Entering the dark prison, I'd held onto the slim hope of finding my brother here, clean and unharmed. No such luck. I scoured every cell, my eyes darting from prisoner to prisoner, but he was nowhere. Hope began to turn into bitter certainty that he was truly gone, or that the woman who'd sent me here had simply lied, manipulating me.
At some point, the weight of my brother's absence consumed me. I drifted, lost in thought, only snapping back to the present when Aleah's voice, sharp and cutting, reached me. She was embroiled in a heated exchange with two of the prisoners. Both spoke of being hired by a hooded woman. The odds of two separate hooded vigilantes roaming the castle were practically slim. I strained to listen, needing to confirm if it was her.
What truly jolted me, though, was Aleah. I had never witnessed this side of her. She was calculated, every word a honed weapon, delivered with a chilling conviction that surprised me. Her voice never wavered, the lies slithering from her lips like a snake, striking pure fear into the girl's eyes. I had to admit, the fabricated execution date was brilliant—a masterstroke I wouldn't have conceived so quickly.
Aleah pressed on with her questions. Time was a luxury we didn't have, and a growing unease made me shift on my feet. I forced myself to freeze, to show absolutely no emotion. I caught Aleah's gaze a few times, as if she were gauging my reaction, but I refused to give anything away, even to her.
It wasn't until the pounding footsteps echoed down the hall that I knew we had overstayed. My sword was already drawn by the time Aleah turned to face me. I braced myself, ready to shove her behind me, to shield her from the incoming soldiers, when something slammed into my face. I didn't even see it coming, but it found its mark dead center. The last thing I remembered was my swords clattering to the ground before darkness swallowed me whole.
YOU ARE READING
Crowned in Crimson Cinders
FantasyAleah has been told all her life that she is worthless and weak by her older sister, Amora. But, when Aleah finds out that she is going to be betrothed to the enemy prince, Darian, she finds out that she has ancient powers dating back hundreds of ye...
