Beautiful Darkness

➵The Inbetween

           

Loud footsteps echo down the hallways as I make my way to the interrogation room. Well, not necessarily interrogation room. The room is a custodial closet we put a chair and rope in.

How innovative.

My mind lingers on the issue at hand. Orion, the person who I have known practically my entire life, has never been on my side. The worst part is that he has been aligned with Antonis—the person who wants my head on a silver platter.

I linger outside the door too afraid to confront reality. I can hear muffled voices from the other side. The sound of skin against skin tells me brute force is already being used as a means of getting information.

I carefully open the door. The sight before me is difficult to witness. Several bruises are already forming on Orion's clear face. The callused hands of Graham grab my attention as he swings again. The deadly look in his eyes is one I have never seen before. They flicker up to me once my presence is noticed.

I take my time walking over to Orion. His torso is tied tightly against a metal chair with rope that is dripping with nerum I presume. Orion's heavy eyelids slide up to meet mine. His entire body sags against the rope in exhaustion.

"Who are you working for?" My voice gains strength.

No response.

"I said, who are you working for?" I embrace the gift. My eyes undoubtfully cloud with an intense blackness.

"Arailia, you know me." Orion tries to defend.

"No, I don't." I inhale deeply as slip into his mind.

It is as if I am being submerged into ice. My body temperature drops as his memories surround me. They swirl around me as if they are alive. Some memories are stronger than others. I feel a stronger pull towards those that hold more importance to him. The weaker, less meaningful memories dangle farther away.

As I observe them, my face stands out in several of them. Orion sneaking me out of the castle onto field missions. Orion training me further in hand-to-hand combat. Our kiss.

Him and Anessia's kiss, I correct myself.

A sadness overwhelms me. Everything I thought was real is now meaningless.

An enormous pull draws me to the center of his cortex. Antonis' face appears through the fogs of static. My hand reaches out and is embraced with the electricity. I am instantly submerged into the memory.

"I swore fealty to the true King. I meant that oath." Orion aggressively states to the older man lounging across a glistening throne. I identify him as Antonis. An uncanny smirk forms on his poisonous lips.

"An oath mean nothing in the current world we live in. I don't care what fealty you promised. You are of my race. You will obey me or pay the price," Antonis threatens menacingly.

An amused breath escapes Orion.

Antonis' eyes darken instantly.

"You seem to forget my capabilities. You seem to forget the measures I will take to obtain my goals—the lives I will end."

"Your threats are useless. You will not change my mind. I do not fear you,"

"You should!" Antonis screams in a fit of rage. He leaps from his throne to his feet.

"Why do you even want me on your side. I'm a traitor in your eyes." Orion counters, unfazed.

"Because you are close to her." He blurts out.