4. Arenwen
4
ARENWEN
I was right to fear my dreams. Because now the creatures have come to life.
They're beautiful. Terrifyingly, impossibly beautiful. Their wings shimmer in hues I've never seen before, and their faces seem carved from the finest marble. But it's their eyes that freeze my blood – cold, calculating, devoid of mercy.
Kai keeps a strong grip around my arm, dark hair falling past broad shoulders clad in leather and gleaming metal, as he drags me out of the temple. His violet eyes are vibrant, and I can't stop staring. Especially when his gaze locks with mine and a cruel smile curves his perfect lips. Heat floods my cheeks despite the terror gripping my chest.
"Time to go," he says as another of his kind holds out a hand. And magic erupts, pulling apart the air to create something I've never seen before.
All of us gape while these creatures keep moving. But I can't take my eyes off the swirling vortex of light that tears through the very fabric of reality. Magic. Real magic. The air crackles with power that makes my skin tingle and my head spin.
Some of my congregation scream. Others faint. I force myself to stay upright, even as rough hands pull me toward the portal. I don't fight him, even as Kai bends down to whisper in my ear.
"Welcome to Aerasak, Arenwen." His violet eyes gleam with dark amusement as he shoves me through the gateway.
The world dissolves into a kaleidoscope of color and sensation. My stomach lurches as reality bends and twists around me. Just when I think I'll lose consciousness, solid ground materializes beneath my feet.
I look around, taking in what looks to be a military compound. And it is filled with more of the winged beings.
The compound rises around us in stark gray stone, adorned with unfamiliar military symbols and banners that flutter in the alien breeze. My legs shake from the portal crossing, but I force myself to stand tall, refusing to stumble. Guards with wings of mottled bronze and silver patrol the high walls, their movements precise and calculated.
"Move," Kai barks, shoving our group toward a set of iron doors and a building I don't want to enter. "You can save your gawking for later. The xaphan always appreciate the praise." His grin is sharp, but I tuck away the information.
Xaphan. They are called xaphan.
I catch Gabriel's eye across the crowd. Blood trickles from a cut above his brow, but his shoulders remain squared, protective even in chains. I give him the slightest shake of my head when his muscles tense. Not yet.
My lips form the familiar words of comfort as we're herded down stone corridors lit by crystalline orbs that pulse with magical light. "Be strong in faith, for the gods watch over us even now." The prayer steadies my voice, gives purpose to my careful observation of each turning, each guard post.
Kai's wing brushes my shoulder as he passes, startling me at his sudden appearance. "Your prayers won't save you here, little flame." His voice drops low, meant for my ears alone. "But please, continue. I find your devotion... amusing."
I lift my chin, meeting those cruel violet eyes. "I pray for all souls, even those who have forgotten mercy."
His laugh echoes off the stone as we're pushed into a large chamber lined with cells. The bars gleam with sigils that make my skin crawl – magic meant to contain. They separate us efficiently, four or five to a cell. I end up with Gabriel and three others from our congregation.
"Rest well," Kai says, his wings casting long shadows across the floor. "You're going to need it."
I press my back against the cold wall, continuing my whispered prayers while tracking the guards' movements through lowered lashes. I won't give him the satisfaction of seeing me break.
The door to my cell scrapes open hours later. I keep my eyes closed, continuing my evening prayers even as heavy boots approach. Kai's presence fills the small space, his wings rustling with barely contained irritation.
"Your faith means nothing here." His voice carries the bite of winter winds. "You belong to me now."
I finish my prayer before meeting his gaze. "My soul belongs to no one but the ones who gave it to me."
Kai's violet eyes flash as he crosses the distance between us in one fluid stride. His wing pins me against the wall, the feathers surprisingly soft against my skin. "Your gods abandoned you the moment I claimed you, little flame."
Heat radiates from his body as he leans closer, but I refuse to shrink away. Instead, I begin another prayer, my voice steady despite my racing heart. "Through the darkest night, light guides me..."
His fingers grip my jaw, forcing my face up. "Enough."
I continue, watching the muscle tick in his clenched jaw. "May the goddesses' strength sustains me when shadows threaten to?—"
"I said enough." The words rumble from deep in his chest.
"To overwhelm my spirit..."
His wing presses harder, and magic crackles in the air around us. But beneath his anger, I catch a flicker of something else in those otherworldly eyes – intrigue. He studies me like a puzzle he can't quite solve.
"Your prayers won't protect you," he says, but his grip on my jaw loosens slightly.
