I pause for a moment, rolling my shoulders, taking inventory of my own body. Somehow, I feel much stronger. If I really think about it, over the last week, I always begin to feel tired and groggy right after breakfast. At first, I thought it was due to the amount of food that we were eating, but that doesn't make sense because most mornings I barely touch the plate of food in front of me. My eyes fall on the wineglass still sitting full where Kane had pushed it toward me.
I walk over and look down at it, leaning and taking a whiff. It's got that same slight tangy aftertaste, even when you're smelling it. The servants have not taken the dishes away from the table yet, not wanting to disturb me. I push the wineglass away, not wanting it anywhere near me. As my eyes shift back to my own plate, they stop, staring over at the plate that is still sitting where Kane was sitting. On the edge of his plate is a small empty vial. I reach over and pick it up holding it in front of my face, turning it back and forth in front of the flicker of the candles. It's got that same rainbow-like sheen inside of it.
It dawns on me quickly, my instinct to avoid the drink is because Kane is drugging me. He is putting something in my daily drinks which is harming me. It's no wonder he is asking about my dreams. It's no wonder he is angry that I don't want wine with breakfast. He has been keeping me from being strong like I need to be.
A wave of anger rolls over me, and I close the vial in my palm, crushing it, feeling the small shards of glass prick into my skin. My teeth clutch tightly and my eyes narrow toward the door of the dining hall. If there was any question before that moment of whether Kane cares for me anymore, those questions are completely gone. They are gone just like the man that I thought I knew.
Chapter 16
Drogaem
As I stand in the dreary crypts staring at my book, watching the mortals cower in the corner, I read through the last bit of text that I have pulled from the secret writings. Everything is going just as it's supposed to. I'm so close to figuring out how to fill my old corpse with life. In fact, if I wanted to, I could do it that very evening, but there is one threat standing in my way. I have not been able to gain control of Lux. She is not showing herself anymore, and though I am tempted to push down the dreams and visions in order to pull her forward, she is seemingly hiding worse than before.
Lux is dangerous, and I am not stupid, I know that she's a threat to me just as much as anybody else. She is the one that took my life, who attempted to put a spell on my crypt in order to keep me from ever coming back. She cried tears, tears of love and remorse as she drove the dagger into my heart. I will never forgive her for that. I will never forget that the woman I loved ultimately was the woman that took my life.
Nonetheless, as much as I hate her, I don't want her dead. I want her sedated enough to not ruin the transfer of souls, but then I want to use her. I want to keep her as a weapon. A weapon that also stands as a sign to all those who would oppose me. I want them to understand that not only am I extraordinarily powerful, but I control the most powerful being who has ever graced the Underworld. She may not be by my side any longer, but I will have her in my cage. She will not rule with me voluntarily, I already know that, and it's not even a question in my mind. Lux is plagued by the human side of her. The side that feels that it's necessary to do the right thing even though I disagree with that. But forced, she can be extraordinarily destructive, and everyone knows that.
But how do I do it? How do I keep Lux from coming through? I shut my book and wave it off into the shadows, walking up to my corpse, and standing over it. The only way to ensure the Lux will not interfere is to enslave Briar. I need to reduce her ability to interfere in any way shape or form.
"No," Kane's voice roars out in my head. It takes me by surprise and I close my eyes, transporting my conscious to the void where I keep Kane locked.
As I appear, I find him standing, his body tense and strong, his face angry. "Aren't you feeling strong today. Tsk, tsk, tsk, don't make me put you back into your dreams."
Kane yells out and charges straight at me. I stand with ease, and when he is close enough, I swipe my hand to the right knocking him into the wall. He slams hard, and slides down, too weak to remember that his body is just a figment of his imagination. He himself is creating his own pain.
I tilt my head back and laugh, flicking my finger in the air. He slides across the dark void of the ground, and into the corner. "That was a feeble attempt to overpower a God. You of all people should know that towering toward someone will not make them fearful of you. You just used up a lot of energy for that. I think that maybe, you should calm yourself down a bit."
As I stand there laughing at Kane, in the back of my mind I
