Wings of Fire: A New Regime (Book 3)

Chapter 17

Today, when Bermuda woke up, Aconi was already waiting in her room. The sun was low in the sky, but she couldn't tell what time it was.

"It's half past eight in the evening," Aconi said, inspecting her talons. "You've been asleep all day."

Bermuda coughed, and picked up the glass of water that sat on her beside table. She sipped it, and it tasted bitter, and felt like fire coursing down her esophagus. She made a face, and tried to block it from Aconi's view with her talon.

She choked it down, and saw the corners of Aconi's mouth quirking up. "Hard water, huh?" Bermuda commented.

"Ha, water here is fine," Aconi replied, not looking up.

Bermuda furrowed her brow, and sniffed the glass.

"Ugh, what is this?" Bermuda said, her nose wrinkled and burning.

"Liquor," Aconi said in a serious tone, and then burst out laughing. "Just kidding. Kind of. While it technically is booze, it's also medicine for your wounds. I'm surprised it took you so long to say something."

Bermuda rolled her eyes, and finished the glass. She could tell it wasn't enough to effect her much at all- if at all. Besides, she had made it just fine these past weeks.

With that thought, Bermuda realized it had been about a month since they'd been captured, which was quite sobering.

No pun intended, despite Aconi's chuckle.

"So," Aconi said with a sigh, looking over at Bermuda. "Your friends."

"Yes?" Bermuda asked eagerly.

"They have a new camp outside of the Rainforest now, by the remains of Jade Moutain, on the side opposite the desert. We fly out at midnight." Aconi reported.

Bermuda's heart fluttered with hope, excitement, and mostly fear. She would see her friends again! But she was enchanted to do whatever Aconi wanted. Buuuut maybe her friends will help her?

Aconi rolled her eyes.

"What do I need?" Bermuda asked, trying to distract herself.

"Your scales, your head, and two wings." Aconi said, brushing her talons off. "Get some sleep. Some more, I suppose. I'll wake you up." The Queen left, leaving Bermuda with about a billion thoughts and literally nothing to do with them.

Bermuda wanted to bang her head into the wall. It was so frustrating, being stuck in here with nothing to do. She actually found herself looking forward to Aconi's occasional visits, meaning she'd have someone to talk to; something to take her mind off of the ivory-colored walls and air so clean it disgusted her.

Bermuda laid on the cold tile floor, and stretched her legs and wings out as far as they could reach, feeling each muscle and tendon stretch to its limit.

Bermuda sighed, and relaxed onto the floor, she closed her eyes and rolled a bit, focusing on the way her body felt. She felt through her, to each twitch of a nerve to flow of her blood.

Her mind felt clear in the first time in a while.

Bermuda breathed in, feeling it inflate her lungs, and then rush back out of her throat.

Surprisingly, the grip on her mind seemed to relax, making her mind feel free.

Bermuda focused, and stood up.

It seemed eerily quiet, like a background noise that Bermuda tuned out was suddenly gone, leaving her ears empty.

A sharp zing shot painfully through her mind, and she clutched her head. The grip was back, feirce, and Bermuda could sense Aconi's fear.