ALMIRA THORN- Knowledge of Another Kind. [Editing]

Chapter 12- A bolt never locked - Part one!

“I thought you chained her!” A voice snapped me from sleep and I bolted upright, my eyes finally adjusting and seeing the cell in it’s true form, my hearing back to the way it should be as I stared out across the room that had been my prison. The torches were lit brighter, stronger then I last remembered, filling the cell with enough light for me to see the detail the room had. Every crack visible as I slowly rose from the ground, my dress damp and crinkled from the cold stone floors, my muscles slowly protesting as I slowly stood up and lifted my wrists; the chains had gone, leaving a harsh red mark on my skin. I slowly lifted my hand higher to the light and saw half my nails torn away, blood oozing from the nail beds and down the palm of my hand, tracing down my arms like small snakes, dripping onto the ground at the elbow and making a harsh sound against the silence of the cell. I widened my eyes and my gaze shot to the ground, where the chains lay in a broken heap on the floor, but they didn’t look scratched off. The cuff had been ripped in half completely, as if someone had torn them off. Impossible, Lucian never got out of these. Did someone do this? The figure. My brain scrambled through the memories, but even that was a hazy blur of images, the person speaking, my voice dead in my throat as I reached out…. reached out. I wouldn’t have been able to do that with the chains, I was released before the figure came. Who? Murmurs of voices interrupted my thoughts and brought me back to the current situation, getting out of here.

I slowly walked over to the bars, my footsteps full of effort as my legs remembered how to walk, the energy it took was enough as I reached out and clutched the bars, letting them take my weight as I stared out. Lucian stood a few meters away, deep in discussion as Ray shouted at him, his body tall and tense, his eyes fixed on Lucian as he lifted his arms and towered over him, but Lucian was older and taller by a few inches, so still he stood tall and tried to bring reason to him, their conversation was beginning to process and the words became clearer.

“Listen to me, liste-Ray! I did chain her, she got out.” Lucian grabbed him by the shoulders and shook him sharply, like a father would a child, the gesture looking strangely comedic, but their faces kept tight and serious, still locked in a gaze enough to pierce through like a blade. His eyes widened and his mouth parted, no words coming out for what must have been minutes, Lucian slowly releasing his grip and stepping back, leaving Ray looking even more stunned alone.

“That’s impossible. Those chains are solid steel, even you turning into lion form didn’t break its hold on you, she’s a fighter, not given the strength that could break those chains.” Ray’s voice began to calm and he was left breathing sharply, his chest rising and falling as his face smoothed out and he listened to Lucian. They began to slowly turn on their heel and walk back through the torch-lit corridor, their voices fading as they reached the stairs.

It took me two tried before my throat cleared enough to be heard, “I’ve done my second night.” It came out bitter but clear, I pressed my face against through the bars and heard their footsteps return. Their faces a mask of shock as they slowed their pace and stopped on the other side of the cells.

 “Finally decided to leave me to rot, is that it?” I laughed under my breath but even that came out harsh so I bit back the rest; I knew it wouldn’t help me get out any faster. They just stared at me, saying nothing as the time dragged on and I began to grow self-conscious.

“What? I know I probably look a mess but you look like I’ve sprouted another head.” I made it a joke but there was no humor in their faces. They turned and exchanged a look between them, Lucian slowly nodding and Ray turning back to face me, his face smoothing out and the spark of his eyes returning to him.

He walked up and slowly placed a hand on the bars, “You shouldn’t be awake, hec, you shouldn’t be able to speak or even see properly.” He smiled and I saw relief cross his eyes, his entire body as it slouched and I saw him release a breath I didn’t know he was holding. It took a moment for his words to sink in and when they did I frowned up at him.

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