6. Arenwen
6
ARENWEN
I curl tighter into myself, the cold stone seeping through my thin dress and into my bones. Every shift sends needles of pain through my cramped muscles. The xaphan guards patrol past our cells, their ash-gray wings casting flickering shadows in the torchlight. Another scream echoes down the corridor - they've taken someone else.
"Stay strong," Gabriel whispers next to me. His familiar voice steadies me, though I hear the strain beneath his attempted comfort.
A young woman stumbles past, shoved roughly back into an adjacent cell by a sneering guard. Her dress hangs in tatters, fresh bruises darkening her throat. She collapses in the corner, shoulders shaking with silent sobs. No one moves to help her - we've all learned that drawing attention only makes things worse.
My stomach twists as the sour smell of unwashed bodies and waste fills my nostrils. They feed us barely enough moldy bread to keep us alive, throwing it through the bars like we're animals. Some fight over the scraps. Others, like the elderly man across from me, have stopped eating altogether.
"Aren." Gabriel moves closer, trying to comfort me as I try to shut out the doubt seeping in.
But why are they doing this? Why these creatures? And our gods? Where are they now?
I know it is what the xaphan want, so I try to fight it. But with each abused body that is dragged back here, I start to lose a little bit of my grasp on my faith.
Gabriel gently touches my arm. "We'll get through this." His hand bears fresh cuts - he fought back when they took a temple girl yesterday. They beat him for it, but he never screams.
Before I can respond, a guard's boots stop before my cell. My heart pounds as keys rattle in the lock. But he only dumps another prisoner inside - a boy no older than fourteen, blood trickling from his split lip. His eyes are vacant, staring at nothing.
I want to help him, to offer what little comfort I can. But movement draws pain, and I've learned that kindness here only paints a target on your back. So I stay curled in my corner, silently praying as another scream pierces the darkness.
Gabriel's fingers tighten around mine. "We'll survive this," he murmurs, though his voice wavers. "We have to."
I know he's right, and I try to strengthen my resolve. But the gods must know I'm in need of a test because I soon see a familiar figure striding down between the cells. The torchlight catches on his violet eyes, making them glow with predatory intensity as they lock onto me.
"This one." His deep voice carries authority that makes the guards snap to attention. The cell door scrapes open. "Come here, little flame."
I press back against the cold stone, but keep my chin lifted. "I will come willingly if we can negotiate how humans are being treated."
"Negotiate?" A dark laugh rumbles from his chest. "You belong to me now. There are no negotiations."
Kai steps closer, and I catch the glint of battle scars across his exposed forearms. His black hair falls loose around his shoulders, framing features that might be beautiful if not twisted with such cruel amusement.
"Aren, no!" Gabriel lunges between us. "Don't touch her!"
Kai snarls at Gabriel. His wings flare out, ash-gray feathers bristling. "You haven't learned your lessen yet, human?"
"Please," I whisper, seeing the violence building in those glowing eyes. I stand, brushing myself off as I step around my friend. "Gabriel, it's okay. I'll be fine."
"Like hell you will!" Gabriel's voice cracks. "I won't let him-"
Kai's hand shoots forward, catching Gabriel's throat. "You won't let me? You have no power here, human." His fingers tighten until Gabriel chokes.
"Stop!" I scramble to my feet. "I'll come willingly. Just don't hurt him."
Kai's grip loosens, but his expression darkens further at my plea. He releases Gabriel with a snarl and stalks toward me. His wings cast me in shadow as he grabs my arm, fingers bruising.
"No more bargaining for others, little flame. You'll learn your place."
He drags me from the cell. I don't fight, though every instinct screams to struggle. I hold onto my faith instead, even as Gabriel's desperate calls fade behind us.
Kai's grip never loosens as he drags me through gleaming streets. My feet stumble on polished stone, the splendor of the city blurring past in a haze of gold and crystal spires. His townhouse looms before us, dark stone a stark contrast to the city's radiance.
