Scorn and Devotion

Chapter 35

warnings - leering, injury, murder, mentions of rape, dewinging, forced killing, cannibalism, child being forced to fight, mentions of torture, mentions of attempted rape, lots of gore and blood, being eaten alive

"Wake up, wake up," Timothée hissed. I was immediately on my feet, and Timothée stared at me in shock. I realized that my ankle had barely twinged when I stood. I looked down to see the wrappings pooling around my food, the reduction in swelling having made them too big for my foot.

I looked back at Timothée, a surprised smile covering my face. I was sure this would come back to bite us, but I was enjoying the lack of pain too much to care.

The throne room was large and empty again. To the far right still stood all the traded items in glass cases. The notches that made seats in the shiny, black, rock, walls were still there, but no Fae sat in them now. The only other part of the room that was occupied was the tall plateau that had the Dark King's throne atop it.

Abraxas sat there, with an evil grin on his split face. His eyes were trained on me, watching my careful, but clearly unimpeded walking. He knew we'd done something to fix my leg. I wondered if telling him Timothée had used his Fae powers would work as a lie. He had yet to become controlled enough to use them without a burst of strong emotion, but Abraxas needn't know that.

"Here we are," Abraxas purred, his two voices melting together to sound low and dangerous. "Back together so soon."

"Yes, what a joyous occasion," I said sarcastically. Abraxas just gave me a smile.

"I see you are feeling better," Abraxas remarked, eyes moving slowly up and down my body. I knew it was likely that the last thing on his mind was sex, and yet I felt as if his eyes were peeling the clothes off me, even the skin, to see my beating heart underneath.

"Yes, well, you can thank Timothée for that," I said nonchalantly. Lying came to me easily, unlike Timothée. I now knew it must be his Fae heritage. He could lie, he was just pretty bad at it. When we'd been children, he'd always made me lie for us, and he would just agree with whatever I said.

"Can I now? Has his control has advanced that much?"

"Yes," Timothée choked out. It seemed to be even harder for him to lie here, in Fae lands. I saw a bead of perspiration on his brow, and his face was flushed. I realized how hard he was trying to keep from spilling the truth, even against his own desire.

"Well, my guards found someone outside your cell that may have had a hand in your miraculous recovery."

I froze. I had completely forgotten about Opal being caught outside our cell. I had hoped that she had gotten away before being discovered. I searched the room for Gadina, she would be the only one who would be able to fix this problem. Even if Opal had lost her bind to the truth in her dewinging, she couldn't defend herself with no tongue.

"Bring her here," Abraxas snapped his fingers and two of his cronies seemed to appear from nowhere. They were dragging what looked like a large white sack, but I knew that it must be Opal. She was completely slumped over in the hands of the guards. When the Fae stopped beside the Dark Lord, I was able to tell that Opal was thankfully breathing.

"She didn't have a chance to give us anything," I cried out. "your guards even searched our cell!"

"And yet you stand here perfectly, on two feet," Abraxas shouted back.

"I told you, Timothée did that!"

Abraxas's lips curled into a disgusted expression as if he had smelled something decaying. He pointed to a guard and a bloody mark appeared across the Fae's cheek. She held her face, but the cut was so deep it bled through her triple-jointed fingers.