Chapter 9
CHAPTER
Time was a weird soup.
It was hard to tell if it had been minutes or hours…
Sometimes, one of the torches on the wall burned out, and not a soul was aware of it except for the ones down here.
I had heard a few scratching sounds, making me believe I wasn’t alone down here.
But when I shouted out, I never got an answer.
Maybe it was my mind playing games with me.
When the final torch faded, darkness fully claimed my cell. I wasn’t sure if I found comfort or even greater loneliness in it.
Finally, I heard steps coming down the stairs and slowly, light followed as new torches were lit, replacing the old ones. The flickering flame kept coming closer, and I steeled myself. Was it the Lieutenant?
When my eyes adjusted to the new light, I saw the figure. My whole body slacked again, eyes wide in surprise.
“Lionel?”
His usual vibrant auburn hair seemed to be a dull brown color in the dim light. He was dressed in similar dark leathers that he had been when he left the camp. When our eyes locked, his softened, and a low huff escaped him.
“You always find trouble when I’m not around.” A faint smile appeared on his lips, as he fastened the torch to the side of my cell. “What did you do this time?”
“Me?” I croaked, realizing how dry my throat was. He arched his brow as I cleared my throat. “It wasn’t me—”
“Lio, hurry,” I heard a female voice snap from the staircase’s direction.
My brows furrowed at first, it was familiar yet… no freaking way.
“Eve? You’re with Eve? And Lio!?” I hissed at him.
“It’s not like that,” he sighed, shaking his head as he looked at me, his expression telling me he’d rather I hit him than discuss it. “She’s in the sniper team too, that’s all.”
“Right, so you invite her to visit me, because we’re all such good friends?” I laughed once, dryly.
“Hey, dummy, I’m here to help you,” he snapped, forcing a bag between the metal bars.
I clenched my teeth, keeping my eyes narrowed on him for the moment. “Will you get in trouble for that bag?”
He shrugged easily. “It’s not the first time I’ve stolen food for you, and probably not the last.”
“Lionel,” I breathed out. “What if they throw you out of the Ashen Corps?”
“They won’t, they need me.” He winked at me. “And apparently, you still do too.”
I wasn’t able to hold back the smile, he had that effect on me. “It was the Lieutenant, he framed me.”
He became silent, and his smile slowly died off. “What?”
“Remember the worried girl in my team? You saw her the night you left for your mission?” I asked, trying to give him relevant information.
“No.”
“Anyway, she turned out to be a mage,” my voice was barely a whisper. “And he killed her, on the spot. Then he told the others that I did it and forgot to inform them of the details of her being a magic-wielder.”
“Why would he do that?” Lionel looked confused, placing his hand against the bars and leaning closer.
In an instant, I rose to my feet, and placed my hand on top of his. “Lionel, don’t do anything stupid.”
His jaw tensed, eyes avoiding mine as if he was making a decision without me.
“Lionel,” I pushed, squeezing his hand.
“What if he’s an infiltrator?” he whispered, eyes snapping back to mine. “If I—”
“No.” I dug my gaze into his. “You’re not to dig into this, I’ll handle it.”
He pushed off the bars, glaring at me defiantly, before he nodded and began walking away. I let out a breath as I followed him with my eyes, until he disappeared around the corner.
Everything turned silent again, and my skin shivered.
I couldn’t shake the feeling that he might end up doing something stupid. He was always looking after me, ever since his family took me in… I only wished I was of more use to him than a burden.
Slowly, I backed away, turning my attention towards the bag. When I opened it, my eyes widened. He had stolen ten potatoes and two water-skins on the verge of bursting.
“Stupid,” I muttered, my eyes burning with tears that threatened to slip out.
Quickly, I devoured a potato, before taking two big mouthfuls of water. Finally, I hid the bag behind me in the corner of the cell and sat down again.
The silence was eating at me, the slightest movement felt as if it echoed in the space. Then whispers, as if I heard the muffled voices above me, or perhaps there were other people down here after all? Maybe they had gone mad in the darkness.
“If you’re going to ignore me, keep it down,” I mumbled and the whispers ended abruptly.
Weirdos; probably why they were down here in the first place.
My head fell back, leaning against the cold stone, eyes fighting to stay awake.
The smell of smoke lingered in the air, like fire consuming a birch log.
I inhaled it, the scent giving me some peace of mind, before it twisted, the smell of metal…
perhaps copper, taking over. A cold chill went through my spine.
“Bad dreams, kitten?” The voice slithered through the dark, velvet-smooth and venomous. My eyes flew open.
The Lieutenant leaned against the bars, jacket draped over his shoulders like a cloak, hands tucked in his pockets as if he was out on a casual evening stroll. His smirk grew as our eyes met, deliberate, taunting.