"Filthy creature." His lip curls as he shoves me toward marble stairs. "Up. Second door. Clean yourself before you taint my home further."
The bathroom sparkles with precious metals and stone. My hands shake as I strip off my grimy dress, my time in captivity falling away under steaming water. Soap scents the air with foreign flowers. I scrub until my skin turns pink, savoring warmth after the cell's bone-deep chill.
Fresh clothes wait on a hook - a simple gray dress that still feels like silk against my raw skin. In the kitchen, bread and fruit await. My stomach cramps at the sight of real food. I force myself to eat slowly, though hunger claws at me.
"Done making yourself presentable?" Kai's voice cuts through my relief. I follow the voice into an adjoining room where I see him sprawled on a black leather chaise, wings draped carelessly over its sides. "Kneel here."
I sink to my knees beside him, keeping my eyes lowered. The plush carpet cushions my bones, another mercy after those cold, hard floors I've been on.
"Pour." He gestures to a crystal decanter. My hands tremble as I fill his glass with deep red wine. "Good little pet. Already learning obedience."
His fingers catch my chin, forcing my gaze up. Those violet eyes bore into mine, cruel amusement dancing in their depths. "Do you know why I chose you, little flame? Your spirit burns so bright. Breaking it will be..." His thumb traces my lower lip. "Entertaining."
"I won't break." The words slip out before I can stop them.
His laugh holds no warmth. "They all say that. But you'll learn. Pour me more wine and I'll tell you exactly how I plan to extinguish that fire."
I reach for the decanter, focusing on keeping my hands steady as he details my fate with casual cruelty. His wings shift restlessly, casting moving shadows across my skin. I hold onto my prayers like a shield, though his words chip away at my resolve.
But I can't let him break me. Not as I kneel next to him all afternoon. Not as I serve him dinner. Not as I do everything he asks, waiting to see how much worse this will all get.
I'm almost surprised when he has me follow him into his room that night, though I should have been expecting it. Only, he doesn't throw me on the bed or order me to strip.
Instead, Kai points to layers of blankets and pillows on the ground at the foot of his bed. "Your bed, pet. Grateful creatures sleep where their masters allow."
The pallet is thick wool stuffed with something soft, leagues better than cell floor. There are blankets and pillows placed on top, all soft and warm. Still, the placement speaks volumes - I'm no better than a dog to him. I sink down, wrapping one of the blankets around my shoulders.
Quietly, I start up my evening ritual of talking to my gods.
"Your nightly prayers amuse me." Kai sprawls across his massive bed, wings spreading over black silk sheets. "What god listens to a slave?"
I close my eyes, letting familiar words fill my mind. My words are quiet, my lips moving on nearly inaudible sounds, but he must still be watching.
"Pathetic." His deep voice cuts through my meditation. "Your gods abandoned you to my mercy."
I continue praying, though his presence above me sends shivers down my spine. The rustle of feathers draws my attention - his wings shift restlessly, casting moving shadows across my upturned face. My words falter as I catch his violet eyes watching me, gleaming with predatory interest in the darkness.
"Such devotion." He props himself on one elbow, black hair spilling over bare shoulders. "Tell me, little flame - does your faith warm you? Does it shield you from the monster above your bed?"
The mockery in his tone should strengthen my resolve. Instead, I find myself distracted by the play of moonlight on battle scars crossing his chest - his now bare chest. My prayers tangle on my tongue.
His dark laugh rumbles through the room. "Already losing focus? Perhaps you need motivation to maintain your piety."
I force my eyes closed, gripping the blanket tighter. The words come faster now, desperate. But I can't block out his presence - the heat radiating from his massive form, the subtle movements of those deadly wings, the weight of his gaze burning into my skin.
"Sleep well, pet." His voice drops lower, filled with cruel promise. "Tomorrow we begin breaking that spirit properly."
I curl tighter into myself, clinging to my prayers even as his steady breathing above me threatens to drown them out.