The Awakening

Chapter Forty

Avelon sat on the cold stone floor with her back against the wall and her arms wrapped around her knees. The hours had blurred together in the dungeon's gloomy atmosphere, and the silence of the cell was starting to wear on her. Dana had visited her, yet uncertainty of how much time had passed since the visit clouded her senses. Time had little meaning when all she could do was wait, trapped in her thoughts, and the occasional stirrings of her powers. She had hoped to see Elha very soon after her message through the air, but no faces had come to greet her.

Not even Lugh.

She frowned at the thought of him. She had not intended to feel anything for him, and had certainly not planned to, but somehow something had grown within her. A certain fondness for his golden eyes and his small smiles had bloomed within her chest. Though the feeling had been replaced with betrayal at his very quick disregard for her own health and wellbeing. He had seemed insistent on getting her out of the cell, and even though she had sent him away, she had hoped he would return with a plan or... maybe even just to talk.

She swallowed hard at the sting in her eyes. She would not allow her feelings to burden her.

The door to the dungeons groaned open, the sound cutting through the silence in the hall like a blade. Avelon's head snapped up, her heart skipping in spite of herself. For a fleeting moment, she expected Lugh. She did not want to, but hope was a stubborn thing.

Instead, Jeera's slim figure stepped into the hallway, her face unreadable but softened by the faintest trace of concern. Avelon frowned, cursing herself for the pang of disappointment.

"I brought you something," Jeera said softly, holding up a small bowl of water. Her steady gaze swept over Avelon's worn expression. "You haven't been eating much. I thought you might need it."

"How would you know?" Avelon's words were sharp, more reflex than intention. Regret burned her tongue even as she mumbled an apology.

Avelon nodded gratefully towards the water bowl, though she did not move right away. She did not have the energy to care about food or water. Her thoughts had been consumed by the visions, the powers, and the unsettling knowledge that Dana had placed on her shoulders.

Jeera crouched, slipping the bowl through a gap in the bars. Avelon hesitated, the words tangled in her mind. Should she tell Jeera about Dana?

About her powers? Was there any point? What if it made things worse?

"You're quiet today," Jeera observed, her tone neutral, but her eyes probing.

Today, not tonight. At least now Avelon knew the time of the day.

"Sorry, I just..." Avelon trailed off, running a hand through her tangled hair. "I have a lot on my mind."

Avelon sighed, dropping her gaze to the ground. She knew Jeera meant well. She had come to check on her when she first arrived in the dungeon. Mostly to find out whether Brianne was alright, but at least she checked in. She had come to trust Jeera, despite the strange distance that still lingered between them.

Jeera did not push for Avelon to share or talk about her feelings. Instead, she settled into a cross-legged position just outside the bars, her presence almost comforting.

"Jeera," Avelon began, her voice faltering. "About that riddle..."

Jeera tilted her head, her expression shifting to quiet expectation. She did not interrupt, letting the silence stretch between them.

Avelon took a shaky breath, steadying herself. "The goddess Dana... she came to me."

Jeera blinked in surprise, leaning forward slightly. "Dana? The Goddess of Knowledge? An actual God?" Her voice was low, measured, as though testing the weight of the words.