The Awakening

Chapter Forty Two

"Interesting..." Balor drawled the word, his lips curling into a dark, taunting smile. Inside his eyes, Avelon could see ideas and plans forming. She breathed slowly, the water swirling inside her lungs as if it were air.

"Elha, why have you not reported that Avelon has managed to summon the air affinity?" At Balor's words, Avelon's eyes snapped toward Elha.

Elha dropped her hands, stopping the flow of water. Instinctively, Avelon fell forward onto her knees, coughing and sputtering. Mouthfuls of water splashed onto the ground before her before she sucked in mouthfuls of air. She was not out of breath, but breathing liquid left her unsettled.

"I was not certain, sir," Elha blurted, trying to sound confident.

His gaze sharpened as he regarded her. "You should've known the moment she didn't drown in the stream. How funny that I managed to come to that conclusion myself." He snorted.

Shadows shot toward Elha, wrapping around her middle. The instant they touched her white blouse and skin, a hissing erupted, joined by Elha's pitched scream. The contrast between the writhing shadows and the white of her shirt was nauseating. Material fell to the floor in tatters as the shadows tightened.

Avelon's head spun as she considered her next move.

Flee. Help. Stay quiet and wait.

"Please, I was not sure. I took her out of the water before she could die. I didn't try hard enough," Elha plea filled the room, tears streaming down her cheeks.

"Stop!" Avelon snapped, rushing to Elha's side. Balor prowled around them like a predator, tilting his head as if amused.

"Friendly, are we?" His voice deepened into something unearthly. The hairs on the back of Avelon's neck rose in caution.

"No more of this," she said, her voice firm. "You've seen what you wanted. I'll comply. Just stop this."

Her gaze flicked between the shadows wrapped around Elha and Balor. She reached toward the shadows, willing herself to dispel them. Every fibre of her being focused on helping Elha.

Before she could touch them, Balor recalled the shadows with a flick of his wrist.

Interesting. Avelon thought.

Elha crumpled forward, angry burns circling her waist where the shadows had scorched her skin. Her blouse hung in shredded pieces, exposing raw, blistered flesh that made her wince with every movement. She pressed a trembling hand to her side, trying to steady herself.

Avelon summoned air to her, the currents swirling faintly at her fingertips as she readied herself. She sent a subtle gust of relief toward Elha, careful to keep the motion discreet. Cold air could suppress the awful burn of her skin. The shackles on Avelon's wrists clinked with every breath she drew. Balor did not know just how much she could still do—with or without them.

"I find it quite amusing that, once again..." Balor's voice was smooth, his steps deliberate as he crossed the room. He stopped directly in front of Avelon, towering over her, his shadows stretching across her face but never touching her. Slowly, he raised a finger, pointing directly at her chest. "You think you're in a position to bargain with me, Avelon."

His anger simmered beneath the surface, flashing in his eyes. His lips whitened as he pressed them into a thin line. Avelon's throat tightened, the heat of his proximity making it harder to breathe.

She clenched her fists, summoning every ounce of courage to remind herself that Balor needed her. No matter what she said or did, he would not kill her—not yet. Eventually, but not yet.