Forever Fae (Forever Fae #1)(60)
“The dark sorcerer is inside Avery’s body. He can take over certain people’s bodies and when he uses his own body he can appear as anyone. He appeared as Ryder when I came to him the first time and I just about lost it, Merrick. I almost died of heartbreak thinking it was Ryder because I thought he betrayed me. Also, our powers do not work inside the dwellings, they only work outside. I hate that you have to see me like this, but I’m only pretending. This was the only way I could think of to distract him.”
“Well, Ryder is right here with me and determined to get you to safety. I don’t think he likes what you’re doing though. Well, neither do I. The clothes are a little distracting if that’s what you mean by distracting the dark sorcerer. Whatever you do, try to stay outside as much as possible to give us more chances for escape.”
“I will.”
I am trying to talk to Merrick and talk to the villagers and some of the fae in the army at the same time, which isn’t very easy. We’re headed to the prison and I already have a sick feeling in my stomach thinking about what I’m going to see in there. The dark sorcerer said he had a surprise for me, but I don’t know what kind of surprise would be in a prison. I have about two minutes before we reach it so I continue to fill Merrick in on what’s been happening.
“I am so sorry you have to see me like this, Merrick. Apparently, this jackass likes to pick out my clothes, and let me tell you, they’re a little too small if you can’t already tell. The ring Elvena gave me for my birthday is helping protect me from me being drained, but I’m starting to feel some effects from the talisman. This man is one sick bastard and we’re headed to the prison to go do who knows what.”
There are two guards at the door and both of them are trolls. The dark sorcerer has a lot of trolls here and a lot of fae from both the Summer and Winter Courts. It pains me to know that we had this many traitors. I wonder if there is a way to distinguish who is loyal and who isn’t when I get back home, or rather if I get back home.
The trolls bow their heads and step aside. I walk through the door and the first thing I want to do is squeeze my eyes shut and put my hand over my mouth to keep from screaming. But instead, my eyes stay open and I try not to focus on one particular thing. The visions of what I’m seeing will stay engraved in my brain for eternity. I bite my tongue to keep from screaming and the piercing ache of the bite keeps my mind on the pain instead of the grotesque things I’m seeing. The taste of blood fills my mouth and I have no other option but to swallow it. The metallic taste makes me want to gag.
Blood is spattered all over the walls and ashes are scattered throughout the cells. The air is thick with the smell of death and pain. Bile rises in the back of my throat and the burning sensation feels like it’s ignited over my entire body. I am appalled at what I’m seeing and saddened to think of all the fae that have lost their lives here. From the amount of blood stains everywhere I would say these people suffered a great amount of torture. I look around the cells and it appears there is no one here. So why did we come?
“Why are we here, if you have no prisoners?” I ask.
He just grins and taunts playfully, “Oh, you’ll see, it’s my surprise I have for you.”
My body starts to sweat and I feel suffocated in the tight brown leather of my clothes. The leather straps of my top feel like they’re squeezing my lungs and I can’t draw in a deep breath. I wish I could run and hide so I don’t have to see what my surprise is. We are almost to the last cell so I slow my pace. My feet feel like they weigh a million pounds and moving them is becoming harder and harder. The dark sorcerer has a huge grin on his face and motions for me to take a look. I slowly turn my gaze to what lies behind the cell door and I’m shocked to see what’s there.
I raise my eyebrows in question.
“What is he doing in there?” I ask.
“He is my gift to you, my queen. This is going to be a special night for us both and I thought you would like to seek vengeance on the one who killed your best friend’s parents.”
I jerk my head to look at him. Did I just hear him right? Did Warren kill Xylia’s parents? I turn my back from Warren to give me time to think and process what I’ve just heard. I look in the dark sorcerer’s borrowed eyes and I see truth there. This can’t be happening. But it’s true, Warren killed Xylia’s parents. She must be devastated right now and I’m not there to comfort her. The evil glint in the sorcerer’s eyes tells me of his intent. He brought me here to kill Warren. My world turns to black and I feel like I’m falling into nothingness. The emotions are too much. I feel pain and grief for Xylia, heartbreak and sorrow for the innocents that lost their lives in this horrid prison, disgust for the man that has claimed so many lives and has turned this land to poison, and most of all, RAGE.
The anger and rage feels like it’s spreading through every square inch of my body and intoxicating me with its heady pleasure. I hate the man beside me, but I really hate the man in the cell that killed two close friends of my family who were also the parents of my best friend, and who also betrayed a best friend that happens to be the man I love. I have decided. I will do this for Xylia.
I feel the coldness of a blade entering into my hand, but I cannot see it. The only thing I see is the red, hazy cloud of rage blocking my vision. I hear skin tearing and the gurgling of someone trying to breathe. A hot, sticky substance sprays across my neck and chest and the metallic smell of blood fills my nose, but it doesn’t bother me. My breathing accelerates and my grip on the blade tightens. The last thing I remember hearing before my vision clears is the sound of Warren screaming and choking on his blood.