27. Chapter 27
27
I awoke to the sound of curtains flying open and shards of sunlight piercing my closed eyes, jarring me awake with painful squints. A growl escaped my lips as Levon came into view, already dressed in a tight white tunic and long brown pants.
"Morning, my Regina," he greeted, kissing my forehead. I reluctantly sat up; my eyes were struggling to stay open, and I wanted to crawl back into bed. "Get up and dressed in your training attire. We're going for a run and some practice before the tailor arrives."
I shot him a confused look, my groggy mind struggling to process his words.
"A tailor?" I groaned, standing up and suddenly realizing I was only in my underthings. My face flushed red as Levon promptly turned around with a smirk.
I quickly reached for my pants and shirt, slipping them on with haste.
A devilish smile curled his lips as he looked over his shoulder.
"Don't you dare," I hissed as he turned back around right as I finished pulling my top down. I cursed at him, prompting him to step closer to me before quickly pivoting toward the lounging room.
"I'm not quite sure what I most enjoy you in," he purred, grabbing an apple from one of the side tables. He paused before fully exiting, "And yes, a tailor will be here to make you the grandest spectacle there ever was, though I'm not sure you could be quite as grand as you are in your nightwear," he teased, swiftly disappearing out the door right as my shoe hit the wall behind him.
The grandest spectacle.
A prize.
I inhaled deeply, letting the room's sweet scents of lemon and lavender calm my racing heart.
How was I supposed to face the king and thousands of others? How was I supposed to be something that I was not?
I walked over to the large golden vanity, running a comb through my tangled hair, evidence of my long and restless night. Salt stains marked my cheeks and neck as last night's haunting dream flooded back into my mind. My voice felt raw from repeatedly calling out to Levon, Kaizen, Calum—anyone to rescue me from the encroaching darkness that enveloped every inch of my cold, aching body.
I could still feel the phantom weight of the manacles on my ankles, wrists, and neck, the screeching and gurgling sounds echoing from the other side of the dark cell where I remained trapped. No shadowy figure could be seen, but its presence lingered; that thing—that creature with its milky white eyes snarling toward me.
I halted my thoughts before they could delve any deeper.
Control it.
Inhale.
It was only a dream.
Exhale.
A dream from them.
I hastily wove my hair into a messy coronet, a far cry from its usual neatness, but I welcomed the distraction to keep my mind from racing. I yearned to move, to run, to feel the weight of a sword in my hand or the impact of my knuckles against something solid.
I pushed the door open and found Levon seated at the large table, fiddling with the apple core. The lingering aroma of last night's dinner spices still hung in the air, a reminder of our late return well past midnight.
I grabbed a handful of blueberries, peeled a banana, and approached the door. Levon rose to his feet, following after me with a knowing smile. "So eager, hm?"
"I need a distraction," I confessed.
A smirk tugged at his lips as he raised his brows. I rolled my eyes even as a wildfire of sparks danced up my spine and ignited within my chest.
I quickened my pace down the hall and descended the grand staircase into the courtyard.
He started jogging toward the left side of the castle, and I followed suit. We ran along the castle's edge, circled the garden, and took a path leading to a hill scattered with trees and shrubs. My legs burned as we climbed the hill, but I welcomed the physical exertion, letting it distract me from my thoughts. I pushed myself harder, feeling my lungs squeeze with each exhale. The sun hovered just above the horizon, though its heat caused sweat to bead along my hairline.
Just as we neared the top, Levon suddenly swerved to the side, blocking my path, and unexpectedly tackled me to the ground, knocking the air from my lungs. I cursed as he let out a laugh. Our limbs tangled, and we rolled back down the hill. I shoved him to the side and dug my heels into the ground as my foot found purchase.
"Are you insane?" I yelled, anger coursing through me, making my already burning body feel even hotter. I rubbed my arm, already swelling with a bruise from the fall.
"Make it to the top, you win," he rasped, catching his breath. "Don't make it to the top, I win." He flashed me a devilish grin, squaring himself in front of me.
"What do I get when I win?" I breathed, hoping to distract him long enough to sneak around him.
His grin widened as he opened his mouth to respond, but I bolted to his side, shoving his muscled arm away.
A laugh bubbled from his lips as I dug my feet into the crisp ground, hauling myself up and forward. He lunged, grabbing hold of my right ankle and sending me sprawling to the ground. Quickly catching myself, I whipped my left leg toward him, and he barely dodged my boot aimed at his pretty face.
Trying to retreat, I stomped on his arm with my leg. Despite it all, he kept smiling. "How are you going to escape?" he taunted, still holding tight to my ankle.