I meet his gaze without flinching. "They already have. I'm still here, still faithful, despite your attempts to break me."
A dark laugh escapes him. "Is that what you think this is?" His thumb traces my lower lip, the touch sending unwanted shivers down my spine. "I've barely begun, little flame. Your defiance only makes the game more interesting."
I start another prayer, softer this time, watching how his wings twitch at the sound. Each word seems to both draw and repel him. But soon, that breaks as he drops me to the floor.
"I'll show you what it means to really break."
Then, he walks out.
A guard shoves me forward, separating our group into smaller clusters. Gabriel lunges between two bronze-winged warriors, his fingers grazing my sleeve. "Aren?—"
I plant my palm against his chest and push him back, shaking my head. The desperation in his warm brown eyes tears at my heart, but I can't let him risk himself. Not for me. "Stay back."
"How touching." Kai's voice cuts through the chaos like a blade. The temperature drops as he stalks toward us, violet eyes blazing. His wings flare wide, casting us in shadow. "Attempting to protect your little friend?"
Gabriel tenses, ready to defend me, but I step between them. "He meant no harm."
Kai's hand shoots out, fingers wrapping around my throat. Not squeezing, just holding – a reminder of his power. "You dare interfere with my guards?"
I meet his gaze, keeping my voice steady despite the thundering of my heart. "I pushed him away. The fault is mine alone."
"Indeed it is." His grip tightens fractionally. Behind me, I hear Gabriel's chains rattle as guards restrain him. "Your defiance requires... correction."
"Do what you must." I begin another prayer, watching how his jaw clenches at the words. "Through trials we find strength?—"
His wings snap forward, caging me between dark feathers as he forces me back against the wall. "Your prayers won't save him from punishment."
"Then punish me instead." The words come out clear and strong, though my pulse races beneath his fingers.
Something shifts in those violet depths – hunger mixed with fascination. His thumb traces my racing pulse. "Such nobility." His lips curve into a cruel smile. "Very well, little flame. You'll take his punishment. But he'll know it's all because of him."
I lift my chin. "As long as he remains unharmed."
Kai's laugh holds no warmth. "So eager to sacrifice yourself. I look forward to breaking that spirit of yours."
"You can break my body," I whisper, "but my soul remains my own."
His wings press closer, feathers brushing my cheeks. "We shall see about that, little flame. We shall see."
He steps back as I'm shoved into a new cell, a larger one. This time, Gabriel is dumped in with me.
Moving back into the corner and away from the cell doors, I take a breath and try to get my bearings. Try to ignore the violet eyes that stay on me even now.
Through the narrow windows, an alien sky stretches above – deeper blue than Earth's, with two moons hanging like pearls against velvet. The larger one gleams golden, while its smaller companion shimmers with an ethereal silver light. My breath catches at their beauty, even as my heart aches for home.
The compound's architecture speaks of power and dominance – all sharp angles and imposing heights. Banners bearing unfamiliar symbols ripple in a breeze that carries strange, spicy scents. The stone beneath my feet pulses with ancient magic that makes my skin tingle.
Bronze and silver-winged warriors line the corridors, their faces masks of cold indifference. Their wings reflect the light from crystalline orbs, creating shifting patterns across the walls. Some wear elaborate armor that catches the light, while others dress in simple leather and metal combinations. All carry themselves with the same predatory grace as their commander.
My gaze drifts to Kai despite my attempts to focus elsewhere. He leans against the bars of a cell, those violet eyes burning into me as I take in my surroundings. His ash-gray wings twitch slightly when our eyes meet, and his perfect lips curve into that cruel smile that sets my pulse racing.
I force myself to look away, continuing my study of this alien world. The air itself feels different here – heavier with magic, crackling with potential that makes my hair stand on end. Through another window, I glimpse buildings that seem to defy gravity, their spires reaching toward that strange sky like golden fingers grasping for power.
"Fascinating, isn't it?" Kai's voice slides over my skin like silk wrapped around steel. He hasn't moved from his position, but his attention weighs on me like a physical touch. "Such wonder in those eyes, even now. Tell me, little flame, does our world match your prayers' promises of paradise?"
I keep my voice steady, though my heart pounds. "Paradise isn't built on the backs of slaves."
His wings rustle – the only sign my words affect him. His expression remains unreadable, but his eyes burn with an intensity that makes me shiver. He watches me like a predator studying its prey, calculating the perfect moment to strike.
And I know it is coming.