Beautiful Darkness

➵ The Beauty of Ignorance

I imagined this moment hundreds of times since I parted ways from my family over two months ago. The emotion of seeing they are okay, holding Iden in my arms... it seemed like a dream too good to be possible. But as my knuckles hover inches away from the oak door before me, it seems all too real. I take a deep breath and knock.

Moments of silence pass before suspicion begins to arise. I look over my shoulder at the group of individuals behind me—Perizada specifically.

"Are you sure this is the right location?" My faith in her begins to waver. She scoffs at my implication.

"I am absolutely positive. My locater spell has never failed. It would take an extremely capable individual with centuries old magic to deceive someone as powerful as I," Her confidence fills the air as she speaks. I notice several eyerolls in the crowd.

As I turn back to the door I knock a second time with more strength. The door creaks open slightly indicating it was not locked to begin with. Instinct arises as I draw my dagger from my waistband. The group follows suit as several weapons are drawn. My foot quietly presses the door open to avoid detection. I slide through the small opening into a large hallway. The ceiling light is rapidly flickering as shadows are cast throughout the room.

My race lives in darkness. I focus on my senses to heighten them. Several steps are taken before shuffling footsteps are heard. They get louder as I step into the main room of the large cottage. I can tell the approximate location of the person is to my left. I simply react as I hurl the dagger towards the offender. My target was to hit near them as opposed to causing injury. A startled yelp tells me my aim was successful.

The power to the cottage is restored. All breath leaves my lungs as the figure is identified.

"Lia?" Iden's small voice wavers. My only response is to run to him.

I engulf him into my arms and breath in his unique scent of pine and cinnamon. I notice his shaking instantly.

"I'm so sorry, I thought you were one of the bad guys," I try to explain. I hesitate before questioning him. "What were you doing in the dark, Iden?"

His eyes focus on something behind me. I turn around and notice Graham, Lincoln, Zara, and Ruelle approaching us. I stand up and take Iden's hand.

"Is everything alright, Princess?" Lincoln is the first to speak.

My eyes linger on my brother's form before responding. I give a curt nod. They take my indication for privacy and quietly leave the room and begin to look for the rest of my family.

As I turn back to Iden he begins to speak.

"I want to go home, Lia." His insecurity hurts me in an unexplainable way. Did something happen here?

"Where is mom and Dimitri? What happened to Braxton and Cora?" There is no excuse for why he would be here vulnerable and without protection.

"The bad man took them. He took mommy and tried to kiss her. I don't understand, Lia. I don't understand..." Sobs overcome his words as his pent-up tears begin to fall.

My heart drops to my stomach.

Antonis got here first.

How did Iden escape them?

I bring him back into my arms and hold him for several minutes as he releases all of his emotions. I will be anything he needs me to be.

"Daddy was cut in his belly. Will daddy die? I don't want daddy to die." More emotion pours out of him and seeps through my skin. I have to believe he is alive. King Dimitri is far too valuable to simply be killed in Antonis' need for vengeance. I wonder if he knows the truth about Antonis and my mother.