Reaching down I take off my heels and begin to walk as fast as I can through the hallways toward my chambers. I turn right off the main thoroughfare and put my hand out, keeping my balance as best I can. However, as I reach close to the end of that corridor, the nausea makes way to dizziness, and my vision begins to fade. A bright light slams hard into me, and it drives me to my knees. A vision dances across my mind, the petals of lilies falling from the sky. The light emanates all around me, and beneath my feet is sand. I can feel the heat of Drogaem's tomb and hear the whisper of a spell from the lips of the same woman who haunts my consciousness on a regular basis.
My head throbs and the uneasiness I felt on the sands of the island comes rolling back to me. I feel it in my blood, my bones, and in my heart all over again. I can see my hands, glowing brightly as I approach the entrance to the tomb. Instead of pressing my palms to the runes like I had when we opened the tomb, I thrust my arms outward and that same light that burns within my chest surges out, covering the tomb in heat and fire.
The light blinds me and when my vision returns, I'm within the walls of the tomb again, strong arms wrapping around me. But they are not Kane's. Looking down my body I realize, I am not myself either. I am someone else, I am the woman in my visions. My site is cloudy, but as I turn my head, I see a familiar face. It is Drogaem, though his flesh is not torn and rotting like the corpse that lay beneath me in the tombs of the Castle. He is younger, but the darkness of his eyes lets me know he is just as evil. He speaks to me, but I cannot understand the name he's calling me. His voice is muffled, and the light begins to shine again, growing brighter and brighter until I am blinded.
The heat brings me to a breaking point and I gasp, opening my eyes with fright. Again, I find arms around me but I cling to them, too fearful to attempt to see who is holding me. The hands grip me tighter as I lay on the floor trying to catch my breath. "Briar, look at me."
I follow the familiar voice finding Willem looking down at me, holding me tightly to his chest. My hands are shimmering as if the light were coming from me and has slowly dissipated upon my wakening. I'm gripping onto his arm tightly and I can tell it is causing him some discomfort but he holds it back, looking at me with worry and irritation. "Willem…"
He holds me there for a few more moments until I catch my breath and realize my surroundings. Carefully he helps me to my feet and I situate my dress, feeling as if I have possibly exposed myself. But Willem's eyes are not on me, he is not looking at me hungry like Kane does. Instead, his jaw clenches and he shakes his head. "THIS was not how the Underworld was ever supposed to be."
I can read in his tone that he believes I'm tainting his world, and in this moment, he may be right, I don't know. I just look at him, blinking, unable to form the words to even begin to rectify what is happening. He growls and drops his hands from me, staring at me for just a moment before storming off. There I am again, alone in the shadows. This time I make haste, hurrying as fast as I can with my weak knees back to my chambers. I don't look up at the guards standing watch outside, as it something new, something Kane has ordered. Instead, I hurry inside and slam the door shut behind me, locking it tightly. I don't know why but I'm filled with fear.
I pause for only a moment before heading over and standing in front of the mirror. My makeup has run and sweat peppers my forehead. My eyes lower down to my suggestive dress and a disgust moves over me. I begin to tear off my clothing, grabbing a robe and wrapping it tightly around my body. I don't know what is wrong with my new home, why so many things are going awry.
After I calm myself enough to push away the shaking, I walk over to the window and look out at the deep purplish haze that simmers in the Underworld's nighttime sky. The lights of the city shimmer brightly from my castle window and I can hear music rolling along the stale hot breeze from the streets below. I realize how comforting it is, how for the first time ever I think of the Underworld as my home. I haven't been here very long, not compared to everyone else, but I no longer feel like a stranger in a foreign land. I'm starting to believe I belong here. But what am I here for?
Just days before, maybe a couple of weeks, I would've answered that question with a definitive understanding of love, but the man who could have shown me that love before, has now let that power corrupt him, and I no longer know where to turn.
Chapter 7
Briar
Days are passing,
