Chapter 16 Seren Fach
Verena
A s we progress through the courses, Hadeon’s eyes constantly dart toward me while I try my best to avoid his gaze. The royal family engages in conversation about tactics for the upcoming war with Zorya, but amidst the chatter and laughter, I find my thoughts wandering to the Dark King sitting across from me. He appears composed and at ease with his family, a stark contrast to the image I had in my mind of him before.
I can’t help but be reminded of myself when defending Hadeon. And in hindsight, I understand why Hadeon did what he had, but I still struggle to fully trust him.
Suddenly, a figure enters the room and walks over to the king at his beckoning. They whisper something in his ear as I sip on my soup. Without warning, King Eryx slams his hand down on the table, causing me to jump in surprise. However, no one else seems fazed by this abrupt outburst, as if they have grown accustomed to such behavior from their ruler. My eyes remain fixed on King Eryx as he whispers a response back to the fae messenger. He then stands from the table and addresses everyone in the room with a commanding presence. “If you’ll excuse me,” he declares before swiftly leaving the room.
“He gets very protective of his kingdom, when something goes wrong it upsets him. He gets his anger from our father. It used to not be as bad but ever since Amaelya’s funeral, it has been more than uncontrollable at times and we just have to ride it out.” Ruelle informs me in a hushed reveal. I nod my head as if I understand.
We finish our meals and begin our departure to our own rooms But, as we step out of the dining area, Hadeon grips my arm softly.
“Verena, please, talk to me.” Ruelle stops walking, waiting for me when she realizes I’m not following her.
“Hadeon, I understand why you did what you did. And I am sure I will forgive you since my heart would never allow me to hold a grudge against you. You had a duty and you followed it out. I appreciate everything you’ve done for me over the years but for right now, please just give me some time.”
Hadeon’s eyes drop to the floor, his grip loosening on my arm as he nods solemnly. “I understand, Verena. I will give you all the time you need.” He releases me, “Just…” He pauses his leave, trying to find the right words. “I meant it. When I said you were my queen all those times. I know that title is no longer yours, but I will always view you as my queen. And I know you don’t want to be friends right now so I will respect that. But, if you need anything, do not be afraid to ask.” He steps back and leaves us standing in the middle of the hall.
“That was so regal of you,” Ruelle speaks this time, breaking my trance from where he stands. “I know it’s not easy to forgive, I’ve seen it firsthand with Esmeray and our father but you handled it well. I admire you, you know? You would make a great queen.” I look at her, softly smiling.
“Would have,” I confirm with her as we walk back to our rooms in silence. Ruelle gives my hand a reassuring squeeze before leading me down the corridor to our rooms.
As we settle in for the night, I found it difficult to shake off the events of the evening. The tension in the royal family, King Eryx’s sudden outburst, Calanthe’s peculiar behavior—it all weighs heavily on my mind. But amidst the chaos of emotions swirling within me, one thing remains clear: I need to uncover the secrets and mysteries that surrounds this family and myself.
The moon cast a silvery glow through the window, illuminating the room in a ghostly light. Ruelle takes to her room near mine .
As I lay awake in bed, my thoughts are a tangled web of excitement and nervousness. The castle was waiting for me to explore its secrets, but I can’t do it with anyone else around. So I wait patiently until the late hours of the night, making sure that everyone had gone to bed before I finally snuck out. My attire was not quite appropriate for sneaking around a castle — a short gown that barely reaches mid-thigh and a thin robe that did little to hide my body. This was all Ruelle could provide for me, claiming it’s all they had. And so I was left with bare feet, as shoes were not something I enjoy wearing and since I don’t expect to run into anyone, there was no need for them.
Carefully and quietly, I made my way through the halls of the castle, taking in every detail with wide-eyed curiosity. To others, it may have just seemed like a quick dash from one place to another, but for me it’s an opportunity to experience the grandeur and mystery of this ancient fortress.
Thankfully, my lack of shoes help me move with ease— something I silently thank the Gods for. As I crept along, I can’t help but feel a sense of thrill and adventure coursing through my veins. This was my first taste of true freedom since arriving at the Court of Dusk, and I intend to savor every moment of it.
Enriched with intricate designs and rich colors, the artwork that graces the walls of some rooms is a striking contrast to what one would expect in a place like this. The portraits depict the royal predecessors, their faces stern and regal, along with the apparent Gods and Goddesses who held power over this kingdom. And then there were the portraits of the current royal family, both before and after their father’s untimely death.
But it wasn’t just portraits that don these walls— vibrant scenes of the aurora borealis, the heart of this court, were painted alongside serene beaches, bustling cities, delectable food, majestic animals, and other random inspirations. Though the court itself boasted plenty of natural light and dark walls, it was the golden trims and accents along with these colorful paintings that truly lit up the entire castle, casting a warm glow throughout its grand halls.
A muffled scuffle and hushed voices echo from around the corner, sending shivers down my spine. I push myself to move further down the hallway, not knowing how far I’ve gone or where I am. My heart races with fear as I realize I must be close to the dungeons, but my attention is caught by the breathtaking art that lines the walls.
Suddenly, a familiar voice cuts through the air like a sharp knife. “You think you can spy on my people?” I cautiously peek around the corner and see a cell further down, its doors flung open. The only occupants are two men - one standing tall and regal while the other kneels at his feet, sobbing.
“I-I wasn’t…I swear!” The desperate plea of the kneeling man reaches my ears, but it’s too far for anyone else to hear. My breath catches in my throat as I recognize the figure before me - it’s Eryx, and not the same Eryx from dinner that had saved Hadeon and I, but the Dark King himself. Eryx may have shown me some kindness, but this? This is pure darkness and terror.
