CHAPTER 21 AILEEN
CHAPTER 21
AILEEN
With the gala event less than two weeks away, I should’ve been in full concentration mode. Not only was this the largest event of the Atalon League, but it was the most prestigious annual event in the art community. Everyone who was anyone in the art world would be there. Unfortunately, my concentration went out the window, with thoughts of Ragnor and Isora circling in my head.
Ragnor, invading my space and yet listening when I told him to back off to prove his sincerity.
Isora, whom I was helpless to help.
From memorizing every piece of art that was going to be exhibited to knowing the names and faces of all artists and compiling essays upon essays of notes and interpretations about each artwork, I’d tried everything in order to focus on my tasks, but my head and heart weren’t in it. I was just going through the motions as my mind fled elsewhere.
Every night, despite managing to fall asleep due to the pure exhaustion of trying to do my job while fighting my turbulent thoughts, I experienced the worst nightmares I’d had in many years.
In some of the nightmares, I was dressed in those all-covering black clothes, with Isora sucking my blood, laughing at me, taunting me, and Eleanor, Oz, and Atalon right next to her, looking at me with disgust.
In other nightmares, Ragnor was walking away from me once he saw me surrounded by dead, tiny bodies.
But the worst nightmares were of that house by the river, with the staircases leading down to the basement. I dreamed that I was taking those steps one by one, hearing the familiar screams beckoning me, drawing me in. And when I finally reached the room, it was Isora dangling from the ceiling, her wrists and ankles shackled, begging me to save her as my father’s arms wrapped around her from behind.
And those nightmares always ended with Isora’s screams echoing in my head as I woke up, the smell of sickening smoke filling my nose.
To say the days passed peacefully would be a lie. Those nightmares haunted me during the days too. I might’ve been busy, but the nightmares lingered in the back of my mind, as if they were trying to remind me how bad of a person I was.
As if I didn’t know that already.
A week after Ragnor left the Atalon League, I found myself walking to Atalon’s office, a stack of papers in hand. I was running an errand for Zion, who’d become so busy with preparations for the gala, he barely had time to tutor me anymore. That meant he left all kinds of odd tasks to me, the most junior guide under his wing.
I hadn’t seen Atalon since our visit to Isora, for which I’d been glad. I was in no shape or form to face him and the truths he’d revealed to me about how he was conducting certain affairs in his League—and between himself and Ragnor. To be honest, just thinking of him made my blood boil.
It wasn’t just about what he did to Isora either. It was the fact that by dating me, he wanted to stick it to Ragnor.
When I arrived at his office, Atalon was on the phone. He motioned for me to enter, and I did, then closed the door behind me before I walked toward his desk. Once I put down the stack of papers, I sat and waited.
Atalon’s eyes seemed questioning, but he didn’t tell me to leave. Instead, he said into the phone, “Then see to it as soon as you can,” before he hung up and turned to me. “What can I help you with, Aileen?”
His voice was so strictly business, it took me a moment to organize my thoughts. No more being friendly, I see. “I want to talk to you about something. It won’t take long.”
Atalon clicked on his computer keyboard, and the monitor blinked. He seemed to be checking something before he turned to me and nodded. “I have ten minutes until my next meeting.”
If anyone else had said that, I wouldn’t have thought twice about it. But Atalon’s tone indicated that he was making a great deal of effort to give me these ten minutes. His eyes showed me such a lofty self-importance that it obviously had been some sort of an attempt at manipulation.
It almost made me smile. Almost. “Thank you so much for your graciousness,” I drawled, not bothering to hide the mockery in my tone. That made Atalon’s eyes narrow. “Anyway, first things first. I would like to know how you knew about Lord Rayne and me.”
Atalon leaned back and looked at me, gaze calculating. He was done pretending with me that he was anything but a sociopath, it seemed. “I thought we’re already over it.” His lips stretched into a cold smile. “Does it even matter at this point?”
I folded my arms. “I’m here talking to you about it,” I retorted curtly. “So obviously it matters.”
He chuckled, and it was such a mechanical sound, it made me tense. “Fine, then,” he said, smirking now. “I know how Rayne feels about you. I knew it since that time you came to visit my League during the field trip.”
Oh. “That’s it?”
He cocked his head. “Is that not enough of an answer for you?”
No, it’s not, I wanted to say but decided to focus on another matter. “Then next question. What do I need to do for you to release Isora from her current job?”
