14. Emilia
Chapter 14
Emilia
M y head is aching, and there is a consistent pulse behind my eyes. Pain radiates down my side. My eyelids are heavy, so much that I’m not sure I’ll get them open. As my consciousness comes trickling back to me, I can hear the trotting of hooves on dirt. I must be in a carriage. Or maybe the back of a wagon. Whatever I am lying on drops down, and my shoulder goes with it, hitting the wooden floor hard. Definitely a wagon. I groan at the pain that runs up my arm. The bump in the road shook away the fog that was clouding my mind, and I finally open my eyes. It’s dark out. The only light I can see is a faint light coming from in front of me, right beside the person driving the wagon. I try to push to sit up and realize my hands are bound. I pull my feet, and my feet are also bound. How long have I been unconscious? I wiggle a little bit to get my elbow underneath me. Pushing myself up inch by inch, I finally get to a sitting position, which feels much better on my sore arm.
“Well, look who decided to join the living.” I startle at the voice, causing a squeak of surprise to leave me. The sudden jolt sends a burning pain down into my lungs, reminding me of when Rian choked me using his magic. Looking around frantically, I see Rian sitting on the side of the wagon. The head to toe black he wears helps him fade into the darkness, which is why I didn’t see him originally.
“You were right Darsis, she woke up sooner than I expected.” A grunt from the front draws my eyes to a large figure. It’s hard to tell, but my guess, based on the width of the person’s back and hulking form, is that he’s an Orc. What is an Orc doing with this guy? Rian turns back to me. ” He’s not overly chatty.”
“Can’t imagine why he’d want to talk to you anyway.” My throat sounds raspy, I cough, trying to clear it.
Rian clicks his tongue as he crosses his legs. “You know it’s impolite to insult your host.” His mouth curls into a sinister smile, making me scoot back even though the wall of the wagon is preventing me from moving much farther.
“Right, because tying up your guests is a very hospitable thing to do. What are you afraid of? I’m a human, I can’t fight you.” The Orc, Darsis who is driving the wagon, grunts in agreement with me, which I find odd. I wonder if he said something when Rian tied me up. Perhaps there is some tension between the two that I could use to my advantage. Rian glares at the back of Darsis’ head. I guess that answers that question . Rian’s unnerving stare comes back to me, but I look at him, not daring to flinch. I don’t want to give him the satisfaction of knowing how much he bothers me.
“Purely a safety precaution.” He says it like it makes perfect sense, but truly, what could I do? He is obviously of noble blood, with the ability to take the air from my lungs, indicating his power is capable of keeping me here. Then add to that, there is an Orc within a foot of us, very capable of using his strength to put me down, but maybe Rian doesn’t want to deal with a runaway. A tightness pulls at my chest. It feels like an invisible string is wrapped around my heart and is crushing it. I somehow know that if I follow that feeling, it will lead me right back to Timas. It makes me want to weep. Shaking that thought out of my head, I decide it is better to ask questions and get as much information as I can. Maybe that will help me figure out what to do next.
“You used Sylphina.” It wasn’t a question. It was a statement, and if his facial expression is anything to go on, he’s not going to deny it.
“Oh, Sylphina. Beautiful young girl, but terribly naive. It didn’t take much to have her eating out of my hand. All I really had to do was compliment her, and she was smitten.”
“You used her!” I won’t tell him how unbelievably in love she is. That would give him far too much satisfaction.
“I did.” His smile isn’t one of wistful love but one of pure evil. He liked using her, and it makes my stomach turn. He licks his lips and bores his brown eyes into mine. “She was a tasty treat while I waited for the main event… you .“ A shiver of disgust runs down my arms. Pushing it away, I try to focus on other questions.
“Why even use her at all? It’s obvious you could have gotten into the palace with little issue. Why play with Sylphina’s emotions?” I feel a need to protect Sylphina even though it breaks my heart that she allowed this man such easy access to me.
“Well, she wasn’t necessary to the plan, but when I saw her… let’s just say I like to play with toys, and she was a very good one. So gullible and very easy to please. It wasn’t even that hard to get her to tell me all the secret passageways of the palace or your typical routine. You really ought to pick better staff, especially ones who have direct access to you.” I feel so betrayed. I knew when I had seen him in the hallway that Sylphina made a mistake, but I thought it was young love. I should have been more diligent, but I was clouded by the love I saw in Sylphina’s eyes, and all I wanted was for her to be happy. Sylphina wasn’t the only naive one. I was as well. What was I thinking, being so relaxed with such a breach in security? If I ever get out of this, I will apologize to the guards who told me to report him. I won’t make that mistake again.
“Why? Why do you want me?” Simple enough question, but the answer will tell me all I really need to know.
“Why you? Well, it’s not really you that we want, it’s about who you are to the King. You are the King’s greatest weakness, and he left you so poorly guarded.” He clicks his tongue again as if he’s offended on my behalf. Another bump in the road makes me tip over, and I smash my elbow into the floor. The pain that had finally subsided roars to life in a new part of my arm.
Thankfully, I am able to right myself quickly. “So you’re with the Night Court.”
“Smart girl. I am indeed from the Night Court and your absence will cause so much havoc in Sonas! I can’t wait to watch it all go up in flames.” He sits on the edge of the wagon clapping like some lunatic. If only I could get close enough to kick him off. The likelihood of him being able to fly is high, but it would make me feel better.
“Why not just kill me? What’s the point in keeping me alive?” I really shouldn’t give him that idea.
“You are more valuable alive than you are dead. Sure, your death would have the desired effect, but this way if your little King does find his way to the Night Court, we can keep him at bay with you.” So I’m the shield.
“Timas is going to come for me. You think kidnapping me is going to make him explode in Sonas?” I snort. “No. He will be coming after you, and he is rather taken with me so he will be coming with the full force of his power. I really wouldn’t want to get in his way.” I watch Darsis’ eyes flare as he glances over his shoulder, but I don’t miss the concern that flashes on Rian’s face. Timas’ power is known across the continent, and it should be feared. “I am not a person you want to be removing from him, I am one of the only ones who can even calm him and I will not be telling him to hold back when he sees you.” Rian’s bravado slips back in place as he leans over towards me, not close enough that I can hit him but I can feel the wickedness pouring off him in waves.
“I am not afraid of your pathetic spirit bond. When he inevitably blows up his own Court, we will be there to pick up the pieces and take our rightful place in Sonas, and the King of the Night Court will rule. Besides, Timas thinks you ran away.” My heart plummets at that.
“What?” I say in a whisper.
“Yes, you left a lovely little note telling Timas you can’t live in Sonas anymore. Even if they figure out you were taken it will be too late. We will be back before they even know what really happened.”
He thinks I left? Timas couldn’t possibly believe I would leave without talking to him. But I also haven’t told him that I would stay no matter what. In fact, I told him I would leave to make it easier so he could rule his people. How foolish was I? I should have stood beside him and been his strength, not another voice second guessing him. The minimal contents of my stomach sour. The thought of Timas believing I am not on his side one hundred percent makes me want to vomit. The idea he might doubt my love and dedication to him makes me want to run to him and tell him over and over again that I will stand with him, but I can’t because I’m tied up in the back of a wagon going who knows where.
“Where are you taking me?” That evil glint in his eye returns, and the side of his mouth quirks up.
“The Night Court of course.” Fear really takes hold now. The Shrouded Forest. If he gets me there, I’m not sure Timas could even get me out. My only hope is that Timas knows I love him and would never leave him willingly. I know my hope of him showing up soon is unrealistic and I am stuck in this terrible situation with no visible way out.