Until Darkness Ascends

CHAPTER TWO

It was cold. The seas were always cold now. She'd read stories of when the sun lit the world and there were great fields of multicolored coral and more women swam beside one another. That was centuries ago, and Cordelia was not able to experience it. But she found solace in her dreams from the terrible reality of the dying oceans. In her dreams, she played with the young Voltulorians through the healthy, colossal kelp and freely swam with her people without the metaphorical shackles around her ankles.

In her dreams, she was a free female.

Males called her the last hope, the only female in the Kingdom who hasn't tried to conceive. The confidence in her womb would be endearing if she couldn't feel them chomping at the bit to be the first to unite with her.

King Cailborne kept her away from the males of the world, locking her within her room in the palace. She was only allowed to leave with her guards, though that was not often. Even they begged for the affection of a woman. She felt like a piece of meat dangling before wolves.

Perhaps she'd rather be in front of wolves. They were probably more humane.

King Cailborne made her the most uncomfortable. He'd speak of intimacy between them when she felt nothing of it. He spoke about how they would raise the next generation of Voltulorian nobles together, but the thought made her stomach weep. He never touched her, but she could feel his lustful eyes upon her skin. Sometimes she felt like she could hear his wanton thoughts.

Sitting on the window seat in her room, she gazed between the bars of her window. Every day she would sit here for hours, hoping to see something different besides darkness. But disappointment was endless as she stared out into the sunless waters. The only light within the Kingdom of Voltulora were the lampposts crafted from the gifts of an archangel. The palace was well-lit as the King demanded with the same magic..

It was a great honor for her; she was thankful that she was showered by light, knowing others were not. So, she supposed her life wasn't too terrible.

Even though King Cailborne made her skin crawl, he did provide for her. She was warm, fed, and protected. He even gave her a few history books to ease her boredom. The loneliness was the worst of it all.

The King kept her away from males and since males were the only people around, it made her contact with people rare. Sometimes, when he was in a good mood, King Cailborne would allow her to go for a swim with her entourage of protection.

His good moods seemed far and long apart these days. She supposed his duties were weighing heavily on him. She'd heard that seaweed was so scarce as of late that Voltulorians were starving in the Abyssal Plain. Soon even she and the King would struggle to be fed.

Sighing, she pushed herself away from her window, swimming to her bed.

"Cordelia?"

The mermaid looked at the door. She could recognize that voice even through the stone walls.

"Yes, Grayson?"

"The King requests you in the throne room."

She pulled the door open, immediately greeted by the merman guard. Grayson was one of the few males allowed around her, but only with others watching him closely. That's why every male guard was mandated to bring another to accompany them. Behind Grayson was Charles. She gave a reserved smile. "Did he say what for?"

"No, Cordelia. We should get going. It's best not to keep him waiting."

"Yes, of course."