A Court of Trickery and Salvation

Chapter Eight

"Yes" His voice is smooth as those violet eyes lock with mine, widening ever so slightly but nothing else on his face shows anything else other then mock coldness. All those years with Hawke, learning how to peer under those masks he wears and see the true emotion underneath.

"But you said that girl was the one at Tamlin's estate." I follow the direction her finger points and I feel my heart pounding against my chest as I slip away from coherent thought. A woman staked just above an entrance, naked and beaten to all hell. My nails dig into my palms as I struggle to keep from heaving onto the ground in front of me.

"All human women look the same to me." He shrugs but his eyes never leave my crumpled form on the ground.

"Your name girl." She sneers and I look up, glaring up at her for the horror she subjected that poor girl to. I clench my jaw hard as I hold that inky black gaze to which she only chuckles darkly, leaning a little further in her throne. "You're feisty, must be why you love her so much Tamlin." She nods to someone and a red haired male is forced forward, Tamlin going tense at the bitches side. 'He's important to Feyre. Act like this effects you.' I tell myself before forcing myself to tense up and drop my glare from my face. She nods to the male named Rhysand and the other male's face becomes strained with effort. "Your. Name." She repeats and I take a shaky breath.

"Kayla!" I yell out and the red haired males face relaxes from whatever what was happening to him, must be some trick the male named Rhysand can do.

"Kay- la." She sounds out my name like an illiterate attempting to read for the first time in their life. It's a risk I'm willing to take, give her my name instead of Feyre's. I won't let her know anything about my sisters, none of them save for Feyre's friends. The woman looks to Rhysand who deafly nods to her, confirming the information. "So Kayla, you came to rescue the male you love. I doubt it, human filth can't love Faeries. You killed one of his sentries. You are going to have to prove your love for him." Her incessant talking bores me to death and I zone out, looking over at the girls beaten and blood body. Jaye's bloody body replaces hers and my heart rate picks up, my nails digging harder into my palms. Suddenly I'm jerked to my feet before a blow lands to my face, my instincts kick in and I start fighting back. Kicking out at the nearest opponent before I'm swarmed with them, blows landing to my stomach and face before I black out entirely.

~A few hours later~
I wake up to a splitting headache and blood crusted under my nose, most likely broken but as long as the long gashes on my back remained sealed I would be fine. Rocks clatter outside the cell I now realize I'm in and I attempt to sit up, my wounds maybe sealed but barely. The red haired male from earlier slips into my cell, his one russet eye blazing while the other....

"Who are you?! Where is Feyre?!" He snarls in my face and I roll my eyes at the exact same interaction I had earlier. I push myself up as best I can while keeping a stone face.

"That's a hell of a thank you." I spit back, narrowing my eyes at the audacious male in front of me. "My names Kayla, as you heard, I'm Feyre's sister but you'd do well to keep any information about her to yourself." He studies me carefully as if that strange eye of his can detect lies but with Faeries... I wouldn't be surprised. "Are you going to tell me your name or do Fae males lack manners?"

"Lucien." He says simply, no hand extended in greeting just crossed over his chest as if I'm a huge nuisance. "Your disdain for Fae is obvious, you'll never fool Amarantha that you love Tam. You'll just die down here or become entertainment for the prince of the Atlantians." My heart stumbles at the mention of the Dark One.

"Why would he come here?" I scoff then dig my nails hard into my palms as images of Jaye's dead body flash behind my eyes. "Having trouble getting the Maiden so he came begging for help?" Lucien studies me a moment longer before stepping closer towards me, I mirror his step backwards and he growls.

"Let me heal you. I owe you a debt for offering your name for me." I step back until the backs of my knees hit the edge of the cot and I fall onto it, giving Lucien time to move closer and grip my face between his hands.

"What's with the mask? I noticed not everyone wears them." I ask as he works his magic on my face and back.

"Too long to explain." He says simply again as he finishes, his eyes lingering on the large cuts on my back. "The Attor didn't do this. What did?"

"Too long to explain." I mirror back before climbing fully on the cot and laying down, my thoughts traveling to the Dark One and his impending visit. Lucien's footsteps barely make a sound as he slips out of my cell, leaving me alone with my thoughts. 'Don't get distracted Kayla. It's not time for revenge. You're here to save Feyre's boyfriend and nothing else.' Even I'm not convinced that I'll stay on track once I see the bastard who's responsible for Jaye's death. He sent the Craven to that village, probably to kill Hawke as he was next to stand between him and the Maiden. Slowly my thoughts slip away from the Dark One with no face to conjure up and focus one. They gradually move towards those violet eyes that seemed...stunned? Shocked? I don't know but whatever it was, it slipped beneath his well crafted mask.