The Awakening

Chapter Forty One

Avelon's heart felt as though it would stop at Elha's words, but still she smirked. Her lips curved in a way that barely masked the racing of her thoughts beneath her composed exterior. She leaned back against the cold stone wall, arms crossing over her knees with deliberate ease.

"Good," she said coolly, her tone light but edged with steel. "I'm glad he's aware that I'm willing to comply. I'm tired of these games."

Elha blinked, her sharp features briefly faltering into something that almost resembled disappointment. It was fleeting, but Avelon caught the subtle shift. For a moment, it looked as though Elha had expected something... different from Avelon.

But the moment passed as quickly as it came. Elha's pale eyes hardened once again, her smirk returning with practiced detachment.

"If that's how you see it," she replied, tilting her head slightly in acknowledgement. Her voice was smooth and controlled, though Avelon thought she noticed a flicker of something else lurking beneath it.

Avelon straightened, shaking the dust off her pants. She almost laughed at herself. No amount of dusting would clean the pants she wore. She sighed and bit down the laughter that threatened to escape.

"Thanks for the water," she said offhandedly to Jeera, careful to keep her tone dismissive. She tilted her head ever so slightly in a gesture of nonchalance. "You didn't have to trouble yourself."

Jeera hesitated, her eyes darting between Avelon and Elha, clearly catching the shift in tone. Her jaw tightened, but she offered a curt nod to Avelon and played along with her act.

"No problem." she replied, her voice steady despite the concern evident in the twitch of her left eye.

As Jeera walked away, Avelon turned her attention fully to Elha, her expression unreadable. She was careful not to cast her attention on Jeera for too long. She knew she could reach out to Jeera later via her messages, so she dismissed her silently.

Her shoulders felt a bit lighter with the revelation, and for a fleeting moment, she considered the potential of her affinities. Avelon shook the thought away—there was no time for that now.

"So, what now? Another slap perhaps?" Avelon drawled, her smirk widening as she teased.

Elha did not take the bait. "Balor would like to see you," she said instead, her tone clipped and devoid of any humour or emotion. "I've been tasked with... retrieving you."

Avelon arched a brow, feigning indifference. "Retrieving me? How formal. Normally I would just get a smack over the head." She rolled her eyes.

"Open the cell and lead the way, then." She pouted, rising to stand before the gate of the cell.

Elha studied her, her eyes narrowing slightly, but she said nothing. She nudged a rusted key into the lock and shoved the gate open. Without offering Avelon another look she turned on her heel and gestured for Avelon to follow. Reluctantly, Avelon followed, vowing silently not to make a scene. She needed to act willing, despite the mess of emotions brewing inside her.

As they walked down the dimly lit hallway, the silence stretched between them. Avelon was careful to keep her eyes trained on Elha's back. She had no intention of staring into any of the other dungeon cells, even though she was sure that she had been alone.

"You ran off before you could tell me," She said casually, her voice light and mocking. "About what you know about the word Daghlan."

Elha stopped abruptly, her entire body going rigid. She turned to Avelon, her pale eyes wide with alarm and warning. "Don't start. Just stay quiet." she said sharply, her words cutting through the air.