I’d been sitting on this question ever since I visited Isora. It was true that I was powerless to help her as I was now, but there was still some hope. Atalon liked bargaining. Perhaps I could do something for him, and in return, he would let Isora go.
It was far fetched, but it was better than nothing.
Atalon’s eyes flashed with interest. “That’s quite the offer, Aileen,” he said, his grin turning as sharp as a shark’s teeth. “However, I’m not sure you’re up for what I have in mind.”
“Try me,” I said boldly.
And when he answered, I realized just how boldly. “If Isora’s removed from the feeding room, then it means we’ll need a replacement.” He chuckled now. “Ah, Aileen, you should see your face. Well, that’s the only offer I can give you.” He shrugged, his snakelike eyes gleaming sinisterly. “A life for a life.”
It made sense when he put it so casually like that, but in truth, it was an evil deal. A devil’s bargain. Curling my hands into fists, I grated out, “Isn’t there anything else I can do?”
His grin widened, making him look almost monstrous. “I see your love for your friend only extends that far.”
I jolted, feeling as though he’d physically hit me. “It doesn’t have to be this way,” I said quietly, trying to keep an even voice despite how shaken up inside I was. “I can be of assistance in thousands of different ways.”
“Yes, you can.” Atalon nodded. “But in the end, I’m the one who makes the rules, and what I say goes. This is my one and only offer.” He paused. “Take it or leave it.”
I rose to my feet and glared at him. “I thought you wanted us to join forces,” I hissed.
“I did, yes,” he said, his awful smile still intact. “And while I still do, the only way I want to do this is by you letting me have you. It’s nonnegotiable.”
Meaning I couldn’t bargain Isora for this. He only wanted me to the extent of hurting Ragnor and nothing else. “You’re despicable,” I spat out.
“Be careful, Aileen,” he said as I showed him my back and strode to the door. “I can easily decide that instead of an offer, it’s an order.”
I threw the door open and gave him one last glare before storming out, slamming the door shut behind me.
My nails were in tatters. I’d been chewing and nibbling on them for the past few hours as I tried to calm myself down.
Because in two days, the gala event would happen.
And I wasn’t ready.
Not when Isora was still stuck in that room, with all those vampires feasting on her blood until she would have no Lifeblood left.
Not when Ragnor’s absence had left such a large hole in my chest, a hole I was desperate to avoid, to deny, but left me feeling as if a lifeline I didn’t know I needed had just disappeared.
But now the gala was almost here, and I felt so lost, I couldn’t deal with it.
For the mere three years I’d had freedom, I’d learned how to keep myself busy and satisfied, to a certain extent. The worst problem I’d had back then was whether I could afford the yearly raise in rent. Other problems I solved by using my smarts and wits.
But just as it had been when Ragnor had given me the Imprint, my problems were out of my control.
I wasn’t ranked high enough in the hierarchy to help Isora—unless I sold my soul to Atalon.
Even when it came to my relationship with Ragnor, I felt like any semblance of control I might’ve had disappeared. Because against my better judgment, against everything I’d promised myself, I could feel him pounding down the walls I put around my heart with far too strong a bludgeon.
There was nothing I could do about any of it, and the helplessness caused my anxiety to spike to new levels.
The night before the gala, I was pulled into the dream of the purple-skied field of wilted grass again.
With everything that had been happening with Isora, Ragnor, and Atalon, I hadn’t had the chance to practice my time-stopping powers at all. In fact, it had been the last thing on my mind.
That, and the fact I’d met Eliza in real life and learned she was acquainted with Ragnor. His “friend,” as she said herself.
Rising to my feet in the midst of the field, I looked around me, but to my surprise, I didn’t find Eliza to be there. Instead, there was something like a torn notebook page resting on the wilted grass near me. Frowning, I picked it up and read.
Aileen—
I haven’t been honest with you before, but I have my reasons. Just as you have your reasons not to reveal the nature of your powers to me.
You must be angry with me for not telling you about my relationship with Ragnor Rayne. You may find my reason a bit lacking, but the truth is, I wanted to get to know you without involving anyone else. You are important to him, you know. Too important.
Nevertheless, I won’t be visiting you again. I think I gave you the basics and the direction to find out how to control your powers from now on. Rest assured, I told none of it to Ragnor, or anyone else, for that matter. Your Sacred status is safe with me.
Next time we meet, I hope it won’t be as enemies.
Take care,
E.
And just as abruptly as she appeared in my life, Eliza disappeared.