Glistening Embers

Chapter 29: Prison

Author's Note: This story is wrapping up! Only 4 chapters and an epilogue left after this! 🤗
Glisteen awoke, in a dim room. Her head felt like someone had gone at it with a hammer. Then, she remembered what had happened. Going to the meeting, Artew's speech, her jumping in front of him when Showda had tried to kill him, Aritraya knocking her out... Sabecary.

Her heart seemed to break in two, as she remembered Sabecary. The way he had whispered "I'm sorry." Then, her heart stitched back together, jaggedly. He was working with Showda and Aritraya! He had lied to her. He probably hadn't even loved her. Showda had probably sent him to spy on her.

She sobbed, curling in a ball. She was captured, and there was no way for her to warn Sia or- Sia! Sia didn't know where Glisteen was. Sia trusted Aritraya. What if Aritraya lured her somewhere alone and- No! No. She couldn't think that, she just couldn't. She had to find a way out.

She ran toward the barred wall before something pulled her back and she almost fell. Glisteen looked down at her hands, pushing the thoughts from her head, her hands were wrapped in metal cuffs, connected to a big loop in the middle of the floor. It was probably so she couldn't burn her way out. Glisteen walked to the bars, slowly, this time. Maybe she could find out  who was kept here. Certainly not outlaws. In this place, they were running the show. Glisteen peered at the cell across from her to see... a floating chain? No, that was impossible. Who was it? Then it hit her.

"Sinlivbie! Sinlivbie!" Glisteen whispered as loud as possible. Glisteen could now see the back of her figure. She turned around and ran forward.

"Kill you! You do this!" Sinlivbie yelled, gesturing to her still horrifying face. Glisteen fell to the ground.

"Sinlivbie, not you. What did they do to you?" Glisteen whispered in shock.

"Made better, I made better. No soul. All Gift. I powerful. You not. I beat you now" Sinlivbie snarled.

"She's awake." Glisteen turned. A guard was looking at her through the bars. "Go get Showda and the twins." he commanded another guard. Glisteen didn't want to talk to anyone, certainly not now. Glisteen continued to sit on the floor. She'd just have to wait.

"Well, you certainly made quite a mess." Glisteen looked up. Showda was standing at the door, Sabecary and Aritraya flanking her. But the guard had said- Aritraya and Sabecary were the twins!

She could now see the resemblance with Sabecary and Aritraya. They both had the same cold eyes. The eyes Glisteen had thought, looked at her with love. The mouth that gave either the sweetest smile or the deepest frown. Glisteen stood, and faced them. She was no longer scared. What could they do now? She was in the worst situation possible.

"You're welcome." Glisteen replied. "I personally think it's an improvement."

Aritraya sneered. "That's what we're doing here, right? Improvement?" Glisteen flinched at the way she spat the word, then quickly covered it up with a mask of false confidence.

Glisteen snorted. "The only thing you should be improving is your looks." she said cooly. Glisteen was rewarded by a look of flustered rage from Aritraya, her face turning the shade of a ripe tomato.

"Now, now, girls." Showda interrupted. "You'll each get your chance in the arena, with the few... changes." Showda turned and walked off, Aritraya following her.

Sabecary stayed, though, looking in at her. Glisteen glared at him. "Goodbye, Sabecary." She spat the words out, and turned harshly, away from him. Sabecary stayed awhile longer before Glisteen heard his footsteps pat away.

Glisteen turned back around to make sure he was gone and sat on the floor. She was tired, and wanted to sleep off the throbbing pain in the side of her head. But, thanks to Sinlivbie muttering, Glisteen couldn't fall asleep. Instead, she sat on the floor of the cell, regretting every moment with she had shared with Sabecary. He had betrayed her. She had given him her love, her trust, and he had broken it with the simplicity of snapping a twig. Glisteen thought she would never love again. If someone that close to you could betray you, then it was no use loving.

Glisteen stayed up all night thinking, or at least she thought she did. She couldn't tell the time with no sky to look at or clock. In what she guessed was the morning, Aritraya came to her cell.  "Come on, G." she sneered, using Sabecary's nickname for her cruelly. "Showda wants to see you." She produced a large key from her pocket, and undid the lock connecting Glisteen's handcuffs to the floor. Glisteen looked for a way out, but could see guards at every turn. It was no use.

Aritraya strutted snootily out of the cell and two guards walked in. They walked behind Glisteen, and jabbed their spears at her. "Okay! I'm walking!" Glisteen said. She walked out of the cell, hands cuffed behind her.

"Ha! You prisoner!" Sinlivbie, or at least what used to be Sinlivbie, laughed. Glisteen ignored her and kept walking. She was guided through a maze of halls, similar to the ones in the mansion, and stopped at a set of stairs.

Aritraya stood on the top step, as she walked much faster than Glisteen. She clipped down the stairs, looking very sure of herself, in her tweed jacket. Glisteen rolled her eyes. Honestly, how could this person have once been her friend? She was snooty and bossy; the worst combination.

She grabbed Glisteen's arm. "Showda will see you now." She yanked Glisteen's arm and began to pull her up the stairs. Glisteen went up without complaint. Aritraya began to open the door at the top, but paused. "I hope you enjoy whatever punishment she has planned for you." she said, then opening the door fully.

"Now. Aritraya, don't be rude. Come in, both of you." Showda said. Glisteen took a deep breath and walked in the room, ready for whatever plan Showda had in store.