He slams the chalice on the table and walks back over toward me. He runs his finger down the side of my face, down my neck, and over my shoulder. With sharp movements, he dips in and takes in a long deep breath. I stand perfectly still, my eyes wide, and my hands clenching into fists. I know that Drogaem is capable of commanding me to do anything, physically, and that includes taking me in his bed. I'm not sure I will be able to withstand an act like that.
He sniffs me again and backs up, curling his lip. To my relief, he waves his hand, and I feel the dark magic recede from my muscles and my chest. "Leave me. I'm tired of dealing with you and your little boyfriend. I need my rest as I have a long day of torture planned tomorrow. I will summons you when I'm ready."
I go to turn, but before I can, he grabs my arm and yanks me toward him. My lip quivers and I'm not under his control at that moment, but I know better than to fight him. A deep growl emanates from his chest. "And when you come to my side, you better not forget your crown again. Your boyfriend is not an excuse for disobedience."
He releases me, and I stumble backward, turning, and hurrying from the room. I don't stop outside, and instead, continue on until I'm around the corner and out of sight. Forgetting my crown is stupid, a stupid mistake that I cannot afford. Drogaem's temperament is unpredictable, and I can't take the chance of him killing Kane or me because of a small detail.
I calm my nerves, feeling a slight ease in my chest, knowing that I have managed to get away another night without being forced into Drogaem's bed. All I want is to climb into Kane's, curl up next to him, and find a moment's peace listening to the sound of his breathing, but it's not yet time to rest. I cannot continue like this.
If I want to beat Drogaem, I'm going to have to take a risk.
Chapter 3
Briar
Willem,
I sit alone in the dark halls of the castle, penning this letter with nothing more than the single flame of a half-burnt candle. This letter may be long, but I fear I will only have one chance to send you a message, so I must make the most of it. As you may already know, Drogaem has risen. After you escaped, the dark spells released, and Kane was thrown from the captivity of his own void.
My attempts to end Drogaem's life before his rotting corpse could reform were futile. I have been spelled, the dark magic seeping through a cut in my hand from the crown Drogaem wears. That magic was cemented into my very soul by Drogaem's words, twisting its way through my very muscles and flesh. My thoughts are still my own, but my body is summoned like a puppet.
As for Kane, he spends his days chained, withstanding barbaric and ungodly attacks of torture. When Drogaem grows bored, he leaves him, and I heal as much as I can before helping him to a bed. He rests as much as possible, knowing the next day will be worse than the last. My powers are not strong enough to heal the extent of the damage inflicted on him, and his wings are nothing more than shredded hunks of flesh and bone. I fear one-day Drogaem will kill him.
The castle is barren, and even the few servants that remain, hide within the shadows of the castle. But there is no place any of us can go that Drogaem cannot find us. Through the dark stillness of the night, I hear the echoes of creatures I cannot see. They are dark and devilish, and I hope I do not have to come across them. For now, Drogaem seems pleased to just march me around, forcing me to watch my beloved's torture, but it's only a matter of time before his attention returns to the death and destruction of both this realm and the mortal one as well.
While I know your feelings for Kane are not bright and rosy, Drogaem is ten times worse than Kane could ever be. If he stays in power, we will all die, and this world, and the next, will see death and destruction the likes of which have never been seen. I implore you, if you care for anyone or anything living or soul-bound, you will gather your band of rebels and help us. Drogaem must be destroyed, no matter the consequence. The fate of all existence depends on it.
I will look when I can for a return letter in the place I leave this one. I hope this letter finds you and the remaining two of the Three, alive and vigilant.
With Peace,
Briar
I read the letter back through quickly, knowing that I can't linger too long where I am. It's as good as it's going to be, so I fold it up and look around the room for a second. I'm very suspicious anytime it's quiet, as Drogaem has a tendency to sneak up on me. The room is still and dark, the only light casts flickering shadows across the walls. They give me an eerie feeling, but I turn back and slowly open the bottom drawer of the desk, pulling out the red wax stick and the heavy seal that I expertly stole from Kane's office earlier that week when Drogaem was off somewhere in the castle.
I hold the wax stick over the small flame of my melting candle until it begins to drip. The drops make me cringe, as they look like pooling blood against the crisp white of the paper. As the wax builds in the center of the creased and folded edges, I press the seal into it, holding it there for a moment and