My chest tightened. How long had he been there? Had he seen Lionel slip out? No. If he had, Lionel would be bleeding on this floor beside me.
I forced a snort. “Sorry if I don’t salute you sir, I have no respect for liars.”
He let out a low huff, raising a brow, disappointment sharpening his expression. “Two days in chains, and still so proud. Or perhaps you’ve had… help?”
My hands tensed, my brows furrowed in an attempt to look hurt by the accusation. “Will you release me or not?”
His face turned blank, his eyes staring at me as if I had cracked a bad joke. A brief moment of silence passed, before I saw his jaw tensing.
“Why are you here?”
His question stunned me, I wasn’t sure whether to laugh or shout. He was the one who put me here!?
“You—” I began, rage quickening my pulse.
“Not this cell, I mean here.”
I clenched my teeth, pushing down the anger that he had stirred.
“What is anyone doing here? I’m here to survive, you hardly get any food if you don’t become a soldier.
What do you want to know next? My birthday?
My favorite color? I don’t think there’s any law that forces me to tell you about personal things unless it’s affecting me as a soldier…
Besides, I still don’t even know your name. ”
“Maybe I’ll make it a rule, just for you.”
A wicked smirk appeared on his face, making me uneasy as he unlocked the door to my cell and swung it open. I rose to my feet, taking a few steps closer, my hands balled into fists. He was the doorway, there was no way out but through him. It was a challenge.
He took a slow, calculated, step forward and by instinct, I took one backwards. Hesitation filled me, I wasn’t able to read him at all and he was towering above me in this small space. He took another step, herding me towards the wall and my eyes caught the dagger resting in his belt.
“Yes,” he said dryly, amusement coating the word. “Kitten suits you better. Always bristling, always hissing, and striking only when cornered.” His gaze followed mine to the blade, and he clicked his tongue, as if chastising a disobedient pet.
“What do you want?” I clenched my teeth, straightening myself to meet with his icy stare.
He huffed, his breath hitting my face, as he took another step forward and my back hit the wall.
I snapped, grabbed the dagger from his belt and pressed it to his throat. The steel kissed his pulse. He only smiled, calm, unbothered.
“Malakai.”
“What?” I blurted, confused.
One of his arms moved, fast enough for me to not react, and slapped my hand away. My grip around the hilt tightened as I tried to swing it back into place, but he grabbed my wrist, pushing it back against the wall. His hand squeezed hard. It hurt like hell, but I refused to let go of the dagger.
“My name,” he murmured, soothing like a lullaby. “I heard it’s harder to kill someone once you know more about them.”
I struggled against his grip, why was he doing this? No matter how I tried to wrap my mind around everything, it made no sense. “I don’t understand,” I admitted.
“If you keep biting and clawing, I’ll do worse,” he answered with a threatening smirk. “You challenge me in front of the squad? I'll embarrass you in front of the whole Ashen Corps. If you try to fight me, I’ll hurt you, kitten.”
His fingers pried mine apart, peeling me from the hilt with patience. I clenched my teeth, glaring at him.
“So aggressive,” his voice dipped, low and dangerous. “Change your tone, and maybe I’ll let you live another day, Deering.”
The air left me. My eyes widened before I could stop them. He saw it. Of course he saw it.
“What?” I breathed. My voice cracked before I steadied it. “How do you know my name?”
“I study my recruits.”
“I don’t believe you,” I spat.
“You’re either a good liar, or a fool,” he tsked, distaste in his voice.
I lashed out, driving my knee upward, but he shifted in time. My strike landed on his thigh instead of somewhere far more satisfying.
His smile vanished, replaced with an intensity that froze me in place. I didn’t know if it was his doing or mine, but I couldn’t look away. Couldn’t move.
His grip of our entwined fingers loosened, yet I didn’t move. He backed away, the dagger once more in his possession, looking down at me like I was… nothing.
“You—” my voice was shaking.
“I’m afraid I don’t have any more time to play with you, kitten,” he cut in, with no emotions in his voice. “Follow orders and earn rewards, or get out of my way.” He traced the blade with one finger before sliding it back into its sheath.
I stared, reeling. Had he dug into my past, into the rawest wound I carried? How much did he know, did he have access to all information about us? He didn’t look much older than my twenty-eight years, so how had he already been appointed a First Lieutenant?
Malakai turned, filling the doorway once more. “Well? Are you coming, kitten? Yes? No?” The mocking lilt in his voice was a melody designed to taunt me.
“Yes.”
The word tore free, steadier than I felt. I stepped forward, pushing past him with my bag clutched tight. His chuckle followed, low and knowing, his footsteps falling in behind mine.