Beautiful Darkness

➵Can I Survive Redemption?

I can't move. I can't speak. Every function my body is capable of has been put on hold by the captivity of Orion's green eyes. They freeze me solid as they glide over me and the chains around my wrists. Relief, worry, and fury all reside upon him as he is lost in the gaze between our eyes. I open my mouth to call out to him. Craving to be next to him, Roman speaks just as I gather the courage to. Roman says something but his voice is muffled. A hand grasps my shoulder. I turn to face him as the connection with Orion is broken.

"What?"

"Where'd you go?" Roman concentrates on me. I can only imagine how suspicious I am acting.

"Nowhere." I hurriedly turn back to find Orion only to find the emptiness he filled moments ago.

"I said, it isn't my job to know where they are. According to what we have heard, you gave them the orders. So where exactly did you send them to, Princess?"

I rack my brain for any possible solutions. Yes, I did tell them to take the train to the capital. However, I didn't get around to mentioning where exactly to go once they arrived. I wasn't worried at the time; I knew they had Orion. Just thinking his name sends too many emotions down my body to process all at once.

"The capital is filled with Light's despite it being a neutral territory. I doubt they're anywhere out in the open." Daniel voices. That's exactly what I would think too, until I saw Orion. What was he doing? Does he realize how exposed he was?

"Do you have any family here?" Natalia suggests. I shake my head.

"The only family I have alive are my parents and Iden." I answer softly. I look away to the busy streets to avoid the pity that will inevitably be in their eyes. Ruelle along with the wolves catch my eye in the distant. Natalia motions them over inconspicuously.

"It's been a long day. Everyone is sleep deprived and hungry. I say we give ourselves a night. Find a quite inn and figure all of this out in the morning." Daniel's ease with the suggestion quickly appeals to the group. Voices of agreements and nod decide the ultimate decision. To the inn we go. Ruelle leads us to an abandoned part of town that is known for thievery. Everyone casts her a weary glance.

"What? You want to remain on the down low, right?" She stops. The inn is a single story timber framed building, with a small hedged yard. We all hesitantly enter. The accommodations consist of a few small rooms with straw mats and several hammocks in the common room. Many of the tables are setup for gambling. The innkeeper is a shorter female elf with a nametag reading Ennet Glarke. Her innocent expression seems forced upon her young features. Her eyes widen at the size of our group.

"Is two per room okay?" She squeaks out. The wolves must be putting her on edge.

"Yes, that would be perfect." Ruelle responds with a plastered smile as she dumps out a coin purse filled with gold onto the counter. After assigning rooms to everyone and passing out keys, the crowd slowly begins to separate after we eat dinner in the dining room. Ruelle, Natalia, and I decide on sharing the only room with three beds. This combination should be interesting.

We walk down a musty hallway until we come to room 112. Natalia hastily opens the door, leading into a simple room. Three twin beds with a single pillow and blanket on them sit next to each other with a space of five feet between them. A lamp, table, and two chairs are the only other furniture in the entire space. A small bathroom is attached.

"Great choice, mutt." Natalia grumbles as she collapses onto the hard mattress. Ruelle gives a pleasant smile.

"It's not like you could do any better." The tension between them is heavy and I decide to evacuate before the storm.