The King of Darkness | ✔️

Chapter Fourteen

Agnis lurches for the paperknife but I manage to swipe it across the palm of her hand, causing her to let out an ear-bleeding screech. In her moment of weakness, I bound towards the balcony doors locking them behind me.

My breathing is rapid as I retreat, her cold eyes meeting mine as she surges towards the doors. I bang on the door of my chambers, begging for someone to let me out.

Looking behind me, I see Agnis murmuring words with her palms facing towards the handles and I know my time of safety is running thin. Agnis will be through those doors in a matter of seconds.

"Please open the door! I need help!" my hands are red-raw from hitting them so ferociously against the wood. The doors behind me burst open and I screw my eyes shut as though it will stop time.

"No one's going to help you now princess," her voice only becomes louder, alerting me that she is moving closer, that I'll cease to exist in a matter of seconds.

Please Darian I need your help, I try to open my mind and plead for him to listen. Why in the world would he leave in the first place when he knows full well that there are plenty of people out there who are praying on my demise. It's like he wants me to get killed.

"Your pretty little boyfriend won't save you now... it's too late," I can hear the grin on her face laced in between her words.

All of a sudden it feels as though a hand is clamped around my throat. Although, I bring my hand to my neck to find that it is void of any presence. My vision begins to blur as the ability to breathe is quickly being ripped from me.

I turn to face the wicked witch before I am thrown into the wall by an invisible force. My back seizes in pain... my whole body crying in agony.

By the next blink, I have thrown the paperknife, with as much might as I can, to find it planted firmly in the base of her neck. Her magic's hold on me loosens and I use the opening to throw myself at the door.

My body is aglow as I manage, by some miracle, to burst through the door and into the corridor. However, as I look back at it I see that it looks the exact same - not a single detail different.

I had just walked through a door. I am in a complete trance as I stare in awe at what I have just done. I don't know whether to laugh or cry.

A strong hand covers my mouth and an arm wraps around my waist. I thrash in their hold, trying desperately to unravel myself. My body glows immediately as though it's some sort of defence mechanism. But, then that same scent fills my senses and confusion rushes through me.

"It's okay, darling... you're okay," Darian whispers in my ear and I panic. He was touching me whilst I was... "Your powers do not affect me, I am yet to find out why," he explains.

Darian quickly pulls back a tapestry, revealing a hidden space - but not big enough for us both to fit comfortably. He takes hold of my wrist and tugs me gently into the space.

We stand opposite each other, our chests touching, our breath mingling. The ceiling is so low that Darian is hunched over and I'm just about standing normally. I make a point to look anywhere but at Darian, however, I find myself wincing when I move my head to the side.

"What happened?" his voice is softer than I have ever known it to be before as his fingers gently brush against my neck. But, I take his hand in mine and move it away from me.

"Where were you?" I don't try to hide the hurt in my voice. "You left me alone in that room and you didn't think twice about it," my voice breaks and I look away, ignoring the pang of pain that shoots down my spine.