The Seven Deadly Kingdoms

Chapter 38

A cold shiver crept its way up Adelaide's spine. This was her third night in the dungeon, though it had felt like she'd endured weeks of the bitter cold. She hugged her make-shift blanket that she had made her stolen skirt into tightly to her chest as she chipped away at the second column in her window. She had broken through the first column about an hour ago. The small accomplishment had been just the boost of motivation she had needed to keep going. 

A gust of icy air travelled up Adelaide's body. It tickled her ears, sounding almost like a whisper. She shivered, huffing as she lowered herself from her chair. She sat in it, sighing as she tilted her head back, resting it on the stone wall behind her. Her eyelids felt like fifty pound weights, begging for rest as she stared at the empty seat on the other side of her cell. She let them fall for a moment. Just a few minutes of sleep couldn't set her back too much.

"You're almost done, Adelaide. Why stop now?"

The familiar voice jolted Adelaide's eyes open, though it wasn't the seductively sweet voice she had come to know the past two days. This one was warped and gravelly, and a thousand voices at once. This one had been in her nightmares.

Adelaide jerked her head up, praying William had been the man behind the voice, and that her mind was simply playing tricks on her. But the dark silhouette that had appeared in the chair across from her was the opposite of teal eyes and fitted vests.

Just as Adelaide remembered, the man was nothing but darkness, as if he were cloaked in shadows. She could make out nothing of his figure but his twisted, unnaturally wide smile. Though this time, her environment remained the same. No hallucinations, no sudden deafness. It was as if the man might have truly been there, sitting in front of her.

"Who are you?" The words left her mouth before she had time to register her thoughts. No fear clouded her thoughts as it had in their previous encounters. She was almost glad that he had visited her again, if only so she could get answers to the swarm of questions constantly attacking her mind.

The man's smile stretched even wider as he tilted his head to the side. Though Adelaide couldn't see his eyes, she could feel his gaze boring into hers.

"I am a friend, Adelaide." His voice slithered through the bars of her cell, wrapping around her ears.

"I hardly believe a friend would haunt me like this. Or stab me."

"I'll admit, I tend to get carried away with my performances. I simply wish to entice you, Adelaide. You have to admit, it was a beautiful show, wasn't it? Your blood contrasted so sweetly with the snow. Though, do not worry, pet, you were not truly harmed. I would never wish to truly hurt you."

Adelaide cringed, as if her body were warning her to keep her distance from the man. Just from his few sentences, she could feel how sick and twisted he was.

"What is your name?"

The man tilted his head back, sighing as his body relaxed. "You will learn when the time is right, my Adelaide."

"Why are you here, then? Why have you been following me for so long? I know it was you that night in the woods, on my way to the capital of Extollentiam, and I know it's you that's been plaguing my thoughts long before then. What do you want with me?" Anger began to rise in Adelaide's chest as she stood. She didn't have the patience for his games, not anymore. If anything, the man had been wasting her time distracting her with his theatrics, and she had enough on her plate without him. Whatever it was he wanted, he needed to get it over with.

The man stood, leisurely walking to her cell, passing right through the bars. He stood directly in front of Adelaide, but his features were still shadowed.