"Not by having a conversation," I spat, throwing myself back down the hill, quickly twisting my body so that Levon lost his grip and tumbled after me. I found my footing swiftly and darted diagonally toward the right side of the hill. A laugh burst from my lungs as I glanced back at him chasing me, pumping his arms as quickly as mine. I abruptly changed direction and headed straight up, my legs screaming in agony with each push against the ground as I neared the top of the hill.
"Give up?" I hollered, looking back to see him only steps behind me right as I collided with a solid body and was knocked to the ground.
My vision blurred as I saw the familiar end of a leather cloak flicker into view. Two hands pinned me down, and I saw Kaizen's smirking face above me.
"Took you long enough," Levon panted, looking down at me with a smile. Beside him, Kaizen's amber eyes sparkled with pure enjoyment at seeing me pinned beneath him. I wiggled under his grasp, but Kaizen only held tighter.
"Seems like you've been caught, orphan," he mused.
I pursed my lips at him with a snarl, demanding he let go, but he only smiled.
"You're still a cheat," I barked at Levon, who walked up the last of the hill, effectively winning.
"Find your way out," Kaizen growled, still pinning me to the ground.
I grunted, feeling frustration bubbling within me, and strained against his weight, attempting to free my hands from beneath him.
"Free yourself," he barked, his eyes ablaze with a feverish passion.
With my legs partially free and my head clear, I quickly surveyed my surroundings, noting that I was still slanted on the hill, my head positioned lower than my legs.
Gritting my teeth, I dug my heels into the dirt, feeling the earth give slightly beneath me. I braced myself, preparing to use the force of my momentum to throw him off.
With a determined grunt, I continued to wiggle and squirm beneath him, putting on a convincing display of resistance despite the weight pressing down on me.
"Do it, Eliah!" he yelled just as I hoisted myself up and twisted, sinking my teeth into his forearm.
He cursed and hissed as his coppery blood filled my mouth. At that same moment, his weight shifted, and I clutched his arms, throwing all my weight into him and sending us both rolling down the hill. He finally let go as we tumbled forcefully down the hill.
A laugh escaped him as we tumbled to the bottom, lying on the ground and gazing at the bright blue sky scattered with fluffy clouds. Our breaths were staggered, but a sense of comradery settled between us.
Levon came running, his white tunic damp with sweat clinging to his chest. His bright smile emerged as he reached me.
"One day, I might let you win," he teased, chuckling as he hoisted me up. Kaizen was still lying on the ground, and the smile from moments ago vanished as he quickly rose. He started up the hill to retrieve his fallen cloak, clutching his blood-spattered arm.
His gaze met mine, a fire burning in his eyes—whether it was anger or acceptance, I couldn't tell.
"You'll pay for that," he asserted through gritted teeth.
I scoffed with a smirk and turned toward Levon, pushing his shoulder playfully. "You'll always be a cheat," I quipped, wiping Kaizen's blood from my mouth.
Levon grinned at me and headed back up the hill. "Let's do some real training now," he suggested. Energized by the sun's rays, I followed after him, ready to win.
My arms and shoulders ached from the continuous jabs and hook maneuvers, followed by a ruthless leg and arm workout that left me reeling on the ground, allowing the hot sun to soak up my sweat. Kaizen left quickly once practice started, only scanning the surrounding area as he stayed hidden within the tree's edge, then disappeared into the woods themselves.
We stopped our battle play once several carriages pulled to the front gates, deeming it time to hurry back inside to freshen me up for measurements.
The tailor was almost a head shorter than me, with eyes that seemed too big for his narrow face. He was balding, with only a handful of black hair that wrapped around the back of his head, peppered with gray.
He helped me onto the small podium and promptly began taking my measurements, turning me around before he held up an outline of a dress with an air of disdain, poking me purposefully as I wiggled under his hold. He gave Levon a pointed look through his bushy eyebrows, hoping he might exert some influence over me, but only initiating an airy laugh from Levon.
I glanced at myself in the large mirror, remembering the last time I had a fitting. A few years ago, Calum had surprised me with new training attire, which inevitably earned him a few lashes from Jesri for using his money on me. As a result, Jesri threw out all my old training clothes, leaving me with no choice but to train in dresses until the new attire arrived.
"Hold still for just one moment," the tailor said, walking toward a table adorned with several pins, fabrics, frilly things, and lace. I kept my arms out wide, watching him gather items at the table reflected in the mirror.
"Sir Alder," he said, motioning for Levon to join him at the table. Levon gave me a quick wink before standing next to the tailor, towering over him much as Edmon towered over Levon. I stifled a laugh at the sight, eagerly awaiting to see what the tailor would bring over next.
