The Hidden Crystal

Chapter 43

The fairy danced to and fro, providing them with entertainment while they sat down for a few minutes' rest and a bite to eat at midday. Iris smiled at its carefree movements, remembering the long days in the tower when watching the fairies dance was the only thing that could make her smile. The smile faded, though, tainted by the memories of the few but excruciating moments with Micah. She pulled her legs up to her chest and rested her chin on her knees, holding one hand out palm up for the fairy. It landed there obediently, a tiny burst of warmth resting on the skin that once was marred by a bloody gash.

"Iris," Char said hesitantly. She turned to look at him, resting her cheek on her knees. "That night...he showed us what he did to you. Before I got there."

She turned to face forward again, spreading her hand wide to prompt the fairy to fly away.

"Was it like that every time?"

She shook her head. "Permission and trust. They make it easier. But he was angry, and he wanted to make it worse, so he wouldn't let me give him that. The time before that, I just walked up the stairs with him, got on the table myself, and drank the potion he gave me. It was easier that way."

"You just let him do that to you?" Rath asked incredulously.

"I had to, or he would kill the fairies. He did kill one that first time, just to prove to me that he'd do it. If I did as he said, he left them alone." She knew that was true, but she still felt shame that she didn't fight back, and she focused on a small patch of dried grass in front of her instead of risking looking to either side and meeting Rath's or Char's eyes. "I shouldn't have interfered in the battle," she said glumly. "I knew I wasn't ready to face him, even with the magic I took back. He has more stamina and control than I do, and he knows so much more. I thought if I rested for a little while, maybe I could fight back, at least a little, but I couldn't even do that."

"You didn't do anything wrong," Char said softly, his hand resting on her shoulder.

"I should have just gone on to the castle like I normally did, looking for the crystal," she said vehemently, shrugging away from his hand. "Then he wouldn't have been angry when he came back, and it would have been easier. It was easier when I just did what he told me. I could pull out that way and not feel it, at least until he was done. And then I could have kept practicing, and he wouldn't have known what I was doing until I was more sure of myself. Now, I just have to hope we don't run into him, because I know I can't even defend myself against him, and he'll kill you two just to spite me."

The silence following her outburst was deafening in the cool air. She felt dirty. Just knowing that they saw how easily Micah had taken control of her, knowing that they probably heard his promised threats of what was coming next, hearing herself admit that she had willingly subjected herself to his torture until that point - she felt like she was covered in a thick grime that would never wash away. She stood up and walked a few steps away.

"We should go."

She heard a sigh behind her, heard the crunching of grass as someone walked up beside her, flinched as a hand landed on her shoulder.

"It wouldn't have worked," Rath said.

She looked up at him in surprise. He was not the one she expected to approach her first, and his bright smile seemed out of place in the grim atmosphere.

"See, you chased Char away, and you really made him believe that you didn't like him for a moment. But I don't think that would have lasted long. As soon as he got over himself, he would have gone back for you. And if he was too boneheaded to do it, I was going to get your location out of him and get you myself, because I knew there was no way you did that unless you were trying to protect him from something. Maybe we would have run into Micah. Maybe not. But you weren't staying there for another twenty-four hours, I can assure you of that." He patted her on the head. "So, any ideas for how we can get into that castle?"