Radiant

Chapter Forty

I pulled even harder at the metal bars as he slowly approached me. No luck. They were far too tight for me to free myself from them.

Out of fear, I shut my eyes tightly and whimpered.

The boy chuckled. "Ah, Guardian. You never cease to surprise me. One minute you're viciously attacking me with harsh words, and the next you're whining like a scared puppy. How incredibly...pathetic."

When I opened my eyes, I saw him looking directly at me. He was inches away from my face.

He lifted his hand up abruptly and brought it towards my face. He gently put his icy fingers on my cheek and caressed my face. I pulled back as far as I could once he did, and spit at his eyes.

"Pervert. Keep your filthy hands away from me." I stated threateningly.

He grabbed my hair and pulled at it to lift my head up. Then he slapped me on my cheek.

The strike was so hard that I almost blacked out. My cheek felt like it had been burned. As soon as I regained focus, I looked up at him. I winced at the pain searing up though the side of my face.

His eyes seemed even darker than before (if that was even possible). If looks could kill, then his definitely would've murdered me without a second thought. He wiped off the remaining spit from his face, and glared at me with rage.

"Witch. How dare you disrespect me that way?"

"I don't have to treat scum like you with any respect."

The boy remained silent for a while, then laughed silently to himself.

"Don't you worry, wench. You'll get what's coming to you soon enough."

"I have a name, you know. It's Tamila." I said.

"What a ridiculous name." He replied.

I remained quiet, steaming at the fact that he too, didn't like my name. What was so wrong with it anyways? It may not be common, but it was probably ten times better than his.

Wait a second....I thought. He doesn't like my name...just like Ezekiel didn't...

I pushed the thought away immediately. No. It was just a coincidence. But maybe, I can find out why I'm here...

I shifted my body over to face the boy. "I'll bet that your name is awful in comparison to mine."

The boy smirked. "Now that is a foolish assumption."

"Oh really? Prove me wrong, then. Tell me your name."

Once again he got way too close for comfort. I could hear his shallow breathing since he was so close to me, and his face seemed entirely different up close.

It was like an ancient statue, carved delicately and carefully into perfection. And yet, it seemed twisted somehow. There was something more to it, something...darker.

"Zuriel."

"W-what?" I said in a small voice.

"My name...is Zuriel."

I was taken aback. I didn't think that he was actually going to tell me, but he did.

I frowned. "This doesn't change anything. You're still a monster to me."

He grinned at me. "Now that's a harsh accusation, don't you think?"

"No. It suits you quite well, actually."

Zuriel stood upright, straightening his clothes a bit. "I recall you calling someone else that too. What was his name...Ezekiel, wasn't it?"

My eyes widened. "H-how did you know that?"

"You really think that I haven't kept track of your activity since we first met, Guardian? My dear father and I need your power, after all. And I have to say that it has grown quite considerably. You get stronger every day."

He looked at me with a hungry expression, as if he craved my power more than anything else in the world. It made me shudder a little.

"You won't get away with this! Ezekiel and my friends will-"

"Tsk, tsk. Tamila, Tamila. You just don't get it, do you?"

"What don't I get?"

"Isn't it obvious? Capturing you...the blacksmith...your parents..."

I gasped. "It was all a...trap?"

"Precisely. And all of your friends fell for it. As we speak, they search for you and the others who are captured, not realizing that doing so will lead to their deaths."

My heart clenched in pain, tears beginning to form in my eyes.

"How tragic. It truly is. Especially considering how they're going to die."

"No!!! What are you going to do to them?!?"

Zuriel sneered at me, disfiguring his normally perfect face. "It is not what I will do to them. But what one of them will do to the rest."

"What are you talking about?!? None of them would ever be a traitor!"

"Oh, it's not that he's a traitor. It's simply that he won't be able to stop himself."

I trembled in fear at the sudden realization of what could happen.

"No...you don't mean..."

Zuriel lifted my head up by my chin, eyes gleaming darkly.

"Oh, yes. Your precious Ezekiel will eliminate them for us. And there's nothing you can do to stop it."

***

Higher up within the castle, Ezekiel and the rest of the group walked cautiously through hostile territory.

Ezekiel stopped for a second and turned to face the others. "Be on guard, guys. We need to be prepared for anything."