"Eliah?" Levon said, returning to me. The tailor was holding a variety of colors, from dark blues to bright yellows, greens, and inky blacks.
"The tailor, Mr. Illeu, suggests a purple for royalty," Levon stated as the tailor held up a vibrant purple fabric that caught the light beautifully. Levon's eyes gleamed with a different idea. "But I suggest a crimson color for your passion, courage, and strength," he suggested.
The tailor displayed a luscious crimson fabric that almost shimmered in the light. "Perhaps we could also incorporate some complementary colors—gold, perhaps, with touches of white or black?" Mr. Illeu suggested, glancing at Levon, who then turned his questioning eyes to me.
"The crimson," I decided, slowly lowering my aching arms. Mr. Illeu eyed me, and I quickly propped them back up.
"Crimson it is," Mr. Illeu declared, walking back to the table of fabrics.
Levon walked back to my side, his presence comforting. "Red compliments you better," he whispered, sitting back on the sofa with a satisfied smile.
Mr. Illeu returned to my side and moved swiftly, measuring and noting, his hands working expertly with the chosen crimson silk fabric. He finished his last measurements before undoing all the pins and freeing me.
We exchanged thanks with the tailor before heading back to my rooms. The day had progressed well into the afternoon, and a nervous flutter danced in my stomach as I contemplated the challenges ahead. Facing the king, meeting the other contestants, dealing with Jesri and Calum. And then there was the looming prospect of being shown off like a prized horse, hoping desperately that no one in the Onyx Market caught any clues about who the Spellcasters were searching for.
Lost in my worries, I didn't realize I had stopped on the stairwell until Levon placed a comforting hand on my back, stirring me out of my trance. I looked up to see his saddened eyes, reflecting the weight of similar thoughts.
"You can do this, Eliah," he said, his voice carrying reassurance and concern.
I took a calming breath and accepted his outstretched arm, letting him guide me back to my rooms to wash and prepare for tonight. The gravity of the impending events pressed down on me, making each step feel heavier than the last.
We walked in silence until we reached the grand arched door, which seemed to be made for giants.
"I'm required to attend a sponsor meeting here soon, where we will find out more details about this Match. Once I get word Jesri's here, I'll send Aoife up to help you get ready," he said, his voice solemn with a regretful tone as if he wished he could stay by my side. He took my hands, holding them tenderly. "We should keep our distance for now," he apologized. His expression was heavy with sadness as he gently kissed my cheek, his touch lingering for a moment longer before pulling away.
I closed my eyes, trying to hold onto the fleeting moment of comfort, the sensation of his lips against my skin. When I opened them again, all that remained was the echo of his departing footsteps as he left me alone with my thoughts, the weight of his absence settling heavily upon me. With a heavy heart, I pushed open the doors to my chambers, steeling myself for the challenges ahead.
Lunch was laid out on the large table, and an array of small tea sandwiches were surrounded by sides of smothered vegetables, sugared fruits, and an assortment of confections. I sat in silence, mechanically taking bites of food, each morsel a futile attempt to quell the rising tide of anxiety within me. Doubt gnawed at the edges of my mind, leaving me uncertain if I could go through with the Match.
Throughout my life, others have always dictated what I should do and who I would become, but they have never acknowledged my soul.
The flame hidden within me rattled, stunning me to the core and zinging the air around me with electricity that seemed to dance on my fingertips. I sucked in a breath, quieting my anxieties but feeling every nerve ending in my body on edge, pulsating with an intensity that threatened to overwhelm me. I expanded my lungs, inhaling the sweet air, desperately trying to ground myself amidst the tumult of emotions and sensations that surged within me.
As I sat at the table, the amount of food before me only added to my frustration. Without thinking, I seized a bag and hastily filled it with the remaining food. Racing to my trunk, I grabbed another bag and stuffed it with clothes and a soft blanket from the large closet, hoping it wouldn't be missed.
Without a second thought, I slung the bags over my shoulder and stormed out the door, taking the same back stairwell that Levon and I had used the night before. Emerging onto the bustling city streets, I felt a surge of determination coursing through my veins, hoping to remember my steps to find that poor mother. The sun arched in the sky as I navigated through the tangled alleys. I stopped often and distributed food to anyone I encountered, offering warm words and as much comfort as possible.
