Beyond the Darkness

Chapter 9

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Chapter 9

               Amaya walked down to his cell, her boots silent on the stone floor. The guards let her pass without a second guess, handing over the keys without hesitation. She walked down to rows of locked doors. Many were full. She could hear the shuffles of the prisoners behind the closed doors. She pitied their poor souls. She knew that most of them would not see the light of day again.

She made it to Aiden's cell and unlocked it, swinging the door open. He glanced up at her and she, once again, tossed him a bundle of food. No greetings were exchanged. She pulled the hood of her cloak off as she rested in the doorframe waiting for him to finish eating. His face was covered in bruises and one of his eyes were swollen shut. There was dried blood on his face that he probably didn't even realize was there. It was a wonder that Lord Headway was able to tell who Aiden was with how beaten up he was.

Aiden glanced up at her, their eyes locked as he gave her a curious glance.

"Who gave you those?" he asked pointing at her neck. Amaya's hand immediately went up to her neck, touching her bruised skin lightly, and wincing from the tenderness. Her black cloth that she usually wore was in her pocket. She hadn't put it on yet and so the bruises were there for all to see.

"I got into a small spat with one of the King's bodyguards," Amaya told him smoothly.

Aiden let out a little humph as he went back to eating and resumed glaring at her. But, then he paused again, mid-bite. "Why were you locked up?" he asked curiously.

"Because I didn't kill Quinn Chaplaine," Amaya replied, recalling Quinn's laughing face and smile tugged on her lips. She didn't regret her decision at all.

"Why not? I thought you said you wouldn't go against the King Roland's orders."

"We became friends and I knew I wouldn't be able to do it, so the morning I received the order, I warned her to leave."

Aiden frowned. "What did you consider me then? We spent everyday together. You seemed to enjoy my company or was that just an act as well? Why couldn't you do the same for me?" he asked, his voice cold.

"I considered you a friend, but it didn't matter. There was no getting out of this. You are too great a prize for him to overlook and he would not have been as generous if I didn't return with you, as he was with Quinn," she told him, shuddering at the thought of the punishment she would have had to endure. "Besides, he has made it clear that after I return I will have to go after her next." Luckily Amaya wouldn't return and her gamble with Quinn would hopefully pay off.

"Here," she said and tossed him some clothes. He was still wearing the night clothes from when she had kidnapped him. They were bloody, torn, and coated with dirt. She turned her back to him, giving him some privacy as he changed. She pulled her black cloth from her pocket and tied it around her face and for the moment let it hang around her neck. When he was done changing she turned to face him. The clothes didn't fit him right. They were too loose and hung limply on his body, but they were better than what he had been previously wearing.

"Are you ready?" she asked.

She saw fear flash in his eyes and felt pity for him. "No," he told her honestly. She felt the sudden urge to tell him her plan, and before she could stop herself, she opened her mouth.