The Light Within Her - Book Nine

Ch. 19- Trapped

"Will I never rest in sunlight again–slow, languid, and golden with peace?" –Sylvia Plath

For as long as I can remember, I thought my home was a golden cage. Every year we hosted the most extravagant balls and wore jewels and gowns from all over the world. It was all bullshit to me. Because I never needed gold in my pocket–what I needed was something priceless even if I didn't know it at the time. Five years ago I escaped what I thought was a cage made out of gold. But it wasn't. I know that now.

My eyes opened immediately, scanning my surroundings as quickly as I could. A row of oak bookshelves on the other side of my bedroom, a maroon armchair, a bathroom with the door closed beside where I lay and the other side of me was a nightstand with a glass full of blood and a plate of delicious breakfast foods. From the looks of it, the plate seemed to be untouched for hours. Where the hell am I? I sat up and gazed down at my body, horrified by what I was wearing. Hours ago, I was wearing simple black shorts and a band t-shirt. Now, I wore a silky blush tank top that barely covered my tanned skin and pajama shorts that ended at mid-thigh. Another thought popped into my mind, making me let out an uneven breath. Where the fuck is Amias? He was just with me and now I'm in this creepy ass place wearing totally different clothes...

A door suddenly opened and a man entered, making goosebumps form on my skin. He wore a simple black button-up, and his sleeves rolled up as I caught a glimpse of a tattoo on his right arm. A skull was branded right in the middle, with a number below it that I can barely see from this far away. I trailed my eyes towards his face, where he held a sharp jawline that could cut anyone close enough as he sported a short beard that made him older than he looked. His black hair was slicked back as though he cared about his appearance, about me seeing him this way. His calculating and cold gray eyes locked into mine now, assessing me as though I was his new lamb for the slaughter. My body stilled at his gaze while questions popped into my mind every few seconds. How did he escape from his prison? What does he want from me now that he has me? Was Erebus the one that stripped off my old clothes and changed me into these new ones? The last one made me shudder.

Erebus, the God of Darkness and master of the shadows. He was in front of me now, holding me prisoner in his home for I don't know how long. He was no longer rotting in Hell but free and able to take over my world–the same one my parents fought to save over and over again. They died for it. So did my entire family so I could have a better life. Yet, he was going to ruin it again. But I could not let it happen, will not let him destroy the only good thing we have in this fucked up world. "I see you have not touched your food, Soari,' he said formally, clasping his arms in his dress pants pockets. "You should eat."

"You should get fucked," I stood up now, glaring at the God of Darkness. The way he said my name, was so wrong. Yes, it was complicated but I figured even he would learn how to say it right. I guess not. "And if you're going to hold me as a prisoner, at least have the decency to pronounce my name correctly."

Erebus blinked in surprise. "Very well. I shall call you by your second name, Lianna. You should know that I only came by to make sure you've woken in time for dinner."

I shook my head, my anger boiling me from the inside out. I was not the weak woman in the horror stories running from the killer or the one trapped in the high tower waiting for a man to save me from the dragon. No matter how beautiful I seem to be, I am the monster in some of those stories. And no one can hold the sun in their hands without burning, right? "Don't call me that," I growled. "Tell me what you did to Amias."

Erebus curled his mouth into a smirk. "I was waiting for you to ask me about him," he admitted, though there was a glimpse of anger forcing its way out of his so-called charming ploy. "I'll have you know the Vampire will be at dinner, so you might want to get dressed soon, Lianna. I will be back in an hour to walk you downstairs."My knuckles grew white by my side, forcing my sunlight out to attack the God. But it never did. My powers were silent, as though it was sleeping and I wanted to scream out from the loss. Erebus noticed my struggle and then tilted his head to the side, as though he was enjoying the sight. "Don't worry, little sun. I have control over your light as long as you are with me. So you might want to stop before you pop a vein in your pretty face, yeah?"