Finally, I arrived at the small alcove where I had last seen the mother and her children. I found no trace of them besides the remnants of their things and took in my surroundings. A broken chair leaned against the corner, a makeshift shelter fashioned from thick clothing hung from a loose brick to the other side of the small corner, and a scatter of worn clothes, shoes, a rusty plate, and a wooden bucket. Without hesitation, I unloaded the bags, arranged the clothes and blanket within the cloth shelter, and placed the bag of food on the chair. I lingered for several moments longer, wishing she would return, but as I watched the sun dip lower in the sky, reality set back in, knowing what awaited me.
With a heavy heart, I turned away, retracing my steps and passing by those I had given food to, their expressions of gratitude still echoing in my mind. As I reached the final secluded alleyway leading to the castle's edge, I imagined the mother's face upon discovering the clothes, blanket, and food. A pang of longing tugged at my heart, and I wished I could see her again, learn her name, and offer support.
My thoughts drifted back to the present, to the daunting reality of what was transpiring with my fate in all this madness.
I sighed, listening to my boots scrape against the stone when my vision began to blur right as an oily darkness washed over me like a crashing wave, engulfing me in its suffocating embrace and pulling me deeper and deeper into a pressurized abyss.
I felt my muscles tensing and convulsing, unable to lift my hand as my legs gave out, and I fell to the ground with a sharp jolt that sent a wave of pain shooting through my left shoulder. Memories began to blur and rush past, fleeting and fragmented, each a painful reminder of my tortured past.
Agony erupted in my head, washing over me with so much pressure, worming its way through the ruts of my mind. Darkness scraped at my vision as I fought against it, feeling a sizzling fire within me recoil and squirm under its oily touch. I tried to scream but was consumed and plunged into a realm where I was no longer in control.
Their rotting touch was more evil than before, crawling up my body, ready to consume every inch of me as I thrashed against it.
Control it, Eliah, because that will be all you have left.
The memories stopped for a fraction of a second, sending ripples throughout my seizing body as fear crept and licked at every ounce of my soul. I gasped in terror, but no sound escaped my open mouth as I lay paralyzed in my own body.
You must let it happen.
The fear gripped me tighter like crashing waves threatening to consume me, driving me to flee blindly from its suffocating grasp and sensing its spidery tendrils chasing me into the deepest recesses of my mind.
Focus on what it feels like.
More memories surged, a relentless onslaught threatening to overwhelm me with its oily and wicked grasp. Amidst the tempest, a fleeting image emerged from my childhood of tranquil woods bathed in the gentle light of dawn. I seized the happy memory with desperate determination, refusing to surrender any further. I honed in on the sensory details—the fragrant aroma of flowering trees and the delicate caress of spring air against my skin.
Light surged, colliding with the oppressive darkness and forcing it to recede, pushing the haunting memories further away as it scraped my mind, sending pain crashing down my body.
Channel your anger.
I harnessed the roaring energy of my wrath, feeling it burn deep in my core, and allowed it to swell within me. Every ounce of anger fueled the blaze until it consumed me entirely, sucking all sensation with it. With a blinding flash of light, a cavity sliced through the veil of the dark abyss, revealing the cobbled alleyway and the distant glow of the castle before me. I screamed out against the encroaching darkness, feeling its oily tendrils rake across my body, but I pushed back harder against the pressure. My anger slashed through the darkness, deepening the cavity until it sizzled and shrank into its final icy breath, receding completely before finally ceasing.
I snapped back into control, tasting coppery blood swell in my mouth, and gasping for hot air for the first time in what felt like hours.
Weakness engulfed my trembling limbs as they slowly tingled back to life. Through a hollow tunnel, the city's sounds slowly filtered back into my consciousness. Despite the lingering throb in my head, I focused my mind to let the city chatter awaken me.
Tears blurred my vision, streaming down my cheeks unchecked, as I cried out into the empty air, uncertain if my words were mere whispers or anguished cries or if I said anything at all. With each passing moment, the sun sank lower, casting long shadows that seemed to mirror the depths of my despair, knowing I could be killed for not showing. The weight of my predicament pressed down on me, suffocating any semblance of hope.
Gasping for air, I struggled to steady my erratic breaths. The cool touch of the evening breeze offered a fleeting reprieve from the turmoil as I lay paralyzed against the cold stone. I gulped a few more deep breaths, forcing myself to settle and wait, scolding myself for venturing out here alone.
Click.
The sound shattered the silence, sending a bolt of fear coursing through my veins.
Click, click.
I held my breath, trying to hear where each click was coming from but each click echoed off the walls like a countdown to some unspeakable horror.
Cllliiick.
A cold chill gripped me as I felt a soft touch brush against my skin, icy fingers of terror tracing patterns of dread across my flesh. I dared not move, praying desperately that it was merely the chatter of insects crawling home for the night.
Click.
