War of Faeries

Chapter 23

I pushed open Zane's cell door silently. I am lucky Henry decided to keep him in a torture room which is enclosed.

Zane was hanging from the ceiling by his wrists, blood covering every inch of his bare back, and stomach. His arms were cut open and bleeding as well. I take a step into the room and close the door. He slowly lifts his head up and meets my gaze. His face was all bruised and bloodied.

I make my way towards him and his eyes track my every movement. I never should have left him down here. I should have gotten him out of here the night I knew he was here.

I wrap my arm under his shoulder and gently hold him still while I unlock his restraints. He slumps against me groaning in pain. I slowly lead him towards a chair in the corner of the room. He slowly lowers himself into the chair while I push the hair out of his eyes.

"I will be back soon, stay here. After I get you all cleaned up I need you to do me a favor."

"Anything for you." He gives me a weak smile, which makes my heart hurt.

I nod my head and leave him behind. The only thing keeping me going is knowing that he is waiting for me, and his life depends on me coming back. The halls are quiet everyone is sleeping, or pretending to be. I grab the bags I prepared earlier knowing that I wouldn't have time to grab everything now.

I sling the bags over my shoulders and make my way back towards the dungeon. Every thing was going fine until I heard people talking. This definitely wasn't something I prepared for. I thought everyone would be in their rooms.

"Max sent me down here, he wanted to make sure you are okay." It was Matthew, I could make out his voice once I got closer.

"I am fine. I made sure I had some coffee made before I came down here for my shift." It was Brandon, the guard from earlier.

"Just making sure. Let someone know if you need anything."

I watched Matthew walk past me, never noticing me lurking in the shadows. All I had to do now was sneak past Brandon.

I waited until I couldn't hear anything before rounding the corner. Sitting on a chair were the keys to the cells. I walk past the chair and several cells before I come to Zane's. I was more than lucky to get back into the dungeon without being spotted, but now that I know Brandon won't be sleeping anytime soon I'll have to figure a way out of here.

"I'm surprised you came back." he mutters as I pull out a first aid kit. "I thought you left all of us behind."

"Yeah, well I couldn't just leave you in here to die now could I?" I tell him as I open a pack of wipes. "This might sting a lot."

I don't give him anytime to comprehend my words before wiping out the cuts on his back. He inhales sharply but besides that doesn't make a sound. He was used to this, or at least he was at some point. I keep cleaning the cuts until I can bandage them up.

In reality he needs stitches in a few areas, but I wont be able to do that in here. There wasn't enough time. We locked eyes for a moment, and he understood. He knew where to go, who to see.

"My mission was to get Cora, but your prince found me." he emphasizes the word your, and it makes me cringe. I hate how people keep assuming he is mine.

"I know why you are here."

"You talked to him?" he asks, the shock written all over his face.

"No. I didn't." I tell him as I hand him some clean clothes. "I just knew you being here while Cora was locked up wasn't a coincidence."

"How are you going to get both of us out of here without..."

"Jail break. I have to free several other prisoners."

"They wont believe your story." he mutters pulling on the new pants. I hand him several different weapons that I could fit into the bag without getting caught.

"I won't be the one telling it. I won't even know it happened until everyone else does. Trust me, I can do my job."

"Just stay safe, R-"

"I know. He would kill you if anything happened to me because I got you out of here." He nods his head waiting for me to lead the way.

****

"You have to stay quiet." I tell her as I push the needle through her skin.

She all but demanded that I was the one who stitched her cut on her wrist, so here we are. She glares at me as I do as she demanded, she stays silent though. Zane is watching the cell even though he doesn't have too. I think it just helps him feel useful.

"Here, change into this." I shove the clothes at her, and I walk over to Zane.

"I know how much you two hate each other, but I need you to get along." I whisper to him, he raises an eyebrow not looking at me. "I know he told you to behave already, but..."

"Its just in your nature I know." He tells me looking at me, "We all miss you."

"I miss everyone too, but its better this way." I tell him.

"I am ready, so if you two are done whispering over there..."

"Stay close to me, and stay quiet."

****

I was able to secure a wagon and two horses for them and their travels. I had even loaded it with money and the necessities. They threw their bags into the wagon before walking the horses down the path farther.

"You could come with us." Cora tells me.

"No I cant. I wasn't the mission." I tell her, she glares at me before climbing into the wagon.

"Come with us." Zane begs.

"Stick to the mission, not your heart." I tell him as I pull him into a hug.

He waits a moment before hugging me back tightly. I tighten my grip on him even more, neither of us caring about the cuts on his back. Too soon I let him go, and take a step back. I may have gotten Cora and Zane out of there, but I still had others to rescue. Or free because the others deserve to be in there.

I watch him climb into the wagons driver seat. He turns around to wave and say one last goodbye before heading into the night. I stand there watching them leave until I could no longer see or hear them.

I had to go back to the palace, and do one more thing before I could end my day.