A Court Of Nightmares

Chapter Nineteen Surrounded By Flames

The manor was in shambles of chaos as I was walking through. Dark navy trunks full of clothes and jewels overcrowded the halls. If I wasn't careful I would have busted my ankle off of one of them as I passed. It reminded me of Ajax with his lack of planning, especially for vacations. He never knew how to pack luggage correctly without my mom or my input. Leaving his possessions all over the halls of my house and his room was equally horrific. A smile pressed onto my lips from the memory as I pushed it down. Making my way down the stairs skipping around the heavy brown bags lingering around each step leading to the backyard.

My powers managed to work just as I willed them. Having Andrei practically in shambles getting ready for a six-month trip in merely two days was no small fret. I almost felt bad that I didn't give him more time to organize his belongings and duties before he went. Though of course, he had the means and resources to pull it off and decided to leave after my training with Devlon.

These last two days were not kind to Mia though as she was worked up to the brim. Fulfilling Andrei's every demand, if I didn't know any better she was more of an assistant than a caretaker of the manor. Yet she handled everything with ease despite his unbearable temper and rush.

Mia knew it was coming, thankfully. Ignes and I decided to tell her what I did that same night. I could almost remember her exact expression when I told her. Rather than fear, her face twisted with pride, her gray eyes twinkling in a wicked expression that took me by surprise. Even though Mia knew how dangerous it was to influence Andrei she also knew it had to be done for all of our sakes. Especially Ignes, she was suffocating every minute under her father's roof and it began to show every passing minute he was lingering in the house.

Her father had not apologized to her for locking her up and before his knowledge, he still believes she is still imprisoned. Andrei promised to break the spell once he leaves but had said nothing else to his youngest. Only giving each other tense stares as they passed each other in the halls. The rest of us watched, Mia and I had no place to say anything. While Ilias didn't do anything nor did he intervene in their fight, which made my blood boil. He was not like the male I knew when he defended his sister the first time I met him. Sure, he was overly quiet and flirtatious at times yet he defended me against Devlon and his father. The least he could have done is help Ignes the same way when everything went to hell, but no.

The emotions lingering around the manor were no better. It seemed to merge into my own. Making me feel anger, sadness, and certain loneliness all at once, constantly. I wasn't sure if it was because of my powers growing that I felt their emotions so strongly but I knew it was just another thing I had to research. Or I could ask Rhysand about it when I had to train with him but still debating if I should. Ever since that incident in the Court Of Nightmares with him, it all started to get worse. Even though my control of it was getting better it seemed like there was more than meets the eye to this power that I possessed.

"I'm surprised you still did not ask your healer to erase that brand on your neck," Devlon stated as a form of greeting as he landed in front of me. A breeze from his wings gently caressed my body as I looked up at him.

"It's a reminder," I answered, in no mood to throw rude taunts back.

My body went into position almost immediately ready for what was to come. Devlon looked over at me noticing my lack of care and continued his lesson without a word. Throwing punches and kicks at one another.

We never talked about what happened with Rhys and Azriel. There was nothing to say, I agreed to the terms he set and that was it. Yet I did have some questions that stayed in my mind. Starting with his distaste for the High Lord and his brother. If he had known them long it might help me with how to navigate around them without exposing myself. Though I knew well enough that my petty lies could only get me so far in this game.