Chapter 34 Azahara
Azahara
There was no indication of how much time had passed.
Even with the tiny bits of light that seeped through the cracks of her cell, it was impossible to keep track.
Azahara would fall asleep and wake when the light was gone; at other times, the light never seemed to disappear.
She was convinced it wasn’t the sun but a fire.
There were only two constant things, which led her to assume she was on day five of her imprisonment: the room would close in around her, and the Fae would come to interrogate her.
They had done her the decency of giving her something to wear, but not for her own sake.
Each time a guard would come to take her or move her, they would always be tempted.
While no one had touched her, it had become increasingly difficult to do so.
Now she wore a single brown cloth that draped over her shoulders.
She’d wrapped it to cross over her chest and around her waist to fall over her legs.
It had done enough of the job to divert their dirty eyes from anything but her face.
It didn’t make the pain any less unbearable, especially the temperature.
She was convinced she had died and returned to life at least two times but couldn’t be sure.
Over the however long she had been there, she had been sick but quickly recovered.
While she should have been thankful that her new accelerated healing took care of her wounds, it was both a blessing and a curse.
Each time they came to interrogate her, they would string her up by her ankles after a near-bloody fight and demand that she speak of the black Magic and where she had learned it.
She told them the same thing every time: “I don’t use black Magic, I swear.
” At first, she had tried to convince them to read her journals, a suggestion that hinted at the extremity of her situation.
She had no doubt that they would have been destroyed if they had gone to read them.
It wouldn’t matter; they dismissed the idea and lashed her for trying to distract them. Ultimately, she stuck to those seven words because she knew it was a lost cause to try to convince them of what they wouldn’t believe in the end.
When she heard the clanking of the metal doors in the hallway, a deep intake of air filled her lungs.
Her body was already trembling, but it wasn’t from fear.
The lack of food and water was finally taking its toll on her.
Her healing had also slowed significantly, and she deduced it was because of the lack of sustenance her body was getting.
They were coming now to ask her the same questions and receive the same answers.
A single set of footsteps echoed in the silent room, approaching her.
“Can you stand?” The voice was unfamiliar, pulling her gaze up to the man.
Nearly identical features to Illyan stared back at her, filling her with a sliver of hope.
Striking dark purple eyes were shrouded in perfect pale skin.
His silver hair was precisely the same length and shimmered.
The difference, which told her it wasn’t Illyan, was his broad shoulders and muscular frame.
That, and the wings that sprawled from his back.
This was the first time she had ever seen their Fae wings.
Illyan and Helio had explained that they rarely revealed them due to the danger it posed to their owners.
These wings only grew to such magnitude after thousands of years and could be easily concealed under their armor or clothing until then.
Those who were old enough could hide them, though she wasn’t sure how they did it; Illyan was pretty tight-lipped about that.
The wings before her were the exact structure and shape of a dragonfly. Long, and he had four of them; two sets that protruded on either side. They were shades of purple and yellow, which was a striking contrast to his all-black attire.
“Yes.” She finally responded but didn’t move.
“Good. Get up.” He slipped a key into the barred door and swung it open. His hand was extended, and she knew this would not be the savior she had hoped for.
“Do not touch her.” Came the voice from the cell closest to her, once again. He had not spoken to her since the first day she had arrived. His voice was still as emotionless as it had been on that day. “I swear, on the Mother, I will destroy you.”
She couldn’t understand why he was trying to protect her.
The Fae turned then and narrowed his eyes in that direction. She still couldn’t see anyone in their cages. The shroud of darkness never lifted, and her eyes never truly adjusted.
“You worsen your punishment, fool,” the man declared, his tone promising rather than threatening. “For what? A woman you will never touch.”
“Please,” Azahara interjected, drawing his attention.
“He is delusional. He has been speaking nonsense since I got here. I’ll come.
” While his eyes had turned from her, his hand remained extended, so she slipped her own into it.
She struggled to stand but did so with every ounce of willpower she had left.
The chains around her wrists fell immediately, producing a loud clank as they hit the ground.
“You will suffer, Jaakobai,” the man said as she was escorted out and down the hall. “All of you will for this.”
A pit formed in her stomach. “Jaakobai.” She said his name without wanting to. “You are—”
“Illyan’s father.” She tried to keep her breathing steady as he changed the hand that held hers and placed one behind her back, guiding her towards the stairs. “I want to apologize for my father’s actions toward you.” As he began to walk up the stairs, she halted.
He looked back at her. “Do I need to carry you?” His voice was smooth and velvety, hiding the darkness behind it. Illyan and their great-grandfather described him as a seductive serpent that lured his prey into his web of deceit. Behind the facade of a caring Fae lay a monster.
