A Court of Darkness and Storm

Chapter 4 - Alynna

Being home, at the Night Court, wasn't comforting as Alynna expected.

One week has been and Rhysand hadn't returned to the room. Nuala and Cerridwen came every single day feed her and change the bandages of her wrists and feet. They didn't speak much, but Alynna knew they were there by her brother's orders. The female needed to recover because she knew that she still would go on a long interrogation, after all, everyone wanted to know what had happened all this time, first and foremost Rhys.

He was being careful at keeping her in the palace, not in his residence or Velaris. He knows nothing about her, apart from the few things they have spoken about when she arrived, which wasn't enough to trust the fae yet.

Although resting and recovering, Alynna felt completely exhausted. Carrying on her body all the marks of the torture in Hybern and the Cauldron was depleting, plus using ancient magic to cover the marks. The female feared Rhys' reaction when he would see all the scars that covered her body. The only spot free of scars was her face, by orders of the King of Hybern, who said that liked the fae's face.

"If you weren't as misarable as a whore, I would fuck you" and "leave her face intact, i appreciate the features of an exotic illyrian female. You can do whatever you want woth the body" was phrases that Alynna constantly listened during torture sessions. The fae wouldn't want her brother to listen to such things; she feared that he couldn't bear the pain. She could already see the wrath taking over the High-Lord of the Night Court, and at this point, no revenge would be enough for him, since the king was dead. Some things better remain dead.

Alynna spends the whole day contemplating the horizon, wondering what she would say the next time she meets her brother. She was avoiding thinking about the things she felt inside the Cauldron. She still could feel an obscure power inside herself, and didn't want to know what that was. She could sense something calling her, seducing her. Something stinking, similar to so many dreams she had. Throughout nights, she frequently would wake up from horrible nightmares, with souls grasping her feet and the empty and moist gravity of the Cauldron dragging her to an eternal blackness. She knew that at some point, she would have to face reality, but the illusion that everything was fine for now seemed more comfortable.

She lost track of time, but imagined it was afternoon, since Nuala and Cerridwen entered the room for the usual clothing and bandages changes. But instead of bringing the usual camisole, they handed her a black wrapped dress and flat shoes.

- What is this?

- Just get dressed.

The black tissue was actually a long and plain dress, with long sleeves until her wrists. Was comfortable and simple, covering her chest and a black satin ribbon tied around the waist. Alynna already knew she was about to meet someone important, because no one visited her for days.

Despite feeling fragilized with everything she's been through, Alynna knew how to behave elegantly. She was one the heirs of the Night Court, after all. She would never lower herself to anyone. Alynna put the dress and shoes on, and in an upright posture, graceful and somehow, threatening, she stood up close to a bookshelf, back to the door.

In a few minutes, she heard someone knocking.

- Come in.

Of everyone that could visit her, he was the one she least expected. She felt a chill wandering her nape by listening to the strong steps of the male entering the room. Steps, these, rigid and by muscular legs, that would make the entire floor tremble in a certain way. She couldn't expect less from a general than a strong and intimidating posture.

- How are you? - the deep voice announced the mood for the rest of the night. Kindness, but suspicious.

- Fine. - Alynna slowly turned her face in the door 's direction. Has been many years since the last time she saw Cassian, and was a bit surprised to find such a beautiful male. - Where is my brother?

- Busy.

- And does he really need to send one of his bodyguards to interrogate his own sister??

Cassian didn't answer. Alynna, in spite of being the High-Lord's sister, didn't know which was her reputation among the faes close to Rhys. It shouldn't have one, after all she was dead.

- It's confusing to everyone. Give him some time. - There was a hint of tenderness in his voice.

- Why did you come here?

- I have some questions.

- So this is an inquisition, isn't it? I'm done being interrogated.

- It 's not. – Alynna realized he was impatient.

- What do you want to know, then?

The exchange of words was raw. Alynna remained on the same position on the corner of the room. Stood up, upright posture and her hands over one another. She wouldn't lose her patience easily. She tried her best to hide her hands; the black marks on her fingers were shaming her. Still, her countenance was calm and polished, as a High-Fae should be.

- How.

- I already told Rhysand. - Her words were uttered in a rispid way. It wasn't a matter she felt comfortable to talk about.

- Not to me.

- It doesn't matter anymore. It happened. The king searched my remains, put inside the Cauldron and waited for the damn thing to give him a weapon he could control. It didn't work.

- And how did you escape?

Alynna took a long pause. Walked to the opposite wall, keeping her distance from the male fae. Her walking was silent and sneaky, like a shadow. After a sigh, continued:

- When the king perished, many spells in Hybern were broken. The place I was held captive was strongly protected, but after the king's fall, Hybern turned to chaos. I was weak, but was able to get a small boat. I fainted most of the way, but something brought me to the Summer Court. That's all I recall.

Cassian was attentive, staring at the female and every movement. Alynna didn't intimated, like many other times in Hybern. Just like him, she was also studying him, turning her attention to the General's facial features. It was a small ability of her, to understand someone just by observing their facial expressions. A look can inform so much.

- Something makes me confused. – The male made a dramatic pause and walked in her direction, stopping a few centimeters of her, trying to intimidate her. - If you were tortured in Hybern as you said, why don't you have scars?

Alynna's heart stopped for a few seconds. A shiver wandered her spine remembering what she had been through. She sensed again the cold call of something ancient deep down her soul, and a moist touch on the most profound spot of her mind. Her eyes closed, trying to avoid the dark thoughts and focus on what she must say.

- And does it matter? - Alynna barely mumbled those words. She didn't want the general to recognize her weak spot, but it was too late.

- For me, it does.

Alynna looked at him, deep inside his eyes. There was pain in her face. Cassian stared her back. A brave act, since not many people have the fearlessness to stare into violet eyes.

- Everyone deals with their pain the best they can, Cassian. We have to make choices too be alive, after all. - The female was searching for the words to change the subject, but nothing occurred to her mind, besides dark and obscure voices disturbing her.

- It doesn't explain why you don't have scars.

- Torture doesn't need to be physical only, Cassian.

The male nodded. Alynna was almost relieved that he changed the subject, but she couldn't show her weakness so easily anymore.

- They wait for us up there.

- For what, exactly?

- Family meeting.