The Fate Weaver

Chapter 18

Chapter 18

No memory was triggered even when the doors of the dungeon were thrown open; either I had not been here before or the trigger was not strong enough.

I stopped for a while at the entrance, hand leaning against the threshold, taking in the surrounding.

The floor was clothed in a plush red carpet, the ceilings low and adorned with dully lit lights. Flanking me were two whitewashed walls, and thin spiderwebs covered corners. Cells were at both my sides, and the curious occupants spared me a glance, or struck their head toward, bony fingers clamped around the bars, mouth croaking out inaudible words.

The air reeked of dust, sweat, blood and some food, and the cells were not lit, for dungeon's special effect. 

Guards garbed in their uniforms stood in front of each prisoner's cell, with a spear in hand. They bowed low to the waist as I slowly walked foward beside Brody, Marie and Joyce in tow, each holding small lights. 

Of course, every prisoner looked like a teenager, due to our gift of stopping ageing at seventeen. But it was the eyes that made the difference. 

A girl's fingers were stuck out from in between the bars, alabaster and thin, the fingernails exceedingly long. Her snow- white hair was combed neatly into a bun, and her face had been washed recently. There was slight color in her cheeks, indicating that she had eaten a quite decent meal. But the pair of grey eyes that stared at me with the age of a hundred-year-old woman who had seen way too much plunged into me like a stake.

I hid my crumbled-down composure with a cough, hiding half of my face by covering my mouth with my handkerchief. 

"Are you all right, princess?" asked Brody in a low voice, genuine concern flitting across his face.

What excuse did I have that I did not have to worry everybody? If I were to say I was sick, surely Physician Anna or Terrence would pay me a visit, and my lie would be known to every-body.

"It's just the dust," I murmured with another really believable cough that I praised myself for. "Nothing to worry about. Where is Magnus?"

Brody gesticulated to the cell two rooms away from the girl, who had retracted into the darkness- but I could still feel her intense gaze on me. "There, princess."

The unassuming indifferent air that Brody had kept up, unfazed by the prisoners, seemed to change, when we arrived in front of the cell. There was a lock of his jaw and teeth, tension obviously building up in his lean arm muscles, his hand resting on his belt near where his sword was sheathed into the case. 

What was he so keyed up about?

"Jack- I mean, Magnus?" I called out, reaching out my hand, when Brody suddenly lunged foward and stood on my way, gently pushing away my out reached hand. "I wouldn't do that if I were you, princess. Forgive me for being blunt and touching you, but it was necessary for your safety. I hope you understand."

"I don't give a shit about you touching me," I said, the years of being a human American teenager springing up in defense. "I care about why you're acting like we're standing in front of a open lion cage."

Then, I realized something- both gratifying and terrifying. Brody was actually intimidated by Magnus- who was inside a cell, locked away in maximum security. Why was that so?

Brody's turqouise eyes flickered to my face, his jaw clenching tightly. Finally, when he spoke, there was a strain in his words. "He's a traitor, princess. He betrayed you and the country and the people. The state of which Senalia is in right now is because of him. When he betrayed you, when he let Keak in through the protection layer built for Senalia, the layer was torn down, and that is why there are chimera attacks now. We have to admit, he is a dangerous and potent one."