In The Mist of Shadows

Chpt. 28

When she awoke her bed wasn't as warm as usual. The cold air filling her room wasn't usual either. Adela opened her eyes slowly, taking in the room but her heart began to race. Fear drove her body to shoot up, a piercing pain in her head as she looked around her old room... In Ells. How did she end up here? She thought of the previous events, trying to ignore the ringing in her ears and the pain behind her eyes. Her father was dead, she knew that much. But after freeing Roen of his chains she couldn't remember anything. Did Roen bring her here?

Getting out of bed was an effort as ever muscle barked in protest but when she did she looked down to see her blood-soaked leathers. So the war did happen, she was beginning to think maybe it didn't, but did the rip get closed? She couldn't remember that part. It must not have if she was here in Ells. She has to find Roen, get him to explain. She slipped on her wet boots before searching the room for her weapons, literally anything to have on her. She did forgive her father's males and make one of them King, but she wasn't stupid. But to no avail, not even a letter opener.

So she would go with only her hands, and her powers she supposed. Although as she walked down the dark, cold hallway she felt for her power... But there was nothing. So hands it is. She tucked said hands under her arms as she walked, her breath clouding in front of her. The cold didn't help her pain in her body and head.

The castle has never been this quiet, dark yes, but not quiet. No servant, Roen or any of her father's males were around. It was like it was completely abandoned. If it was, she wondered why she was dumped here. And what her family thought of this. They couldn't have agreed for her to be brought back to Ells, much less dumped and abandoned. Maybe she should run? At the thought she went to a window but it was very odd, there was nothing but blackness beyond. Not even a moonlight or the candles lighting up the village. If she was to run she would have to find a gods damned candle first. So she kept walking.

~

She paced all of the castle twice but not a single candle in sight. She began letting out grunts of frustration as her patience was running thin. Even the kitchens didn't have anything, let alone food or water. There was no way she would be able to go into the darkness without one, it was completely pitch black. Maybe she should wait for daylight? It seemed that way as she has searched every inch of the castle...

Well, not every inch.

There was one wing she refused to go down, even when she still lived here. She hadn't been down there since that night. Her mother and the guard's blood were probably still on the floor. The double doors leading to the hallway were still probably locked, it be stupid to even try.

But as she walked out of the kitchens she thought. No one was around, much less her dead father. So, if they were locked she could look in his chambers for the key, maybe take some of this pent-up rage out and toss the place. Her rage was enough to turn this castle into ruins, if she wasn't limping and hissing in pain.

Her feet led her, muscle memory as she thought of it, to the double doors that were worn with age. She lifted her hand, hesitating a bit but reached out and grabbed the cold handle. The metal bit into her skin it was so cold but with a good push (and a screaming shoulder), it opened.

Adela stood stunned as the hallways wasn't dusty, falling a part, as abandoned as the rest of the place... It looked, well cared for. As clean and homey as it was all those years ago. She walked in the hallway, the door shutting behind her. Great. She had forgotten the doors only had handles on one side. She figured out how to pick the lock when she was little but with ever bone too stiff, and her fingers being bigger it would be the biggest pain.

But for now she would keep going, trying to find anything for light, warmth, and now to pick the lock. Gods this hallway, almost too small for her wings, defiantly too small for her mother's. She turned to the right to look in the bathing chamber. Maybe the faucets have running water, she could even wash herself down. But they were dry. Of course. Although she has found a few hair pins that could work for the door, so she pocketed them and moved on.