A Court of Watchful Shadows

Hell

~15 days since Hybern~

Ziláa

Hell. I am in hell.

I don't know how long I've been here, I began scribbling a tally onto the stone wall at the back roughly 5 days ago from what I could tell by the meal times. I am being fed once a day at what I assume is midday. My powers are still stunted so I can only assume this faebane is being put into my limited meals to keep me weak if it's edible, I'm still not sure how it works.

Kick a girl whilst she's down why don't you Ziven? Classy.

I often think about Azriel and the others. I  hope he survived the ash arrow. I can feel in my heart that he did but that may be wishful thinking.

When my thoughts aren't consumed by my mate and his band of misfits I try to think of ways to escape but with no power...not much comes to mind. Also the fact the faebane and lack of food has weakened me it's as if it's reduced my thought power, I'm constantly kicking myself for new ideas.

In all honesty though, one of the main things I'd like to know is what time of day it is. There are no windows down here so there is no way to tell, it's just a four walled prison with a mat on a floor for a bed. I'm being kept here like an animal, even the horses probably have it better than me...

*thud* the heavy dungeon door opens.

I've already had my only meal for today so that means that this visitor is probably-

"Ziláa," the monster himself.

He gleams over at where I'm stood in the furthest corner I could reach.

"Bastard." I greet him.

He sighs and begins to pace up the length of the bars, "you know, that's no way to speak to your future husband." His hands were folded behind his back neatly, creating a smug demeanour. If I had my powers...

But I don't. So instead I roll my eyes, reluctant to get into this again. "I told you that's not happening."

He lets out another sigh, this time shaking his head as if I was an insolent child. "I've been taking it easy on you, you know," he continues to pace.

I let out a loud scoff, one that echoed the four walls this so called 'taking it easy' prison. "There is a chain around my ankle Ziven, and I have enough faebane in my system to disenchant all of prythian."

He stops pacing and brings his arms out from behind his back "only to ensure you didn't run away Ziláa, we could be great together, you'll be living here with me and we'll start a family once king Hybern wins this war and crowns me high lord of winter court." His eyes were bubbling with excitement about this deluded future.

I couldn't hide my sneer of disgust "you're working with Hybern?" I shuffled on my feet even as I said the word Hybern let alone thought about the day.

"Of course, how do you think I found you? He helped me bring you back here where you belong." He beamed at me, eyes wild.

He's been working with Hybern? The enemy? I don't know why I'm surprised. He's a monster.

"You're working with the enemy?" I gasp

Now it's his turn to roll his eyes, "enemy? King Hybern is now a close ally of mine, he will do Prythian a lot of good when he takes over, myself by his side."

"Rhysand and his court won't let that happen." I needed to know.

He scoffs, smile faltering, "you think your little night court friends are going to stop him? They haven't even bothered to come for you. Too busy hiding away in that little city of theirs."

They're back in Velaris! Cauldron yes!

"Aside from Tamlin's whore." He spat "she's back in the spring court now that Rhysand's mind tricks were broken by the sheer magnitude of King Hybern's power." What?

"What do you mean Ziven."

He strides as close to the bars as he can, causing me to move even further back, chains jingling as I try to make as much distance between us as possible.

"I mean," he drawls out "King Hybern broke the mating bond between them."

My blood runs cold. He can do that?

"Oh don't look so shocked Ziláa, if you knew the amount of power he wields with that cauldron your stomach would turn."

The next sentence that left his lips did make my stomach turn.

"Power that I'll soon have access to."

I couldn't hold it down. I immediately vomited the little food I'd received up all over the floor. Causing Ziven to step back in disgust.

Take that rat bastard.

"As disgusting as that was, I rather enjoy you like this Ziláa."

"Like what." I spat back.

"Weak and powerless." He sneered, turning on his heel and walking out of the dungeon, door slamming behind him.

I waited until I could no longer hear his footsteps before I let myself begin to cry. He was right after all. I was here, weak and powerless. But at least my friends were alive. Perhaps if they stop Hybern, they'll stop Ziven in the process and I'll be able to break out and live freely, whether it's in Velaris or not. I could return to Dawn court, with Orelia, run her pottery shop with her and her father.

I let the tears silently fall down my face as I thought about it, and had hope for the future. He could steal my freedom but he couldn't steal my spirit.