Keira's Fire

Chapter 24

Owen and I were taken to the cold, damp dungeon and roughly thrown into one of the cells. I managed to get my hands out in front of me before my face could hit the stone floor and I looked back just in time to see the heavy wooden door being slammed shut again. The click of the dead bolt echoed loudly in the high-ceiling room and I was blind for the few seconds it took my eyes to adjust to the dimness. The small barred opening in the door let in a little light from the torch in the hall and moonlight streamed in through the window overhead. It wasn't much, but it was better than absolute darkness.

"Keira?"

Instinctively, I struggled against the strong hands that grasped my arms, but then I realized who was pulling me to my feet.

"Stephen?" I gasped.

In preparation to face the king, I accepted the fact that I might never see my brothers alive again. The limited lighting allowed me to just barely distinguish my brother's features and I threw my arms around him. I was promptly pulled into another embrace and I knew before he spoke that it was Jeremy.

"What's happened?" He was frantic. "Where have you been?"

I'd forgotten that they had no way of knowing any of the things that I knew. All they were aware of was that the captain intended to use them as blackmail for me.

"I'm fine," I assured them quickly. "I was with-" I stopped abruptly, after acknowledging Owen. I realized too late that bringing attention to his presence probably wasn't the wisest thing to do at the moment. Jeremy and Stephen wouldn't know of his intentions in turning us over to the enemy. They would just know that he did it.

Before I had time to turn back to my brothers, I was already fighting to keep Jeremy at bay. Obviously he could see well enough to know who was thrown in with me. Even in the darkness, I was able to catch the murderous look in his eyes as Jeremy shoved me aside and pounced on Owen.

I couldn't see everything that was happening, but it wasn't hard to tell that they were beating him. Part of me wanted him to suffer a little for all of this. Especially since it looked like we would be killed soon. But I didn't want him seriously hurt. After all, in his place I might have done the same thing.

Knowing my brothers, as well as my own rage when all I saw was his betrayal, I didn't doubt that Stephen and Jeremy intended to kill him.

"Stop!" I couldn't tell which of my brothers I latched on to from behind. "You don't understand!"

"Blast it, Keira!" Stephen blustered after he failed to shake me off his back. "The man's a snake. That's all I need to understand!"

"No, it's not," I said stubbornly. "Stop this now!"

Stephen huffed in frustration and I released him, knowing he was under control. I was about to jump on Jeremy, but Stephen beat me to it, taking an elbow to the face before locking Jeremy's arms from behind.

"Get off of me!" Jeremy roared. Watching them struggle, I was glad that Stephen was the one I got to first. I never would have been able to even make Jeremy pause. He was too hot-headed.

"What?" he barked, calming slightly as Stephen succeeded in pulling him a foot away from Owen.

I rushed in between them and faced down my brothers, trying not to picture the damage they must have done to Owen as I stood over him.

"You need to listen to me," I said. "You don't know everything."

"He betrayed us, Keira!" Jeremy yelled. "He betrayed you! I thought you, of all people, would hate him the most."

"And he's also in this cell with us, Jeremy, in case you haven't noticed."

I still couldn't see very well, but I could picture the typical skepticism etched across his face.