“No...” She lifted her leg to take a step but clipped her toe, as if it were too strenuous to raise it far enough.
She would have fallen forward, but Jaakobai steadied her. His arm was across her chest, holding her by the arm. He didn’t ask this time and lifted her into a cradled position. She looked up at him as he ascended the stairs, a smile gracing his beautiful face.
“I am curious about what my son has told you about me,” he said, meeting her gaze.
“He has told me nothing about you, but then again, he does not talk to me.” There was a humorless smile on his face.
“Nevertheless, I think we both have something each other needs. We can get to know each other better while discussing business.” He readjusted her, changing his hold, and the sudden fear of falling caused her to put an arm around his back.
She didn’t say anything. Everything she wanted, he would not provide; there was no doubt in her mind. All she wanted was the freedom to return to Kaed and take Illyan.
“I bet you’re hungry.” The suggestion of food made her stomach growl, and he gave a low, rumbling chuckle. Her eyes burned; the threat of tears hit her like a ton of bricks.
It wasn’t from hunger, but from the fact that he was laughing at her. The humiliation she had endured, being naked and tortured, was nothing compared to being cradled like a child and laughed at.
Her hands trembled, and she felt her breathing becoming frantic. “I’ll feed you.”
As they reached the top of the stairs and began walking through a brightly lit hall, she closed her eyes and nestled between the curve of his arm and chest. The warmth she felt then warmed her ice-cold skin, immediately relaxing her.
Her body slowly seemed to melt and sway, and even her arm, which had been behind Jaakobai, loosened and hung free.
She attempted to open her eyes but quickly shut them; the light was too bright. It upset her not to be able to watch where they were going.
At some point, she would escape. Knowing where she would need to run would be essential. For now, she’d remember the directions he was taking her and hope that it was to the dining room, where she could eat and regain some strength.
They ascended another flight of stairs, turned down several corridors, and went up several more stairs before a door opened and closed behind them. Jaakobai released her legs then, assisting her down to her feet. She steadied herself before slowly opening her eyes.
There was no smell of food, just the scent of roses and lavender. When her eyes eventually adjusted, she quickly realized she had not been brought to a dining hall, or any public place for that matter. Instead, she was in a bedroom, and if she had to guess, it was his.
She scanned the room, taking in the massive bed with dark blue dressings.
The walls were black, with silver accents and tapestry designs throughout the room.
A large window let in the bright sunlight, illuminating the aesthetically dark space.
Opposite the bed was a sitting area with a single chair and a small, rounded table.
In the corner was a bath, which immediately reminded her of the one back at the Idle Fox, causing pain to rip through her chest.
“I want you to get cleaned up while I get you some food.” His voice was demanding, and she shuddered under its pull.
He crossed the room before her and opened the window. The smell of fresh flowers and grass immediately filled the space. “There is a dress in the wardrobe for you. Be in it when I return.” He then made his way back to her, standing before her.
She swallowed before lifting her gaze to his.
Jaakobai put his hand up to her neck. His soft skin, like silk, caressed the underside of her jaw.
“Just so you know—he leaned down towards her—“whatever Illyan and Helio said about me…” He smiled, and she saw the malice between the lines of his lips, causing her lip to tremble involuntarily. Her eyes burned, and tears welled. “Was far too kind. So, do not try to run. Do as commanded, and I promise it won’t be so bad.”
Then his nails bit into her skin as he choked her, causing a yelp to escape her lips. “Do you understand?”
“Y-Yes—” Before she could bring her hand up to fight his, he retreated, stepping away.
“Wonderful. See, obedience will be so much better for you.” It was an enthusiastic merit, and she swore he was going to clap, but he didn’t. “Be back shortly.”
He circled around her and exited the room, leaving behind the haunting echo of laughter in her ears.
She never thought she would miss the cell walls and the cold floor, yet here she was. Looking around at her surroundings, she only wanted to be back there, alone. This room was too warm, overpowering her senses.
Hot tears rolled down her cheeks. Had she always suffered like this and never written it in her journals? Because she would never write this. There would be no way she could relive this if she survived and was able to escape.
Her knees trembled, threatening to give way, but she summoned all her strength. Regardless of Jaakobai’s intentions, she yearned to cleanse herself of the filth that clung to her skin. Every trace of urine and feces seemed to mar her body, and her hair felt like a rat’s nest.
Taking a deep breath to steady herself, she crossed the room and followed his instructions.
It was a lot to hope for, but at this point, her strength was all she had left.
She clung to the hope of turning this situation in her favor, a glimmer of light in the darkness, and the chance to free herself and Illyan from their cages.