A Court of Watchful Shadows

This is not happening

Ziláa

Cold. The first thing I felt as I attempted to regain my senses and adapt to my surroundings.

I peeled my eyes open at the stony floor I was laying on, an icy chill making it's way up my back. My heavy head giving me trouble as I tried to lift it, something was making me weak.

My mind felt foggy as I opened my eyes to see metal bars in front of me, and the events of Hybern came crashing back into my mind. The cauldron, King Hybern, the familiar voice.

No. That means.

"And you're finally awake Ziláa." A rough sinister voice, Ziven. He was sat in a chair, an ankle over his knee and his elbows resting on his calf. Staring down at me laying on the ground.

My throat was sore and my voice cracked as I tried to speak "N-no" I laid my palms flat on the floor and struggled to muster my strength to sit up.

"Yes, Ziláa," he chuckled darkly "it's about time you came home, do you know how long it took me and my soldiers to find you, I sent Lythe out to look for you too." He rolled his eyes and stood up "it was only when I began working with King Hybern that I managed to track you down, and you walked straight into his trap with those little friends of yours"

My anger started boiling, I tried to slip into shadow once, twice, nothing.

"Doesn't matter now" he continued, and began to laugh "you won't be seeing any of them ever again."

I used the rest of the strength I could gather, digging deep inside of me for my power, to turn to shadow.

"It won't work Ziláa, not with this lovely new gift King Hybern is supplying me with," he blew that blue powder in my face again and I coughed.

He smirked down at me "Faebane he calls it, with this you won't be able to break free from your chains ever again"

Chains? My hands aren't tied?

He saw my confusion and continued smiling wildly gesturing to my ankle where there was now an enormous chain wrapped around it. Oh Eddie's you've really done me out this time.

"Don't worry though, we can still be married even if I have to chain you to the altar." He sighed. Cauldron no!

"No priestess in all of Prythian would agree to that without my permission!" I spat.

He stalked towards the bars of the cell, leaning down to where I was now sat, "oh but you will agree Ziláa, not unless you want to spend the rest of your life behind these bars," his hand reached out to touch my chin and I shrugged him off.

"Fuck you Ziven!"

He laughed again "You will, Ziláa, once we're married you'll be on your knees for me every day."

He swiftly dodged the wad of spit I sent flying his way, "I'd rather die standing than live on my knees for you."

Ziven scoffed "You say that now..." and strode for the door of this supposed dungeon I seemed to find myself in, shutting and locking it behind him.

I let out the breath I'd been holding and looked around wildly taking in my surroundings. I must be in winter court, surely the manor considering Ziven called it "home."

This is not happening to me, it's all a nightmare. I pinched myself several times. Nothing. Still in this icy cell.

I tried to yank against the chain around my ankle, but it was too strong. I let my head slump into my hands. A few stray tears making their way down my face.

'Next time I won't come for you'

Azriel's words rang through my head. Did he know where I was and was holding true to his word? We hadn't officially spoken again, not before...the arrow

Was he alive? Had the inner circle made it out of Hybern? Or were they all in cells similar to mine...at least they'd be together I suppose. I'm stuck here exactly how I knew I was to end up. Alone.