Chapter 10
My breath left me in a rush and my voice shook as I spoke, “Fifty . . . years.”
“Indeed.” The King nodded. “Fifty more years until The Veil opens once more and we can travel to Earth. Until then, you shall make yourself comfortable here.”
He said it as if I was staying for a week on vacation and not the next fifty years. It was a lifetime. “I can’t stay here.”
He turned, and his black eyes bore into mine. “You can and you will.”
Purple smoke started to seep from my hands, and I felt the edge of panic run through my body. “I-I have a life to get back to. A job. Fam—”
“—I bet you do have a job.” Avalon looked me up and down with disgust plain on his face.
What the fuck?“Yeah, a job where I help people, not trap them in dungeons when they get assaulted by two assholes trying to have their way with me.”
Dacio’s face snapped to meet mine. “They did what?”
“Your men . . . they attacked me. However I hurt them, whatever it was that happened . . . it was in self-defense.”
“And we are supposed to believe her.” Avalon scoffed and shook his head. “Only fools fall to the words of liars.”
I lifted my chin. “I’ve never been a liar.”
“Says the liar.”
I crossed my arms over my chest. “Asshole.”
“Enough.” Dacio held his hand up and turned toward me. “Do you swear all your statements to be true?”
“I swear it.” I had the scrapes and bruises to prove it.
The King turned toward Avalon. “Well, then, there you have it. She speaks in truths. Avalon, you’ll see to her protection and that she doesn’t try to escape.”
His brow furrowed with annoyance. “Surely, as the commander of your legions, I could be of use elsewhere.”
“Yes, surely.” I tried to get rid of him.
The King’s face turned stone-cold. “As the commander of my legions, I can see no other assignment more important than what I deem necessary. Do you not agree?”
Avalon pressed his lips into a hard line. “Yes, Your Highness.”
“Very well then.” He looked Avalon up and down. “See to it.”
Avalon pressed his hand to his chest and gave a small bow of his head. “As you command.”
Dacio waved his hand and golden dust flew from his palms over the bars. The shark-like bars retracted into the ceiling and ground. I found myself standing face to face with Avalon. Dacio glanced my way as he strolled past Avalon and down the hall, leaving us alone.
“Taking orders like a champ.” I stepped out from the cell, and he glared.
Avalon turned on his heels and marched down the hall. With a heavy sigh, I followed behind him. If I was going to get myself out of here, then I had to wait for the perfect moment to escape, figure out where The Veil was, get myself back there, and get home. I didn’t believe for one second I couldn’t get back. I’d just met these two and I didn’t trust them as far as I could throw them. People lied for all kinds of reasons, and they were no different. But first I needed to learn how to survive here. He marched up a set of stairs and I followed behind him, making sure to keep my distance from him.
I tucked Monty’s tail deeper into my jacket pocket. I held him there and let my hand rest over his warm little body. I sucked in a deep breath and trudged behind Avalon. I took my time with each step. The stairs wound upward from the dungeon to the main floor. The hall was rough and uneven as I ran my fingers over the dark slat stone. There was no railing to hold on to. The stairs were firm with jagged, uneven fronts. When I got closer to the top, Avalon stood waiting in the archway that led outside. His eyes glowed in the dim light, and a low growl escaped his lips. When I reached the landing, he rolled his eyes and turned away from me.
As he stormed across the courtyard through the groups of soldiers, I couldn’t help but glance around at them all. In one corner of the courtyard, they trained with swords. In the other corner, there was a line of archers aiming at targets along the wall. Off to another side, they all stood in a line calling upon the powers in their hands. Dark-brown dust rained down as they all held their hands out and it fell to the ground. A chunk of earth rose up and the soldier kicked it, sending it flying across the courtyard like a cannon ball. It hit a boulder and left a huge dent as it exploded into rubble. Then, one after the other, they all took their turns summoning the earth and shooting it across the courtyard.
I stepped out and tried to keep my head down to not draw attention to myself. But the attempt was done in vain, because once I was out into the open, I felt all eyes swing toward me. My steps faltered and I felt Monty vibrate under my hand with a tiny coo sound. I sucked in a deep breath and lifted my chin to follow Avalon across the courtyard. They might have all been staring, but I wasn’t going to give them an ounce of the fear I felt being in this place. They began to whisper to each other as I passed, and I could only imagine what they thought knowing I’d killed three of their own without any explanation as to why or how. When I reached Avalon, he stood in a doorway to another set of stairs. I tilted my head back and looked up at the spire, wondering how many stairs I’d have to climb to get to whatever room they were going to trap me in.
