silence was deafening. Even the creatures remain asleep when the sun went down. The wind howls as it usually did this time of year but in the short moments of true silence, I heard it. A stream. “Stay here, I’m going to fill up on water.” I shake the empty drinking skins but before I can leave him, he grabs my bicep.
“Not alone.” I roll my eyes again tonight before motioning him with me. The stream wasn’t far from us and I know it was safe. I fill up the skins and seal them before ripping a piece of my sleeve to wet it, walking over to Hadeon.
“Let me clean up your face, please.” He looks like he wants to refuse, but doesn’t. He surprises me by allowing me to swipe across his face gently. There were cuts and bruises littering him but I did my best to clean him up before we start our venture again. His fae abilities are already healing him.
I can tell he wants to ask me something but the cloudy look in his eyes return. Maybe it’s from the injuries. He could’ve hit his head at some point. I wait, wanting him to speak first but still nothing. After what seems to be an hour, his eyes are still cloudy as we continue our trek .
Finally, I watch as he tunes in, looking at me.
“What are you doing?” I ask him. He looks confused.
“Nothing,” I want to push more on the subject. Was he talking to his family? Did they know of his plans to leave the country?
I speak, “We are far enough away now to rest. You get some sleep, I’ll take the first watch.” I can tell he wants to argue but I held my hand up before he can speak, “I am not nearly as tired or as injured as you. Get some sleep.” I demand. We try to get comfortable in the sand bed by the creek, avoiding sharp rocks and twigs.
I sit there, counting our rations and my weapons. I didn’t notice before but Hadeon had grabbed the sword from the guard as we were leaving so at least he also had a weapon.
Only when my eyes start drifting do I blink it away and shove him— hours later— to wake him so I can rest too before our day’s worth of journey.
Sleep takes me and I slip into another dream of the aurora borealis. This time it’s closer and my heart feels warm; like it’s supposed to be closer so I can feel more at peace. Blonde hair bellows around me in the wind, the dark blue strands sticking out. I watch as the lights dance across my vision again and again before suddenly it gets darker and a hand appears, reaching out toward me.
Black marks trickle along the muscular skin and chills run up my spine. “I’m coming for you.” The voice whispers, barely audible, and again, I jolt awake, my necklace scalding my skin.