𝐀 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐑𝐞𝐛𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐚𝐥𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

𝟐𝟎

Arya

     Our second task arrived.

Feyre and both stood before Amarantha, we weren't at the throne room for once. This room seems like an old entertaining space though. The Attor beside Amarantha just stared down at me in hatred, it was to the point that it couldn't even hide its true feelings towards me. I can't blame it though, I've killed its family one by one and for once I'm not bothered.

"Well, your second trial has come," Amarantha says with confidence as if she's so sure that our life will be ending here today. "Have you solved my riddle yet, Feyre?"

When Feyre didn't respond, Amarantha gave her a faux pout. "That's too bad. But I'm feeling rather generous tonight." The Attor beside her only chuckled and several faeries behind us were laughing and I couldn't help but turn around and hiss at them.

"I'm standing here to save you all, if I were you I'd stop laughing before I kill you instead of freeing you," and that silenced the entire room. I clenched my jaw before facing Amarantha again.

"Well, well, look at you threatening those faeries. You sure you want to save them?" I only clenched my jaw tighter and she kissed her teeth in response.

"Begin," Amarantha snapped.

I hold onto Feyre's wrist in reaction to the floor under us groaning. I steadied both of us as the ground beneath us began sinking, lowering us into a large, regular pit. We both scanned the walls around us and were met with Lucien lying chained to the center of the floor on the other side of the chamber.

Within a blink of an eye, Shadow Wraiths snatches me from Feyre and throws me into a cell, the lock of the door echoing throughout this entertaining room.

"Here, Feyre, you shall find your task. Simply answer the question by selecting the correct lever, and the correct answer will complete your task and it'll trigger Arya's task," she turns to me before continuing. "A lever will pop down in Arya's cage, if you manage to push it down, those spike-encrusted grates will lift and save you three and complete your second task."

Lucien wrenched at his chains. "Select the wrong one, Feyre, and it will be your immediate doom. As there are only three options, I think I gave you an unfair advantage." She snapped her fingers, and something metallic groaned. "That is," she added, "if you can solve the puzzle in time."

I watched as a lengthy inscription was carved into the smooth surface of the wall, beneath it were three stone levers. I tried squinting but even with my fae sight, I could barely read what was on the wall.

I was able to teach Feyre to read but not at an intermediate reading. I go to wrap my hands around the thick prison cell bars only to realize it is burning hot. I hiss at the immediate blister forming in the palm of my hands.

"Answer it!" Lucien shouted, his voice trembling and hitched. My eyes stung for Feyre, I tried harder to read what was on the wall to no avail.

I looked up seeing everyone watching in anticipation, my eyes swirled among the faces until I found who I was looking for.

Rhys! I yell into his mind, hoping he can hear me. When his eyes snapped to me, I knew he did.

Help her! Please.

I don't know, I'm enjoying everyone sweating. He tries teasing.

If I get out of here, I will strangle you Rhysand.

Woah, now, that's not a way to ask for help little sister. I can practically hear the smirk in his tone.

Well, then you'll be planning my wake instead of welcoming me back home.

I watch the smugness on his face drop in an instant. It was cruel to taunt him with my death but it was not the time to be making jokes. Not when I can almost reach the spikes on my tippy toes.

"Feyre!" Lucien begged, panting as he stared at the ever-lowering spikes. I mark the faces of the High Fae and lesser faeries sneering at us above the grate.

"Just pick one!" Lucien shouted, and some of those in the crowd laughed - his brothers no doubt the loudest. I won't give these faes a second to beg for mercy once I'm out of this place.

I look up at the spikes above us, so close to our heads. "Fuck," I hiss.

Rhys come on!

"Feyre, please!" Lucien moaned.

I see Feyre pull the third lever down and it was silent before the spikes lifted a few inches higher and I jump as a lever pops down in my cage.

The steam coming from the lever was hard to miss and by the looks of it, it'll be much heavier to push down. I glance down at my already blistered palms before I grip the burning lever with both hands and I groan trying to push it down.

I let it go quickly when it barely moved. I pant heavily as I shake the burning sensation from my hands.

"Arya! Please!" Lucien begged once again and I saw an image of a toddler Lucien asking me to play with him.

I take a deep breath before wrapping my hands around the lever and this time I can't help the scream I let out as I try to push it down again. I sob out when the pain became too much and the lever still wouldn't budge.

I wipe the involuntary tears from my face with the back of my hand. I tried not to look down but I couldn't help staring but stare at my charred hands. Blood, liquid, and burnt flesh falling from it.

"I know you can do this, Arya," Feyre shouts.

"I know you can do this, Arya." I groaned as I dropped myself from the metal bar.

"I'm not cut out to train Az. I'm too weak for this. Maybe my father was rig-"

His voice was firm, as he cut me off. "You are the strongest faerie I know, Arya. You are not weak. It's a mindset."

I groan again as I hang myself back on the metal bar, trying to lift myself to complete one chin up. "You got it! Keep going."

And with one last push of strength, I completed one chin up and Az immediately scoops me into an embrace.

"I told you, you can do it!"

"Arya!" Lucien and Feyre shout at the same time. I looked up to see the grates were inches from reaching my head.

For my people.

For my mate.

For my family.

For Prythian.

For my mom.

I wrap my hands around the lever and I let out an ear-piercing scream as I push it down with all my strength.

I am strong.

I am worthy.

I am Arya Darling.

I am the Princess of the Night Court.

I am the Greatest Assassin of Prythian.

I am a Deathbringer.

I am the Incarnation of Darkness.

I am the last standing Valkyrie.

I let out another scream as I pushed the lever all the way down, locking it in place.

I fall on my hands and knees, letting out a quiet cry as my hands scrape against the hardened floor.

I ignore Lucien's cries of relief with his cuffs unlocking. I ignore the grates and the bars around me lifting. I ignore Feyre's hand on my back as the ground lifts us back up.

I stood tall once the ground stopped moving. I ignore the remaining tears rolling down my face as I lift my chin and stare at Amarantha boiling in rage. I didn't need to say anything, my eyes conveyed the promise I was sending her.

A promise of her death.

A promise of her head along with her crown on a spike. 

•❅───✧❅✦❅✧───❅•