Caged by Damnation (Caged #2)(79)

Savannah's Journal

My life was filled with misery, impacted by actions and consequences outside of my reach. It seemed that destiny or fate was always a few steps ahead. That I would never regain enough ground to take back control of my life.

My world was at a pivotal point, as it was changing course, trying to find its way through a darkened hedge maze. While I had to navigate, choosing to turn or continue on, inevitably my choices were opposed by another's design. The lush greenery continued to dispute my decisions in such a way that I couldn't ignore.

My visions made all of this clear to me, as they were often incapacitating. What role would I play in the ultimate game of life and death? Willow and Izzy each had roles to carry out in the coming days. What those roles would be was lost to me. I could only hope that my own destiny didn't smother theirs or worse, destroy them.



SAVANNAH

It seemed that Nicolai was right when he accused me of cowardice. I had betrayed my loved ones by locking myself away, even if I hadn't intended to chain myself to my box. Worse than that, without my box intact, I still cowered in the shadows, afraid to seek out the warmth of others. My thoughts were overrun by fear of rejection, accusations, and reality in its most simplistic of forms.

I had been standing outside of Griffin's room for well over an hour now. Beyond the steel door lay uncertainty and being someone who craved control made it nearly impossible for me to take the last step.

What would I say to him? Hey, Griffin. I know we nearly died and all, but look at the amazing accommodations that the Draconians have provided. I groaned, forcing myself to open Griffin's door.

"It's about time! I was beginning to think that everyone lied to me and you really did die back there." Griffin smiled as he pushed himself against his pillows into a sitting position.

Griffin seemed better off than the last time I saw him, but his face was still a pasty white, as if he hadn't regained enough blood to flush out his cheeks. Considering that the last time I had seen him, we were lying beside one another while dying... I supposed that this was a vast improvement. A smiling Griffin was preferable to one who might take his last breath at any moment.

All traces of happiness evaporated from his features when he moved once more to adjust the blankets around him.

"Didn't they heal you?"

Griffin grimaced. "They did, but only enough to be sure I would live. The rest is up to my body." He shrugged nonchalantly, as if he expected such behavior and there wasn't anything wrong with it.

"Well, they fully healed me." I grunted, irritated with our so-called protectors. "I'm going to have a word with them about this. You shouldn't have to be in pain while I am walking around without even a scar."

Griffin made some room for me to sit beside him on his bed.

"Did anyone tell you that they are planning to separate us if we're attacked?" He nodded. "It's so unfair." I looked down at my hands clasped firmly together. "I'm the one they want. The rest of you shouldn't have to deal with... with any of this!" Anger was beginning to get the better of me. "Wouldn't it make more sense to just send me away? Then everyone else can go home." A slight whimpering claimed my throat; Kit had broken through a bit, letting me know that he too was sad.

"I hate to tell you this, but we're all guilty by association. They would use us to get to you or kill us as payback." As he spoke, Griffin’s voice got lighter and lighter, until he descended into a coughing fit.

I ran quickly into the adjoining bathroom and filled a paper cup with some water, which he took gratefully.

"Well, at least everyone is paired up with a loved one." False cheerfulness cloaked itself in my voice.

"Except you." Griffin settled his cup on the bedside table and leaned back to view me, but his eyes were heavy and soon they closed.

I was shocked to see how weak Griffin really was. One conversation and a coughing fit was enough to make sleep inevitable.

Leaving him to his rest, I carefully left his room, closing the door behind me and praying that it didn't creak. All of my energies were so focused on not waking Griffin up, that when I turned, it was too late to avoid colliding with Rafe.

I skidded across the ground, but didn't remain there for long before he had captured me around the waist and set me on my feet. I attempted to apologize, but he shrugged it away. Then he turned on his heels with such purpose that I wondered if the entire ordeal had been his fault.

He seemed distracted, which was strange, because from what I knew of him, he was quick with a smile and a joke. I hadn't seen him like this before, and yet, I admitted there were a lot of things to weigh on his mind now that his people were basically becoming bodyguards.

I bit my inner cheek, debating going after him to make sure he was okay. Looking down, I saw an aged envelope lying on the floor. Instinctively, my fingers began to worry at the Seraphinite ring I had worn since Maye had given it to me. Somehow, throughout everything, I had forgotten I still wore it, and that bothered me. How could I forget something that literally stared me in the face every day?

Stooping down, I snatched the envelope. My instincts were correct; this was the envelope Maye had given me. Why was it here? I had placed it in the pocket of the robe I had been wearing during the attack, but then why hadn't the Draconians given it to me when they had taken my bloodstained robe?

I was fueled with too many questions and didn't like most of the answers I had come up with. Still, there wasn't any reason for the Draconians to withhold my letter... was there? I shook my head, as if the action could banish my paranoia.