*Explicit content at the end of this chapter, read at your own discretion!*
¬Akara
I find my way back to Tai’s office after many hours waiting for him upstairs. By the time the sun had set and he hadn’t made it to dinner, I decided to seek him out myself.
Sure enough, he is in his office, slumped over his desk looking down at a mess of paper on his desk. It smells like him in here, for all the amount of time he spends in here in comparison to anywhere else. He probably had his dinner summoned down here so he doesn’t have to step away from here. As much as I understand how dire our situation is, it still hurts my heart knowing he’s done here so often.
¬AkaraTonight, there is going to be no chance for me to avoid Kailor.Tai has already told me I can stay in my room tonight and not go, but the entire purpose of this event is to appear normal, so news will get back to Vaia and she will think we are no longer bothered by her rebellion. It’s a long shot, but we hope her guard will lower as a consequence, which means that as much as I don’t want to, I’m going to have to go. It’s held downstairs, in the ballroom.A knock sounds from my door, making me flinch. I’ve been awfully jumpy recently."Come in,” I exclaim mindlessly, pulling my hair back around my fa
~AkaraThere’s a cold, deathly silence as everyone drinks in the sight Evolet, and the knife in her hand.She has a disturbing grin on her face, her straight white teeth glinting under the chandeliers light. She doesn’t wear much, aside from a skin-tight black jacket and pants, making it easier for her to sneak in here undetected. A hood is pulled over her head, hiding her newly cropped hair, the extravagance of her once Noble look gone. She looks near feral.She looks around the room, at the stunned, terrified faces. "I'm waiting for my applause..."Nausea, fear and anger all churn in my stomach as I
~AkaraI couldn’t sleep that night.Tai wanted to be alone, which I could never fault him for. As much space as he needs, I’m willing to give him, especially since he offered me that in the months after the rebellion, after Marek betrayed me. But once I woke, had breakfast and even lunch, Tai did not once leave his room. Now, evening is encroaching, and I’ve decided I need to see him, that I can’t handle this much worry.The door handle is icy cold under my fingertips as I step inside the room. In fact, the entire room is cold, the windows open, curtains billowing in the breeze.On the bed, Tai lies, shirtless and sweating, but completely unconscious. I rush t
~AkaraI ran all the way there.It was easy to ignore the painful burn in my chest, the way my legs ache and protest as I push myself to continue running through the forest toward the nearby village. My mind is clouded, thinking of Vaia and her plan to have Marek publicly executed. Evolet could be lying to me, but I know in my heart that’s not true. Marek could already be dead, but I need to do something…Vaia’s voice echoes loudly through the forest as I approach, taunting me, knowing that I’m going to attend this. If this is a trap, then I’m running right into it with no remorse."Some
~AkaraTai didn’t have much to say to me the next day.I don’t have to fake my mourning, even if it’s not for the reason Tai thinks. I’ve decided not to tell them Marek is still alive, convinced he is going off to live his life elsewhere, away from us all. The thought of that digs a hollow pit in the bottom of my stomach, even if I know it’s for the better. I’ll let him have his freedom, the life he wants to live without involving everyone else in it.Early this morning, Tai enveloped me in a long embrace, but hasn’t offered any words to soothe me. He doesn’t know what to say, since Marek and I’s relationship is complicated. I don’t resent him for it though, understanding that the supposed
~AkaraI twist the ring Tai gave me around my finger anxiously as he slides into bed next to me."What if something happens to us while we are in there?" I ask mindlessly, staring out the window. It’s been awhile since I joined Tai in his bed, and I’m not sure why it hasn’t been more frequent. Sleeping in the same bed means we have to talk about everything going on in each other's heads, and that’s harder than I would like to admit.He turns, wrapping his arm around my shoulder to tug me in closer to him, which I welcome. "I don't care what happens, as long as you get out of there alive."