The longer I stood there, the more I noticed about the castle. The walls were incredibly high, and there were two more towers that shot up toward the sky like jagged points. There was nothing soft or curvy about this castle. It was all hard plains, jagged rock, and dark slate. The temperature was cool but bearable this time of day. When I looked toward the sun, I thought it might be late afternoon, but there was no telling in a different world like this.
Avalon cleared his throat, drawing my attention to him. “We’re not sight-seeing.”
But I was seeing everything I could. I needed a way out, and I needed one as soon as possible. “Lead the way.”
He sighed and turned toward another set of stairs. This time I followed more closely. “So, you’re like second to the King?”
“Second?”
“Yeah, you know, like president and vice president?” I started the long hall and up another flight of winding stairs.
“I have no idea of what you speak.” He walked up the stairs even faster.
I sped up. I refused to breathe hard like this climb was strenuous. It was one of those moments where I didn’t want to admit that a bit more cardio would help. “You’re like the backup.”
He groaned as though my very existence bothered him, but he said nothing.
“So, I’m stuck here for fifty years?” Why would I believe anything he said?
“Yes.”
“With you?”
“Unless I’m blessed enough to watch you die.” He glanced over his shoulder.
I kept my face impassive but . . . ouch. “Yeah. Noted, vice.”
“vice?” He turned and kept on walking up the curve.
“Yeah, vice president. Means people know who you are but don’t give a shit. You’re the backup, second best . . . You know, unimportant.”
“You may call me Lord Avalon.” I hated the way his hair moved with each of his steps and the way his pants hugged his muscular legs. In another world, this guy would’ve been my cup of tea. In this one, he was the asshole who would rather see me die than breathe the air around him.
“Whatever you say . . . vice.”
As we reached the landing, a low growl escaped his lips, and I fought to hold my smirk in. It felt so good to get under his skin. When he turned down a long hall, I followed. There were openings in the wall like windows, except they were covered in a thin layer of crystal like in the underground. I could barely see out, but what I could see in the distance were rocky lands stretching out toward the mountains. To the left and right there were other landmasses, but I couldn’t make them out.
“Is all the land here in Terrea the same?”
“No.”
Helpful, super helpful. I pressed my lips together. If I was going to get information on this place, it definitely wasn’t going to be from him. He stopped just in front of a door and shoved it wide open. He walked in as if he owned this castle.
“Your quarters.”
The room was dark like the rest of the castle, except there was a plush throw rug under a large four-poster bed made of thick, dark wood. The bed itself was covered in dark, emerald green woven quilts with a thick duvet and piles of pillows. If I didn’t think I’d get murdered in my sleep, then I might’ve gone right to it, hoping that sleep would take me, and when I woke up, that I’d be back to the real world. Across from the bed stood a fireplace, but nothing burned within it, even though there was a chill in the air.
“No fire.”
“There is no fire in the Slate Lands.” He motioned to a dress that lay on the single chair in the room. “Put it on.”
There wasn’t anything else fancy about this room, just a bed, chair, and empty fireplace. I didn’t see a door for a closet. There was another door that stood open and showed a small wash basin and what looked like a toilet carved from stone. There was no shower or bathtub, and I was beginning to think that water was as scarce in the castle as it had been underground. I glanced at the dress and rolled my eyes.
“No thanks.”
“You will put it on,” he said through clenched teeth.
“I’m good like this, Vice.” I liked my vest and pants. They were warm and functional. They made me feel covered and protected in this uncertain world.
“You are to have dinner with the King. You will look appropriate.”
“Are you in the habit of ordering people around?” I put my hands on my hips.
“Yes.”
“And they listen?” I didn’t know why I wanted to fight him, but everything in me wanted to ride my spiteful train all the way home.
“If they’re smart.” He arched his eyebrows at me.
“Guess I’m not.” I shrugged and moved to sit on the foot of the bed.
