Hell's Throne (The Devil's Assistant Series - 5 ) - Unedited

Hell's Throne - Chapter 6

Danny awoke with a sleepy grumble, rubbing at his eyes before he buried his face into his pillow. Despite my overwrought nerves, I smiled and caressed my fingers through his hair as he clung to the last vestiges of sleep. I almost wished I was as blissfully unaware of what was happening in the world around me. They say ignorance is bliss.

But I knew the realities that waited for me outside of my bedroom.

I hadn't slept in three days.

I blinked and shook my head. No, I hadn't slept in four.

Everyone had tried to get me to sleep. They had told me that everything would be fine. Yet, no matter how much I longed for comfort of unconsciousness and longed to give into the urges of my weary body, sleep would not come. Dark circles had formed under my eyes and my entire body felt leaden. It took all of my focus to put one foot in front of the other.

Yet I coped – just.

"Come on sleepy head, it's time to get up. They're all waiting for us to have breakfast." I murmured softly, stroking Danny's back gently. All it earned me was a grunt before my son's little body rolled away from me.

Signing loudly, I pushed up from the bed just as a knock sounded at the door. My heart skipped and it took every last part of me not to race across the room and throw open the door. I had done so for the first two days after Lucius disappeared. Each time I had felt a brief moment of hope and relief – maybe he had finally returned - only to be followed by bitter disappointment as my hopes were crushed once more.

"Yes?" I called out shakily, locking my knees together to stop myself from repeating the heart-wrenching cycle once more.

"It's me miss, I've just come to help you get ready." A muffled voice called through the wood.

"Oh." I paused and looked down at the creased gown which clothed my body. I hadn't even bothered to change for bed; I had known that sleep would not come while I worried about those that were missing. "Come in."

The handle jostled but the door did not open. "It's locked."

I blinked and stared blankly at the door for several long seconds, my mind working much slower than it usually did. Then, when her words finally translated into some comprehensible form, I staggered over and unlocked the door.

The woman waiting on the other side smiled as she stared up at me. Her eyes roamed over my features, probably taking careful note of my complete disarray before she dipped into a small curtsy. In that brief flash, before she bowed her head in respect, I saw pity in her gaze. It didn't sit comfortably.

"I've told you not to do that. I am no one important." I muttered, stepping aside to allow the young woman to step past me.

"Of course, milady." The woman muttered, nodding her head as if in acceptance. I knew that tomorrow morning she would do exactly the same.

Even though I knew I wouldn't like the answer, I couldn't stop myself from asking, "Any news?"

The young woman looked away, refusing to meet my stare. That action spoke louder than any words ever could. Still, after gaining her composure, the smaller woman turned and gave a sad shake of her head. "No news, milady. A search team returned a few hours ago but they have nothing new to report."

Each word caused my stomach to sink even further. I couldn't stop hope for a different outcome from finding its way through the creases and into the forefront of my mind. I wanted Lucius to come back safe with all of the other missing guards. But what I wanted never really factored into the grand plans that were set out before me.