The king’s fingers dig into the kneeling man’s face, gripping his head with a vice-like force. “You swear with lies,” he seethes his voice dripping with venom. The intensity in his gaze made me shudder. “Tell me everything you know before I rip it out of your throat,” Eryx demands, his grip tightening even more. The fear in the other man’s eyes was palpable as he stammers out an answer.
“He… he wants her back. That’s all I know, I swear!” His stuttering only seems to enrage the man further.
Could it be Ruelle or Esmeray that they’re after or could it be me? But who would want his family? That question burns in my mind as I watch the man suddenly convulse in agony. The sound of his screams echo around us, causing me to gasp in shock. This was a level of violence that I had never witnessed before, and it both horrifies and fascinates me. Could I be the cause of such anger in Eryx’s gaze? Shadows billow around him and I realize they aren’t just here, they are apart of him. They are him. He has shadow manipulation, a fitting high fae ability for the Dark King.
My hands grip the wall so tightly that my nails dig into the stone, drawing blood. I can feel my heart pounding in my chest as I watch the king move with calculated ease, his smug smirk sending shivers down my spine.
I try to steady myself, but my legs tremble beneath me. This should be terrifying, but instead, it fills me with a strange mix of pride, contentment, and a twisted arousal.
The king leans in closer to the man writhing in agony on the ground. “You tell your master that if he dares to harm Verena, even by sending a weakling like you, I will tear him apart piece by agonizing piece until he is nothing more than a pile of dust.” With one swift motion, the king releases the man and he scurries away, fleeing the castle in terror.
As the adrenaline rushes through me, I meet the king’s intense gaze, his deep brown eyes meeting my indigo ones, feeling both drawn to —and fearful of— his powerful presence.
“Enjoy the show, Seren Fach?” He asks me. I wasn’t sure what that meant, I don’t speak their elder language, but for some reason it made chills sweep up my spine.
My chest heaves with each ragged breath as his words hung in the air like a threat. Anxiety coils in my stomach, tugging at me, but my body was frozen in place. I can’t deny the pull I feel toward him, a primal need that I had never experienced before.
As he prowls closer to me, his eyes gleam with a dark intensity that matches his title of Dark King. It wasn’t until I saw him summon shadows at the gala that I realized his true power. This place was undoubtedly crawling with other shadow summoners. My mind races with fear and suspicion, and I frantically scan the surrounding shadows for any sign of danger. But his predatory gaze told me he knew what I was thinking, and it only made me more uneasy.
“I am the only one of my kind left. Most of the royals used to have this power but now it’s only me.” This comforts me. Or was it the cast of darkness that ghosts down my arms like a cool wisp of air? “Why are you here, Seren Fach?”
“Why do you call me that?” My question is barely audible in it’s breathy whisper. He stalks closer as the air shifts into something more… something heavy and dangerous but I have yet to be truly scared by him. He ignores my question. I try to step back but instead only end up meeting the cement wall behind me. Finally my gaze looks up at his face, into his eyes as I try to read him and what may be trampling through his mind. Is he feeling what I am? Does his mind burn with a million questions just as mine?
“Why are you here?” He asks, his eyes darkening with his perusal of me. He towers over my body, his hands resting next to my head on the wall as they trap me between them. His eyes meet mine once more.
A pull tugs from within me, begging me to answer him. “I wanted to explore and I- I am not sure why but I made my way down.”
“And did you enjoy the show?” A smirk slips onto his face, and an air of arrogance radiates off him, along with heat. His eyes cast down to my lips before retreating to my eyes again and I can’t help but do the same.
“No.”
“Liar.” He counters. I scoff, fiddling with the hem of the nightgown, why was it so short? And now I’m lightly regretting the decision of no shoes. “Are you afraid?” He asks quieter and I can’t help but stare into his dark eyes, trying to read him.
Truthfully? No. I wasn’t scared of him. And maybe there’s something wrong with me for it. Maybe I’m deranged for not being terrified of seeing a man tortured right in front of me and dark shadows of unknown billowing around, suffocatingly close.
They feel as if they caress me but was I imagining it? Did I want them to? It doesn’t match the look on his face— anger at the man and unbothered by me.
The feeling was similar to that of when I touched myself at the reminder of his hands on me after the gala, when the wind caressed my body. Could that have been him? Could Eryx have sent his shadows after me in the dead of night as I brought myself to ecstasy in thought of him?
“No, I’m not,” I answer him finally. He hums, not quite believing me. He looks down, trailing my body again, and pauses, eyes narrowing before looking at me, his eyes impossibly darker than before.
“Where are your shoes?”
“Not on my feet,” My response slips out before I can catch myself, sarcasm dripping from my lips. Do I have a death wish?
“Do you know how dangerous it is to be walking down in these lower levels without shoes? What if you get a cut and it gets infected?” He was angry at me now. How in the underworld is he possibly mad at me ? His complex feelings send my heart through a loop.
“Careful, Your Majesty, or someone might think you care for me.” I joke softly. He pushes himself off the wall, taking a step back. His shadows disperse into a thinner wall surrounding us, allowing the minimal light to bleed through.
“You hold secrets that can destroy my home and we have an agreement. My word is my vow and I do not want it broken because you are reckless. Wear shoes.” He takes a few more steps back before turning and walking away.
I know one thing for sure; I was most definitely not going to start wearing shoes.