~Akara"We are going to get through this, okay?" Tai assures me steadily. "I'll see you on the other side."A hole has gauged itself within my stomach, filled to the brim with cold, bitter doubt. The look Evolet gave me only a few moments ago was heavy with warning as she fills up the garage with everything they need. We are separating now, with Zavian and I going opting instead for a secret entry while they make their obvious entry to hopefully succeed in gaining all of Vaia’s attention."I know. I'm just worried for you,” I say. And I am. It doesn’t matter what happened last night with Evolet and I in his room, I still care about him, still want to trust him
~AkaraA dark, cold feeling of dread trickles through me."Jessa...You're here," I say slowly, my mouth feeling like it's stuffed with cotton. I haven't seen Jessa in months, but she looks no different. Maybe a little more haunted than usual, her dark eyes roving over me quietly."I am." The edge of her lips quirk up. "You look horrible."I release a long breath. "I'm sick."I'm not sure if I expect her to feel sorry to me, to pity us and let us go, b
~AkaraVaia is merciless, shoving us into carriages, three security guards squeezing in next to us, giving us no chance to escape.Evolet's gaze is trained directly onto the floor the entire journey there, lost in her thoughts. Strangely, I don't fear my imminent doom. I'm more concerned about Tai's fate, once I drink from the river and die. And what about Marek? For all I know, he could have already been killed, or worse...Captured by Vaia to be tortured.It takes over an hour for us to make it to the river. There's only one way in, through a parting in the dense forest. People are usually prohibited in this area, although it seems this part of the P
~AkaraMy body is propped up against a concrete wall when I wake.Wincing, I shift, tilting my head back and forth. I'm presuming Vaia is the reason for my sudden blackout that has led to a throbbing headache. As I lift my arms, I realise they are pinned down, my wrists cuffed with metal attached to chains pinned to the ground. No matter how much I tug, I'm trapped.And to make matters worse, I'm in a cell. This is in the prison section, rather than the room where Tai is locked up. It seems Vaia doesn't want to allow me a single mercy in her demented plot to destroy all of us.
~AkaraMarek's grip is tight on my shoulders, gaze intense."I'm going to make you look like some random girl off the street," Marek explains calmly, as if I'm not about to step back into the hell I've escaped from twice now. I can only hope for a third time, accompanied by Tai. "Vaia doesn't care much for her guards, so as long as you have the uniform, she won't question it."We stand near an overgrown entrance to the tunnel that leads close to the estate. We can't get close enough that we would be spotted by any of Vaia's guards, who I'm hopefully going to blend into with Marek's powers controlling my appearance.
~AkaraI stare at the cottage, quiet.Beyond the faded doors, are my parents, as Marek has assured me. The place is nice, perfect for them. With father no longer going to the war, they needed a place like this to settle down, and once this is all over, I doubt they will want to move back to the Jade Province."Are you okay?" Marek asks softly from beside me. I turn to look at him, noting the wariness in his eyes. He has been almost too gentle with me since we arrived, probably trying not to crowd me after everything has been revealed. I'm grateful for that, as I don't think I have it in me to look at him the same yet.
~AkaraI stare at the cottage, quiet.Beyond the faded doors, are my parents, as Marek has assured me. The place is nice, perfect for them. With father no longer going to the war, they needed a place like this to settle down, and once this is all over, I doubt they will want to move back to the Jade Province."Are you okay?" Marek asks softly from beside me. I turn to look at him, noting the wariness in his eyes. He has been almost too gentle with me since we arrived, probably trying not to crowd me after everything has been revealed. I'm grateful for that, as I don't think I have it in me to look at him the same yet.
~AkaraSurprisingly, Tyrien stood and listened to me explain the entire situation, not interrupting once.With the last words of my recount passing my lips, I settle back into myself. I've done everything but go back and get Tai myself, and if this doesn't work, then I'm going to be left with only one choice. Even so, I'm just grateful Tyrien is willing to even hear me blurt out my struggles, essentially on the verge of tears at this point."I wish there was something I could do to help you, Akara," Tyrien responds carefully. I know he means it, that he can't just go marching into territories, resolving conflicts on behalf of people. It would create a
~AkaraI don't remember dozing off."Akara...Wake up." I jolt up, pressing my back against the wall of the carriage, staring back at Marek, startled. He removes his hand from my arm, successfully having shaken me awake."What's going on?" I ask, rubbing my bleary eyes. The carriage rattles uneasily, suggesting we are on uneven terrain. The flimsy curtain has been pulled over the small window of the carriage, watery light stream through it's sheer fabric."You fell asleep." Marek doesn't look as though he has slept, his clothing unrumpled and hair in relatively undisturbed condition. "We
~AkaraThe sound of wheels grating along a gravelled surface roused me from sleep.Jolting up, my heart patters violently in my chest as I look around at my surroundings, memories struggling to come back to me. I'm in a carriage that sways back and forth, moving quickly, and sitting opposite me is Marek, with a solemn expression on his face.My mind tumbles back into a dark memory. Almost a year ago, when Marek first kidnapped me from the Inn, and I woke in a carriage just like this one, as confused as I am now with a man in front of me who was basically a stranger.
~AkaraA dark, cold feeling of dread trickles through me."Jessa...You're here," I say slowly, my mouth feeling like it's stuffed with cotton. I haven't seen Jessa in months, but she looks no different. Maybe a little more haunted than usual, her dark eyes roving over me quietly."I am." The edge of her lips quirk up. "You look horrible."I release a long breath. "I'm sick."I'm not sure if I expect her to feel sorry to me, to pity us and let us go, b