Tears filled my eyes as I slowly turned toward the source of the sound, my heart pounding so hard it echoed in my ears like a death knell. A slithering scrape grew louder, echoing off the alley walls with a sinister resonance as if it were announcing the arrival of something far more terrifying than any nightmare.
With trembling limbs, I blinked through my tears, my body aching as I struggled against the paralysis, desperate to move my arms. A dark creature swayed from side to side, creeping closer with each slow, high-pitched click. I blinked harder, and as the beast came into full view, a wave of terror crashed over me, sinking deep into my soul.
Its black, writhing form was like a grotesque and monstrous centipede that came from the depths of a nightmare. Each shaft of its body twisted and swayed unnaturally. Jagged, contorted legs—long and skeletal—ripped into the ground with razor-sharp claws, dragging its huge body forward with a slow, deliberate scrape. Every inch it moved sent a fresh wave of terror through me, as though its twisted form was a living embodiment of dread itself.
I whimpered as the creature crept closer. Its eyes were empty black voids, completely devoid of light, and its gaping mouth dominated its twisted face. The back of its body tapered into a thin, narrow end, where a bloody stinger jutted out. Waves of terror surged through my trembling body, my heart pounding furiously in my chest. Desperately, I cried out for help, my voice hoarse and frantic, as the horrifying realization hit me: this was a Breva.
"Help! " I screamed, the words torn from my throat in a desperate cry for salvation. But the alley remained eerily silent, save for the sinister clicking of the creature and its thick body slithering against the ground.
My senses flickered in and out as the world spun around me in a dizzying blur. I shouted as I fought to reclaim control, feeling the tendrils of darkness of Their presence taunt me.
A shout rang out behind me, bouncing off the alley walls, followed by the rapid sound of footsteps racing toward the Breva. I stared in horror as the creature hesitated, its movements faltering. Then, with a piercing, high-pitched squeal, it jerked violently as a flash of steel sliced through the air, severing its stinger with a sickening crunch. Black blood sprayed from the wound, splattering across the cobblestones in dark, oily streaks.
"Kaizen," I whimpered out, my voice barely a whisper as my arms slowly tingled back to life. I began dragging myself away from the gruesome scene, the eerie black blood splattering around me like a morbid painting. The clicking sound of the Breva filled the air, turning my bowels watery.
With a swift, deadly grace, Kaizen sprang into action like a silent guardian among the carnage of horror. He leaped off one wall, using its momentum to propel himself toward the Breva's grotesque form, his sword slicing through the air with lethal precision, finding its mark in the creature's flesh. It emitted a blood-curdling sound followed by fast, unrhythmic clicks.
As the sensation returned to my legs and upper body, I sat, urgently slapping my legs to recover faster. I glanced at Kaizen, now bathed in the creature's dark blood, his cloak now tattered as the monster squirmed chaotically under his hold and charged straight for me.
Kaizen's amber eyes burned with vibrancy through the dark blood smeared across his face as he drove the sword deeper, putting his full weight into the thrust. The Breva let out a guttural shriek, its mouth gaping wide, and it slammed its body into the unforgiving stone wall with bone-crushing force. The impact drove Kaizen into the wall, piercing the sword through the creature more. Kaizen swiftly leaped off its trunk, driving the sword up its writhing body and through its skull, raining us with its blood and building a cacophony of nightmarish sounds. Its body slumped in a pool of its own blood, cut in two from the waist up.
The stench of copper hung heavy in the air, mingling with a sickening rancid odor that threatened to overwhelm my senses. I retched violently, emptying the contents of my stomach until I was left dry heaving, my body wracked with involuntary convulsions. Gasping for air as Kaizen approached, his eyes ablaze with an enraged fury that pierced even through the darkness.
His teeth were bared in a feral snarl and his eyes blazed with such intense rage that it seemed he might strike me down. Yet, despite the murderous fury reflected in his gaze, he lifted me effortlessly and cradled me in his powerful arms. As he held me tightly against him, his bloodied body trembled with a sudden, profound sense of relief that seemed to flow through him, mingling with adrenaline and a worrying sense of dread of what could have been.
With each step, the world around me became a blur, the pounding of my heart drowning out all other sounds except Kaizen's beating heart. As he carried me away from the scene of horror, I counted each comforting beat, trying to center my thoughts away from such raw and tangible fear.
"Don't let it win," Kaizen whispered urgently into my ear, his voice trembling with desperation as the darkness closed in, threatening to consume me. "Stay with me. Fight it." The weight of the void pressed in, too overwhelming and heavy for me to resist. I surrendered to its cold embrace, slipping into unconsciousness as Kaizen's desperate pleas faded into distant echoes.