Avalon stormed up to me and fisted the top of my vest and yanked me to a stand. He was so close to my face that all I could see was him. “You will dress or I will dress you . . . your choice.”
My heart hammered in my chest, and my breaths mingled with his. When I said nothing, the muscles in his arms flexed like he was about to rip the vest right from my body. All I could think was how precious my vest and pants were to Linford and Carlotta. They’d given them to me out of sheer kindness for a stranger.
I placed my hands over his. “I’ll do it.”
He loosened his grip and shoved me away. I fell back on the bed, and he stood over me, glaring. When he made no move to leave, I rolled to the side and stepped around him. I walked over and grabbed the dress up. He turned to watch me. “Turn around.”
“No.”
“I’m not the exhibitionist type. If you want a show, go find someone else. I agreed to the dress. Nothing more.” I wrapped my arms around it and held it close to my chest. He glared and I glared back. It was a test of wills.
We stood there for long moments before he made a sound of annoyance in the back of his throat and turned to give me his back.
I sighed. “You can leave.”
“I was tasked with watching you. And watch you I shall.” He didn’t turn around, but I could imagine the anger on his chiseled face.
There was no way around this dress or getting ready. I won the test of wills against him watching me, but I knew he wouldn’t leave the room. He’d turn around and dress me himself like a doll before he’d leave. I took off my coat and dropped it to the floor to make sure not to jostle Monty. Then I made quick work of the vest and let it fall to the floor. But when I looked at the dress, I couldn’t imagine just wearing that with nothing under it, so I pulled my blouse over my head and dropped that too. I stood there in my lace-up pants and boots. Though they provided me with soft-looking slippers, I wasn’t about to wear those things. One good kick and my foot would be broken. If Avalon wasn’t careful, he’d be the one I’d be kicking.
I loosened the laces on the back of the dress and stepped into it. The dress was a beautiful off the shoulder body-hugging type. It flared out at my knees and spread around me like a puddle. Black lace ran around my shoulders and down the front of the sweetheart neckline. Under the lace, the fabric started as a light-colored lavender and progressively got darker as it got to the bottom.
In the corner of the room was a golden-looking mirror, and I moved to stand in front of it. It was the first time I’d really gotten a good look at myself. I sucked in a sharp breath. I was me, but not. I looked stronger, more deadly. My hair had gotten longer, falling in dark and wild waves with emerald green tips. My lips were fuller and a deeper red, the tips of my pointed ears peeked out through my hair, and my little claws look almost talon-like. The dress was still loose at the back, and I pressed it to my chest to hold it up.
I didn’t want to ask, but I had to. “Can you please get someone to help me with the laces?”
He growled.
“I can’t reach them,” I snapped.
Another growl.
My anger peaked and my mom voice came out. “Listen up, vice. I didn’t ask to be here. I didn’t ask to wear this. I didn’t even pick it. If I had, I’d pick something that required no help at all. But I am here because of you . . . I’m wearing this because of you . . . and I’m pretty sure someone like you picked this. So, either help or get someone who will.”
He was behind me in a flash, and I felt the heat rolling off of him. His face was a mask of concentration as his fingers danced over the laces, pulling them tighter. He yanked at them roughly, pulling them in around my rib cage. “If I pass out, it’s your fault.”
He didn’t pull quite so hard for the next few laces. Tension sizzled between us, and I hated how aware of him I was. This felt a bit too much like Beauty and the Beast, where Bell falls for the Beast even though he was a bit of a dick.
His eyes snapped up to meet mine, and he gazed at me in the mirror. “Done.”
“Thank you.” I didn’t look away from him. “Is this what the King would like?”
“I couldn’t say.” He turned away from me and headed toward the door. “Come.”
He called me like I was some kind of pet. I hesitated for a moment, not wanting to listen to him. I wanted to slam the door behind him and refuse to come out. But he’d only find another way in and force me to where the King commanded. Part of me wondered how deep Avalon’s loyalty went and how far he would go for Dacio. Because deep down, the demon King gave me the creeps. Monty darted from my jacket pocket and ran under the layers of my dress. I felt him scurry up my leg and curl around the top of one of my boots. I tried not to giggle at his light tickling touches. When he was with me, it kind of felt like I wasn’t alone, like I had an ally.
I sucked in a deep breath and headed right for the door. “Right behind you, vice.”