At the entrance of my cell, a trio of guards stopped me."The King demands your presence in the grand hall," said one of them, his hand digging deep in my arm. The meeting with Queen Annalise was devoid of any tension, but with King Sylvester, it was going to be mind wrecking.I was led to the grand hall that sprawled extensively. A sturdy and long table dominated the carvenous space. Three elders were seated around the table. Their countenances were stern and it made my gut tighten. I breathed out, getting ready for the volcano that was about to erupt.With a low, sharp voice, King Sylvester declared, "Your actions have been despicable." I have been forgiving and understanding in spite of it. My attempts to connect seem to be encountering severe opposition.I preferred to hold my breath and drop my gaze, remaining still. It appeared my silence irritated King Sylvester and an intense rage burned in his eyes. This prompted him to spring to his feet and pace around the hall. His face co
I shook my head, my anger building. "I didn't do anything improper. I simply— “My throat tightened at the words. Even the things I was attempting to say had escaped me. Nothing seemed to make sense.For a brief moment, Lorna's eyes softened—a rare sign of concern. She lowered herself to look at me. “What you believe to be right or incorrect is not relevant here. It has to do with surviving. You must choose your battles wisely, because at this point, you are losing them all.”Her response struck a deep chord with me, and I wanted to counter and correct her. I knew, though, that she wasn't. Sylvester wasn't who I had previously believed him to be. Yes, he was still a monarch, but he had evolved into a despot and a power broker.And there I was, entangled in his web, trying yet failing to release myself. "So what now? Do you want me to comply? obey each and every order?” I questioned sharply, my voice trembling with rage.With a hardened expression once more, Lorna got up. "Vera, I want
I strode through the town's winding streets, feeling the cool night air pierce his skin. Thoughts of what was ahead raced through my head, but I maintained his steady pace. Beside him, silently, strode my ever faithful buddy Spock, his eyes searching their surroundings with the accuracy of someone on alert all the time.Tonight was our covert operation, and I knew it would either bring him freedom or ruin. With dark lights flickering from the windows and strange shadows on the cobblestone floor, the bar loomed ahead. The familiar smell of roasted meat and stale ale assaulting my senses. It was the kind of place where allegiances changed with the tides and secrets like the ones we were about to discuss were revealed under the pretense of intoxication.Even though I had been there before, something felt off tonight. Higher stakes were involved.The pub inside was just as he remembered it: packed, boisterous, and reeking of wine spills and smoke. While some sat slumped over tables and mu
VERA’S POV:I emerged from the shadows of my cell and entered the dimly lit hallway adorned with torches. A shudder ran up my spine as I felt the familiar chill of the stone floor beneath my bare feet. I knew where we were going; the soldiers surrounded me, their expressions expressionless. The summons from King Sylvester was never auspicious. His obsession with my defiance had turned into a never-ending curse. His playground was The Pit, a brutal and bloodthirsty sight, and I was his favorite puppet.The air grew heavier with the stink of death, metal, and sweat as we descended deeper into the Pit. A thunderous cacophony of audience roars assailed my senses. I narrowed my eyes in response to the intense light filling the arena.The booming voice of King Sylvester reverberated against the stone walls. "Vera, welcome to your another endeavour. I order you to transform and demonstrate your value."My heart ached, but I realised there was no point in resisting. I shut my eyes and conce
Ryan Meyers entered the damp, cold cell, his face cautious. His gaze swept throughout the dark room before focussing on me as I lay there on the tiny bed up against the dank stone wall.The oppressive silence was broken by the faint clink of his shoes against the pavement of the small room."Vera," he said in a quiet, nearly disbelieving voice. "You've healed, the guards stated. They claimed your injuries vanished."I counted the fractures in the ceiling while maintaining a fixed stare while he spoke.Ryan also exhibited patience. Though there was a slight smell of damp dirt and metal, his curiosity was more pervasive than the environment of the prison. He was asking questions, but I wasn't answering them just yet. "Who are you, Vera?”A small grin touched my lips, but not enough to comfort him. "What does it matter?"“It matters because you're not… normal." He paused, considering what to say. "No one heals quickly; I've seen injuries like that. It's not feasible."At last, I moved, r
I had spent days inside the confinement. or perhaps several weeks. Here, in the damp, cold stone dungeon where King Sylvester had ordered me to be kept away, time had become meaningless. With just the distant sound of footfall overhead to serve as a reminder that life went on outside these walls, one day blended into the next.With a jarring sound,, the cell doors opened, and I sat up, heart palpitating. With her visage as impenetrable as ever, Lorna entered the room, accompanied by an unfamiliar-looking guard. Despite their silence, I could tell they were coming after me. Lorna nodded stiffly and beckoned for me to follow. I wavered. Now what? Was this the last one? Was this where my demise lay?But no, Lorna's face lacked finality.There was more going on. With shaky legs from inactivity, I gently rose up and trailed them into the dimly illuminated hallway. The guard led the way up the narrow stairs, his armour chiming with every step. The wet chill of the basement faded behind us a
DEREK'S POV:I was driving late at night with Spock and Kara ensconced in the rear seat, their voices merging in a heated conversation. The paved road was eerily lit by the low moon in the sky and I was focused on the road that stretched out endlessly into the city.We were all feeling the weight of the uprising, but I had other thoughts.With a voice as steely as a diamond, Kara said, "We need to hit him hard, Derek. If we manage to enter that castle and spread enough mayhem, Sylvester's power over everything will be weakened. We must take advantage of all of his weaknesses."I gripped the steering wheel more firmly. I should have been exhilarated at the prospect of pursuing King Sylvester and storming into that impenetrable hellhole. That ought to have been all I could think of. However, It wasn't. It was never the case.I was plagued by a spectral image of Vera's dejected face as his guards took her back to her chambers. The awful sight of seeing her locked up in a dank smelly cell
DEREK'S POV:The only sound that broke the silence as I drove through the pitch-black, deserted streets, was the buzz of the motor.The rendezvous was a dilapidated building outside the city, a forgotten artifact of the passage of time. It stood there, a dark silhouette against the black sky, its walls filthy and its windows broken.As I approached the entrance, my hands became more firmly gripped on the steering wheel.That was it.Leaning comfortably against a pillar with a duffel bag slung over his shoulder, Ryan was already waiting for me. The faint glow of a neighboring street light barely lit his face, yet he was as composed as ever.He nodded at me as I got out of the car, his gaze darting around a little before he said. "You're late.""Needed to exercise caution," I whispered as I looked about.The tension spiked in my nerves, making me feel frazzled on the inside. I hated to say it, but as this plan became closer to reality, I began to doubt my ability to see it through.Ryan