My body feels exhausted, but with the chorus of screams, I will get no rest. Instead, I think about Lux and the story that Kane told me about her. She chose Drogaem. Not only that, I can tell that she loved him. But even through that love, she saw what he truly was, and she attempted to kill him. I can't even imagine the kind of pain that made her feel as she plunged the dagger deep into his heart.
I think about the relationship of my own with Kane, trying to drown out the sounds of his agony as best I can. When they finally come to a stop, I know that Drogaem has grown bored with him. I no longer feel the pressure from Drogaem to stay in my chambers, so I pull myself from my bed and tie my cloak around my shoulders. It's time to help Kane, to get him back to the room and mend him.
With my thoughts somewhere else, I open the door and step out, pulling it shut behind me. I'm so deep in thought that I don't even notice the hand coming toward me. It grasps me by the shoulder and presses me against the wall. I try to pull my hands up in defense, but the guard uses his other hand to pin me. He pulls off his helmet, and my teeth clench. "Gregore! Let me go. I need to get to Kane. I know that loyalty means nothing to you, you made that very clear when you abandoned your friend. When you watched Kane fall, but I will not do that to him."
The General was once a friend of Kane's, but at first sight of Drogaem, when he rose, Gregore pledged his loyalty and fealty to the Dark King. His lip quivers, and he snarls at me. "I've been sent to tell you to stay away from Kane. Drogaem is not allowing you to see him."
My face scrunches, and I push him, forcing him to release me. I shake my head and try to walk past him, but he pushes me back against the wall. "If Drogaem has orders, he can tell me himself."
Gregore pushes his hand harder against my chest. "That's probably not in your best interest. You're not going to be able to stop Drogaem. He's stronger than he was before, and before, he was nearly unstoppable."
"Nearly," I growled. "But you don't know what I'm capable of."
Gregore smirks. "You need to come to the realization that it doesn't matter that you have the blood of a God in your veins. That blood has been muddied by generations of filthy mortals just like you, your sisters, and your pathetic excuse of a father who sold you to the underworld. For now, you may roam the Castle, but do not look for Kane because if Drogaem catches you, you'll be nothing more than the shell of a pathetic human."
He releases me, and I snarl, pulling myself quickly away from him and backing into the room. I turn my hands over and look down at my palms, feeling the sparks of energy within me. I know that I have power, but never did I think it had anything to do with the gods. Has Kane known about this the whole time? Is this what makes me so important?
I'm just a mortal human…right?
Chapter 11
Briar
I pace.
My hands wring nervously in front of me.
My powers stay hidden from the anxiety raging through me.
I pace.
It's been days since I've seen Kane, and Drogaem refuses to even allow me into the throne room. The only reason I know he’s still alive, is from the screams I've been hearing. There've been times where I've fallen into a ball on the floor and cupped my hands over my ears, just trying to drown it out. His painful bellows hit me like arrows in the chest, and I can't do anything about it. Despite the general's warning, I search the castle every night for him, but Drogaem has him hidden. I'm beginning to question how long Kane can survive without me helping to heal his wounds before more are inflicted.
My emotions are all over the place. I cry for Kane, feeling as if a part of me is being ripped out. I growl in anger at Drogaem, wanting to smash him to bits. I worry, letting hopelessness enter my mind for just a moment. Then I rally myself, just trying to make it through another moment, not knowing where he is. I cannot take things day by day anymore. I cannot even take them hour by hour. My life consists of tiny moments, seconds passing like molasses.
Whatever he's doing to Kane, I can't even begin to attempt to connect to that place that he and I are intertwined within ourselves. The only thing I've been able to feel is pain. This morning I took a walk around the castle, trying to clear my mind, hoping that maybe the gardens will appear again to me, but they never do. There isn't a place in the castle that I can get away from the sound of Kane's torture, and when it quiets, finally, I am exhausted.
My exhaustion is pointless, though. I cannot sleep, I cannot eat, and all of my thoughts are on Kane. I begin to wonder if I can save anyone if he is gone. I make my way back to my room and lock myself inside. I stand by the window and stare out, my
