of the Underworld, and I will once again return to my former glory. What I won't do is let some reaper and his pet mortal stand in my way of it.

* * *

Briar

Pretending to be amused by conversation made at the table is something I'm a pro at. Growing up I was taught the art of conversation. I was taught when to say something and when to look completely amused even though most likely what they were telling me was boring. Kane doesn't seem to notice. I give him my best interested look as I stare up at the etchings above the door. Surprisingly, I never noticed the three x's carved with an obvious blunt object, hovering over the doorframe.

We eat in silence, and I make sure to get my fill. Earlier I had begun to think about all the things that Kane could do to torture me, and seeing that I'm human, he knows that I need to eat. I'm not sure if he and the others actually have to eat, or if they just enjoy food. For me, I'll die without it. Prior to this night, I picked at my food, pushed it around with my fork, ate a few bites here and there, but not anymore. I didn't want to be stuck already starving and end up being tortured by starving to death. That's a long drawn out death.

When we are finished, I guzzle the last of my wine and set the chalice down on the table. I look at my cup curiously. "Did we get a new kind of wine? I thought that we made it here at the Castle."

Kane forces a smile and I know it's fake. "I wanted to try something new. It's a little bitter isn't it?"

I shrugged. "Whatever you like, I'll be fine with."

Willem puts his napkin on his plate and scoots back, standing up. "If the two of you will excuse me, I have other things to attend to. Let me know if you need anything."

Kane nods and puts his hand out to me. "Why don't you come with me. We can talk and walk."

I don't like the sound of it, but I smile anyway and nod, reaching my hand over and taking his. He grips it tightly all the way down the table and pulls me close as we exit the dining hall. I let him steer me, knowing full well where we’re going. We head back through the castle, past all of the pictures and knickknacks, and libraries, and down the darkened hallway to the stone steps. Several guards stand watch, not allowing anyone else through. As we begin to descend, he starts to speak. "Have you been feeling all right? How have your dreams been?"

In all honesty, it is the first time I have thought about it in several days. I'm so wrapped up in my work to get my version of Kane back, I forgot about the visions. When I have them, I don't think it's possible to forget about them. They are blinding, scary, and they confuse me. But I suppose as I'm growing my powers and I'm focusing on Kane, my mind is building a wall around them. Before, I could feel the walls that I built, struggling with them, but if it is a wall keeping my visions and dreams out, I can't tell it's there. I don't really want to put too much thought into it though, I'm glad they've stopped, at least I have a break from it.

"I'll be honest, I haven't had any more," I told him.

He nods his head with an approving look and helps me down the last few steps into the crypts. I pause, hearing the whimpers of the mortals ahead. In some ways I'm glad to hear them, as that means they are still alive. In other ways, it pains me. He feels my hesitation and tugs harder on me, gripping me tightly enough to show me that he's in control. I stand away from them, the lights brighter where they are this time. There are bruises on their faces, and one of the men has a laceration up his leg, the flesh open, the blood caked down his pant leg.

"Why did you bring me here again?" I ask him, knowing full well it's a test. Either that, or he just enjoys torturing me.

Kane smiles and stands at the foot of Drogaem's corpse. "When the time is right, I want you to help me. I want you to infuse this corpse with life. You are my Queen, or you will be soon enough, and it's important that we do these things together to show a connection, to show that we're in this together."

I don't want to do it. Kane knows I don't want to do it, and that's exactly why he's forcing me. I take a hesitant step forward but I stop. I'm trying to make myself, I want to keep up my spying, but the thought of torturing these mortals is almost too much for me to bear. It's taking everything in me to hold back my emotion. My hands are shaking, my knees are weak, and my stomach is turning.

He marches over to me angrily and puts his hand on the back of my neck, forcing me forward toward Drogaem's body. He brings me to his head and flips the cloth back revealing the dead kings bloated and disintegrating face. The flesh hangs off in chunks and I can feel the dinner that I wolfed down gurgling in my stomach. I latch my eyes closed and try to turn my head away, the smell permeating into my nostrils.

Kane grips my neck tighter. "You have to get used to it! I am your King, and you will do as you're told."

He releases my neck and I stumble backward, turning away. "I will not. Please, don't be so cruel. You cannot ask this of me, now or ever."

Kane throws the cloth back over Drogaem's head

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