The High Priestess of Shadows

Chapter 4

"You're the High Priestess?" he asked looking at her in confusion.

"Yes, I am. Is there a problem with that?" Lilly asked trying to act like she wasn't terrified.

"You can't be older than seventeen," he said. "You can't be High Priestess if you're so young. That's like giving a five year old a knife."

"You're one to talk. You look younger than me," she said getting more confident. He wasn't a trained Knight, just a boy that they sent because they underestimated her.

"I am the Commander's son and a Knight. You might want to show some respect before I kill you."

Lilly laughed, she really laughed. "You are a boy who has never killed before and even if you have you couldn't kill me. They wouldn't let you."

"What's your name?" he asked suddenly. "You know mine already so it's only fair that I know yours."

"Lilly," she said. "My name's Lilly. By the way nothing about this is really fair considering I'm chained to a wall in a cold dungeon for no reason other than I believe in different things than you do."

"I don't actually want to do this," Will said. "My father is the Commander so I don't really have a choice but if I did I would leave. But since I can't I'll have to do as he told me to."

"What did he tell you to do?" Lilly asked dreading the answer.

"He told me to break you using any means necessary."

She felt a cold sense of dread settle over her like a blanket. "Are you going to?" was all she could think of to say.

"No," he said. "You were right when you said that I couldn't kill you but it's not because of my orders. I just don't have it in me to hurt anyone."

"Why are you telling me this, aren't you afraid I'll use it against you?"

"You don't seem like that kind of person and you can't do anything while you're chained in a dungeon," he said.

"Good answer," she said grudgingly. So if you don't plan on trying to break me what are you going to do?" she asked genuinely curious. He was right about her, she probably wouldn't try to use the information against him partly because it wasn't in her nature and partly because she respected him. Even after spending his whole life being taught that witches are evil he wasn't hurting her.

"I don't really know," he admitted. "It just has to seem like I'm torturing you but I don't know how we can fake that."

"All you have to do is leave some bruises on me. If you let me down I can show you." she said.

"Nice try but I wasn't born yesterday. Speaking of which, how old are you?"

"Seventeen," she said. "It was my birthday when we got captured."

"You basically got a death sentence for your birthday. I'm the same age you are, by the way."

"Being High Priestess is an honor not a death sentence," she said indignantly.

"It doesn't seem that way to me. In less than a day you've been nearly killed in battle, captured, dragged here from your village and chained in a dungeon. To me that sounds like a death sentence." She was about to respond when the sound of bells filled the air. She counted ten chimes before it stopped. "I have to leave soon but first we have to make it look like I hurt you." Will's forehead creased as he frowned.

"Just hit me a little," Lilly said. "I bruise easily so you wouldn't really be hurting me."

"When I said that I can't hurt you I meant it," he said his frown deepening as he shook his head.

"Then let me down and I'll do it myself," she said and rattled the chains on her wrists.

"You know I can't do that." he said. "Alright, I'll do it but if I hurt you tell me immediately."

"You hit like a girl," Lilly commented twenty minutes later when she was sufficiently bruised. "If you had the guts to hit like a man this would have taken half the time."

"Well it worked so no harm done even though it did take awhile," he said. "I'll be back later don't talk to anyone about this."

"Who would I talk to? I won't be leaving this spot." she said.

"Bye Lilly," he gave her a little wave before unlocking the door and walking out. She sighed. It was nearly midnight and she was still a prisoner and possibly the only Shadow left alive. She had no idea what had become of her friends.

Ari and Gabe had probably tried to escape already maybe Jake had as well. Vivian and Isabelle would resist everything the Knights threw at them but would obey her orders and wait for an opportunity to arise then escape on their own. She had managed to get the message to everyone that if you get a chance to run, take it, don't try to save anyone else, just get yourself out and go to the lake. It had been their secret meeting place for years, just outside the village in the forest they would meet there whenever they needed time for just them without the rest of the Coven around.

Elijah had found it when he was out gathering herbs for the Healers. He had been lost deep inside the woods and stumbled upon it. He brought the rest of them there because he thought it was beautiful. No one had ever found them before and Lilly hoped that the Knights wouldn't be able to find them there now. She fell asleep and dreamt of the lake and all the days she and her friends spent on its banks.

Lilly was running through the forest with her red hair flying free behind her. Ari was just ahead of her, her long legs carrying her swiftly towards the clearing. Her thin brown hair was in a tight braid and streamed behind her like a kite. They burst out of the trees and flopped down on a rock next to Sabrina.

"Hey, Sabby," Lilly said reaching over and pulling her friends black hair out of its braid. "Where's everyone else?"

"On their way," she said. "Elijah and Mark just got back from their trip to Adder Coven with the other Healers so Ross and Izzy went to see them then they'll come here."

"What about Gabe and Jake?" Ari asked. "Shouldn't they be here already?"

"We're right here," Gabe called ducking a branch and walking into the clearing.

"Hi guys," Jake said. Ari launched herself into his arms and kissed him, tugging at his short black hair both of their brown eyes closing.

"Show some restraint Ariella!" Elijah yelled as he walked into the clearing hand in hand with Izzy, Mark and Ross close behind.

"We've seen you and Izzy do much more than kiss," Sabby said. "So you can't be mad at them."

"I thought we agreed that we would never speak if that again. Ever," Izzy said blushing a dark crimson as they all laughed.

A chiming bell awoke her from her dream of perfection. She wished she could go inside the memory and be happy again, even though the witch trials were going on then she and her friends manages to stay safe until now.

Will came barreling into the room breaking her out of her reverie. He was holding a bag close to his chest. "How good of an actress are you?" he asked taking out a servant's dress and headscarf.

"Why?" Lilly asked immediately suspicious.

"I'm going to introduce you to the resistance," he said smiling and producing a key from his pocket.