Chapter 42
Chapter Forty-Two
The raging storm
nik
Cold stone pressed into my spine when consciousness dragged me back.
I sat up against the wall; pain followed immediately—dull, starting from my top left shoulder and spreading through my bones, causing them to weaken.
My face ached, swollen and tight on one side where Snake had taken his offense out on me.
When I rolled my head to the side, something sticky tugged at my cheek. Coagulated blood. Mine.
Iron shackles bit into my wrists, wings pinned uselessly behind me. Every movement sent a tremor through my arms, my legs, my ribs. Weakness clung to me like a second skin.
Days blurred together, measured only by the sound of claws scratching somewhere in the dark. Cold stone. Damp air. No way to tell the floor from the walls anymore. Whatever clarity I’d had was gone.
Thorns kept me sedated night and day with—from what I could gather—doses of green liquid straight into my blood stream. No matter how hard I tried to keep my wits together, I faded more with every passing moment.
The cell that I was chained in had a small pipe leading up to the surface of Oscuro. It was my only source of oxygen. The harsh waft of a warm stench.
Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Blythe's face twisted with fear and anger, her blue eyes wide with uncertainty—who knew what Snake had planned for us. But I couldn’t dwell on what he was doing to her.
That path led to madness, and she didn’t need me insane.
She needed me sharp enough to end the dark king the second I was able.
I forced my thoughts somewhere safe and fell into it.
Blythe’s soft laugh . . . startled, like she never expected joy to find her. The way she leaned into the wind when she flew. The dainty, and delicate stitches in the clothing she mended for me. The sound of her voice when she spoke my name.
I held onto those things like a lifeline.
Matthias was coming back with help. They wouldn’t stop looking.
I just had to last.
Light footsteps echoed somewhere outside the cell. I braced myself for whoever might appear. The door groaned on its hinges—iron grating against iron. The sound bounced around in my head, deepening the ache that already lingered there.
I gritted my teeth and managed to look up just as Snake strolled into view, hands clasped behind his back like he was inspecting artwork. His white hair flared with the orange glow of firelight and the rings on his fingers glinted as he sauntered towards me, unrushed—confident.
“Look at you,” he said lightly. “The mighty Nikolas. Wings so red, even his own blood looks pale in comparison.”
I didn’t rise to the bait. I wouldn’t let him have the satisfaction of knowing he got under my skin. Not yet anyway. All I cared about was Blythe. “Where is she?”
The corner of Snake’s mouth ticked up into a sly grin. “Oh, don’t worry. She’s safe with me.” He paused. “Every night.”
A shudder rippled through me, rattling the chain. Snake’s eyes grew darker, as did his smile. My jaw clenched hard enough to crack a tooth. He enjoyed this.
“What do you want with me?” I murmured.
He stepped closer, voice dripping with venom. “I’ve been thinking long and hard about what I’d like to do with you. At first I thought about True Deathing you, and then I decided that was far too boring.”
I huffed a laugh. “So you do want a rematch?”
Snake did all but roll his eyes. “What I’ve decided is, I want to be entertained,” he went on, pacing back and forth in front of me. “You’re going to fight for me in the pits. No weapons. No special treatment. No Matthias to rescue you.” He leaned closer. “And I’m going to make Sapphire watch.”
I didn’t care about the fighting. I’d take on Thorns any day of the week with my hands tied behind my back.
As long as this liquid wasn’t in my system.
But Blythe . . . She didn’t need to see violence.
She’d already experienced enough for one lifetime.
Didn’t need to see what I could do when I stopped holding back.
I couldn’t bear the thought of her looking at me and seeing something to fear.
I tried to keep the anger at bay. I tried to be better.
But rage flooded me, paling my vision white with static.
I lunged.
Chains screamed as I yanked forwards, muscles tearing in protest. My strength burned through the drug fast enough to get me on my feet. Pain exploded through my body, but so did something else. Iron groaned. One shackle ripped free from the wall with a sound like thunder.
I swung the loose chain at Snake, teeth bared, every instinct screaming to smash his face in. It missed him by inches—but it was enough to make him stumble back in surprise.
That’s when I saw it.
He was scared. A shaking thing beneath the facade of royal power that he’d undoubtedly taken by manipulation.
I’d get out of here. And then I’d truly give him something to shake about.
I crumpled to my knees. Energy spent. Days with only dry bread and water offered me only enough to keep breathing.
Snake stood further away, a crooked smile breaking across his face. “Someone’s a big boy.” He circled just out of reach, eyes gleaming. “We’re going to need more chains. Wouldn’t want my favourite pet running off.”
I dragged a ragged breath into my lungs, eyes locked on the king. Now I understood why Matthias never liked to talk about Snake and the torment he’d endured with his time in Oscuro.
He took a few steps back, grin never dimming as he made it to the door. “She cries for you, you know. Still thinks you will come for her.” His smile sharpened. “I almost pity her.”
I tried to breathe. Tried to calm the raging storm inside my mind. “I’m going to fucking kill you.”
Snake let out a psychotic cackle, hands clenching his stomach. The sound echoed through the cells like a death song. When he finished, his gaze returned. “We all know you’ve tried.”
He slipped back into the shadows without another word.
The door slammed shut, and darkness once again swallowed the cell whole.
My legs gave out and I slumped to the side, one hand chained higher above my head.
Blood dripped steadily from beneath the shackle on my wrist, pattering softly against stone.
I closed my eyes and pictured Blythe smiling. The warmth of her hand in mine. They way she told me that she chose me. That she was choosing herself.
The thought brought a weak smile to my lips.
Hold on, Blythe. I’m coming.