Wake of Darkness [1]

Chapter Thirty-Eight

♕ Brutus ♕

When sunset came, Aubrette and Mason started walking through the woods. Leaving their horses behind, not desiring the attention that would come if they arrived on top of them. Aubrette could feel her heartbeat increasing with every step she gave. Mason walking a few steps in front of her.

They walked downhill until the trees started mixing with the houses, and she finally started spotting the familiar pathways she used to love to walk through, during a lazy afternoon. Although, however comforted she was by their familiarity, she couldn't stop noticing the way the city seemed to be dead. There were a few people walking down the street, their faces low and steps hurried. As if they were to afraid from the night sky, and the moon no longer brought them protection. The thought made Aubrette's skin freeze.

"Hey" Mason said, looking back at her. And Aubrette realized she had stopped walking. "We have to keep moving" Aubrette nodded, and kept moving, concentrating on placing one foot in front of the other, even when they walked through the square. And all Aubrette wanted to do was lay down on the floor and stare up to the stars.

The both of them found themselves staring up the castle sooner than she would've liked. And as much as she tried to convince herself she was ready to go back inside; she also felt an overwhelming sense of fear. Aubrette couldn't shake the feeling that she was walking directly into the king's hands. That maybe his plan had been to get her here all along, and she was making things easier for him. She would be okay.

She'd told Asher the only thing they could do against evil was fight. And here she was, both her knees shaking in anticipation of what waited for her. It all felt like a joke.

But she couldn't just turn around and leave. Sybilla was inside. She had prepared to walk through the front doors a couple of days ago, even when she hadn't known what she would have walked into. She would do this for Layla and those who died that night in the alley. She would do this for the grey lady. For her mother. Because they deserved better than to die in the middle of a fight that wasn't theirs. They deserved to live. And if she couldn't give them that. She would give them this. And perhaps see them in the other side after.

"It's gonna be okay. I'm right here with you" Mason whispered.

"Promise me you'll get her out" Aubrette said. Knowing Sybilla would tear every brick of the castle if it meant to fight beside her. "Promise me Mason."

"I'll get her out" he said.

"Okay" Aubrette looked at him, at his eyes, which looked far too dark in the dim light, and grabbed his hand before closing her eyes. Frowning at the lack of warmth form his own skin. Perhaps she had been under the sun for too long.

When she opened them again, her room surrounded them, and it felt more like a dream than a reality. Aubrette looked around, preparing herself for a wave of emotion to hit her, waited for tears to form in her eyes, but nothing at all happened. Not even the slightest bit of nostalgia. It didn't feel like her room anymore. This didn't feel like her home. It seemed to big, too empty, too silent.

"I thought you'd get us to the dungeons" Mason said looking around at the empty room.

"Guess my mind was elsewhere" Aubrette replied.

She walked out of the room not wasting any more time. And hurried through the halls. The palace walls seemed empty and dark. And the lack of light made a hole open in her stomach. It was too cold for a place that was supposed to be reign by a sun king. Aubrette entered the throne room and heard Mason's steps behind her. Steadier and more concealed than hers.

Aubrette slowed down, as they reached the main entrance, looking around and expecting guards to come out and notice their presence, expecting to hear the laugh of the king echoing through the walls, but the castle seemed to be deserted. "I don't think there's anyone here" Aubrette whispered turning to Mason.