Light of Stars [2]

Chapter Fourteen

♕ Blood Stained ♕

There was dried blood on both of her hands. Another's.

The aftertaste of wine still lingered on the back of her tongue. In her head needles sharp as her nails went through her brain making her eyes shut close as soon as she opened them. She coughed, black spit coming out from her mouth. How long had she been asleep for? Nerezza breathed in, memories of the youngling tied to the wall coming back to her. Their screaming a forgotten melody that would lather sooth her back to sleep.

She had talked to much. Confessed to much to them, and made the mistake of falling asleep before killing them. At least that gave her something to do today. A new marked one to add to her collection.

Nerezza cracked her back, the knuckles of her fingers, searched for her missing pair of heels she'd taken off at some point during the day before.

The floor was colder than her skin, the air much lighter than it had been a few hours back. Her eyes turned to the wall, the empty shackles, the empty spot where she'd perfectly wrapped the chains about the girl's wrists.

Her heart stopped. Shadow pouring out of her hands unconsciously as she stepped forward to see the empty chains, not broken, opened. Almost as if they'd vanished out of thin air.

Her eyes darkened.

Nerezza tried to remain quiet, silent, tried not to let anger consume her as she walked up to the throne room. She would find Skylar and rip them apart for thinking they could escape her.

Her steps were slow and careful, the skin beneath her feet hurting as she stepped over the rocks of the mountain. She brushed her fingers against the wall of Exilium, feeling the singing of stardust coming through them towards her blood. There were no guards, no signs of any life besides her own in the whole castle. But something had changed in the throne room.

The air around her had changed. Although she couldn't see, she felt him. His blessing wrapping around her like an old friend. A dead one.

Nerezza regretted her appearance, she looked down at her wine stained dress, at her bare feet, she pictured the tangled ness of her hair, the stains of dirt that must be in her face for sleeping in a dungeon all night. She lowered her head, keeping her eyes on the floor, not sure if he could see her, if he had come for her at all. Previous thoughts of hunting and revenge wiping away from her mind. The queen had warned her about this, had warned her... and she had disappointed her by a foolish night of recklessness. The loose prisoner would have to wait.

"Sweet Nerezza" the man covered by shadows said. "Such a shame to find you so... undisposed" Nerezza looked up, tried to see past the shadows, but finding nothing but endless dark. "Don't be afraid, I'm not hear to harm"

"I'm not afraid" Nerezza said, feeling her throat throbbing. Her head spinning.

The man laughed. "I assume Aleena informed you of my... visit" His voice came closer, Nerezza simply nodded. "Tell me something child" He took a step closer, his feet tapping against the marble floor. He smiled, and Nerezza could see his teeth sharp among the darkness. "Why are you here?"

Nerezza stood straighter, feeling her marks tearing her skin as he walked closer, responding to him instead of her, the same way they did with the queen.

"I am here to serve my queen." His laughed echoed through the room again, sharper. The point of his finger touching her chin, studying her eyes.

Nerezza did not lift her eyes form the floor, nor did she resist him as he guided her closer to the throne. As he let his own shadows wrap around her and move her to his will.