Drogaem lifts his eyebrows, smiling at me snidely. "To be honest, I had no idea at first that it was your homeland. Lucky, I guess."
I shake my head, feeling the disgust in the very center of my soul. "You're a liar, but that's not shocking. You've been a liar your whole life. You even lie to yourself."
Drogaem's arm snaps forward, clutching me by the throat. He pulls me forward and slams me back against the wall. I take the pain and push it down, fighting against the urge to claw at his fingers. "You're only making things worse for your family. If anything is left of your sisters after I let my men take their turns, I will bring them back to this castle and let you watch as I peel the skin from their bones. I will keep them alive as long as I possibly can so that for the rest of your short little mortal life, you hear their screams echoing in your head."
I don't take what he's saying to heart. I know that we're going to do something, anything to stop him. I just hope the Soul Keeper makes it to the right person in time. When I don't respond to Drogaem, he drops me, huffing as he turns toward the door. I let out a deep breath, swallowing hard as the skin around my neck burns. I get my footing and step forward, thankful that Drogaem is leaving.
My eyes glance down, and I rub my fingers up and down my thigh, just inches from the dagger. It feels as if it's almost calling to me. When I first arrived in the underworld, I could've never imagined myself killing someone, but now, the thought of the blade, slowly sinking into Drogaem's chest, brings me joy.
"Oh, and just so you know, your Soul Keeper will be shot down before it can make it where it's going."
My head shoots up, and I stare angrily at Drogaem. He laughs wildly. "Oh, how I enjoy watching the light in your eyes die. I cannot wait until it's your turn."
I have to remember my plan. It's not just to get Willem here, but also to make Drogaem believe he is closer to controlling my magic. I have to appear broken in order for the plan to work. I close my eyes and let out a small whimper, letting the tears fill in, spilling over and down my cheeks. While Drogaem believes I'm crying for the bird, he couldn't be more wrong. I'm truly crying for the lives lost, and all the lives that will be lost in the coming days.
Drogaem chuckles, pleased by my sadness, before turning and slamming the door to my room behind him. My face quickly straightens, and I wipe my tears away, clenching my teeth. Just a few more days and Drogaem will be no more. He will only exist in history books. Whether I live or I die, I will have my satisfaction when the last thing he sees is not my despair or my sadness, but the real depth of hatred that simmers in my soul for him. He will see the faces of every soul he took, and when that's done, he will see Lux, pleased as he leaves this world, never to return again.
Drogaem, no matter what Kane thinks, is mine, and I will do everything I can to make sure that my hand holds the dagger when he takes his last pathetic breath.
Chapter 21
Briar
The morning no longer brings me solace. For a long time, waking up was a relief to me. It brought a little bit more light into my life. Even during the times where I grappled with the idea of killing Kane, I was happy for another day. It's not that I'm not happy to be alive now, but when the sky lightens and I wake from my sleep, I know that I have to be on guard. I know that things are coming, dark things that I'm not sure I will live through.
I stand at the window, staring out at the city. It's quiet, and those that live below huddle in their homes, mourning the loss of loved ones, and try to stay away from Drogaem's wrath. It is but a small preview of what life will be like, if life even continues, in the case that Drogaem wins. I cannot let that happen.
I lift my leg, and I rest my boot on the windowsill as I strap my dagger securely in place. I slept with it under the pillow last night, just in case. I take a moment to ease my shoulders, letting my powers rush through my veins, calming me. My magic is strong, and though I don't know if it's strong enough to defeat Drogaem, I am sure that my dagger is.
When I woke up, Kane was gone, and I don't know where he is. I won't let him be away from me for long, though, not during these times. I fix the skirt of my dress, a long black dress with a high turtleneck, and the stitching's of wings on the back. I honor those who cannot fight in this battle because they've already lost their lives. As I stand staring at myself in the mirror, my hair pulled back, my face straight and sullen, I see a different girl than the one who nervously traveled beside Kane to the underworld.
I am a different girl. I have seen things that will never leave my mind. I have learned things about myself that will never change. I am stronger, braver, and angrier. I'm so very angry.
The flutter of wings startles me, and I look over to the window to find the Soul Keeper restlessly marching back and forth on the sill. My heart beats a little bit faster in my chest. I approach slowly as to not scare it, and reach out, gently wrapping my hand around its wings. It
