A Throne of Flames || COMPLETED

Chapter 26

Hey guys, just a heads up, this chapter does contain some violence and depictions of injury. If this may trigger you or make you uncomfortable, please skip this chapter!

I stood at the corner of the doorway, cloaked in shadow, warily watching the Atrix as it silently struggled against its bonds, as it had been doing without break since we had brought it here. Adonnija had gone to fetch the city guards, but even though there were three magic wielders here, along with two dragons, I still couldn't stop the feeling of unease that slowly ate away at me, so I had convinced Tyth to let me watch it. I heard muffled voices slowly getting louder as the door creaked open behind me. They stopped in the doorway next to me, their footsteps growing silent as they beheld the creature hissing and growling, pushing against the shimmering ropes.

I turned and nodded to them, "It's all yours."

With their hands ready on their swords, the two guards strode into the room, hesitating somewhat, then grabbed the creature by the bindings on it's wrists and hauled the Atrix up to it's feet.

As they moved out of the room, one stopped for a moment, then said quietly in a rough, slightly accented voice," Thank you, Miss. We'll see to it you don't see any of them again."

I smiled grimly, then replied, "It is appreciated Sir, but I'm afraid that may not happen." I pulled up the sleeves of my robes and held out my wrists, showing him the scars from the manacles. He looked down, then back at me, his eyes searching my face.

"I am sorry Miss." His gaze lingered in my face, then he turned and followed his companion out of the door, shoving the Atrix along in front of them.

I hurried back into the room, where I saw the man talking to Tyth, the boy and girl huddled by the slowly dying fire. Getting the feeling that the man was ok, I walked over to the others and sat beside them. The woman immediately flinched, body tensing, but the boy jumped into my arms. As I stroked his back I began to try and gain her trust.

"I'm Kelsie." Letting her look over me, I waited.

Her voice was small, broken. "I'm Aleyna."

I looked at her. She must have been such a prize for them: young, scared, broken. Wholly broken. Broken, yes, but she held my gaze. I smiled. "Hello, Aleyna."

She looked down at her wrists, at the phantom chains still hovering above her skin. I knew that feeling. "You are free now. Don't ever doubt that."

"Thank you." Her voice was quiet. "Can I... can I join you?"

"Why?"

"Because I want to help. I want to see them dead. After what you did for me, that's all I can offer."

I looked at her. Looked beneath the shattered broken girl to her spirit of fire burning within. "Of course." It was the least I could do after all that she had endured, what she had seen. "But you'll need to train, need to learn how to fight."

"I will."

As that promise still lingered in the air, I turned my attention to the boy, who still had his arms twined around my neck. "And what do you want to do?" I rubbed his back.

"I- want to eat."

I lifted him up and sat him on my lap. "So do I, but I think we need to find it first! That naughty food has gone hiding!"

He giggled and sprung up to his feet, his face alight with laughter.

I stood and led him over to the chair. I lifted up a cushion, and peered under it. "It's not here!"