White Stag

Chapter 16~Char

I drag my feet on the floor. I remind myself that I should make it difficult for them. The guards throw me back into my cell. I glare at them with as much hate as I can muster as they slam the door.

As soon as they are gone, my clenched hands unfurl and shake. A scream rises in my throat but I hold it back. I will not let him ruin me. I take a few calming, deep breaths. The stale air hurts my lungs but succeeds in giving me a clear head.

I need to get out of here, that much is obvious. But I don't know how to do it. From what I can tell, the walls are impenetrable. The security has been raised due to my stupid antics earlier. I frown and stare at the door. The only way that I can see me leaving this place is by becoming allies with the other prisoners.

And so I wait. Hours pass as I pace the room and ponder. Will they come? Do they have group meals here? Will I be able to escape? My thoughts disperse as the door creaks open and one of my questions is answered.

"Dinner time!" a booming voice, presumably on a speaker, echoes through the halls.

Other cell doors open and prisoners come grumbling out. I follow casually with my eyes down and my head forward.

The hallway leads to a large cafeteria. There are mismatched tables and chairs and just like the room I had recently seen Apollo in, they are bolted to the floor.

I grab a tray and get in line with the other prisoners. I can feel their eyes glued to my hair and antlers. All I can hope is that they have experienced discrimination from the Leviathans as well.

A cafeteria worker, wearing a plastic cap, flings an unknown substance onto my plate. I cringe. Is this food even edible? A large bubble forms on the light brown mound and I'm tempted to poke it.

A high-pitched female voice interrupts my thoughts. "Don't poke it! It makes it worse." I turn to see a Leviathan with blond hair staring at my food. She cringes. "Trust me, I know."

I let out a short laugh. "What even is this?"

The blond glances at me and cocks her head as if to think about it. "Honestly, it's probably their own shit." She grins at me and leads me to a table in the corner with two chairs.

"I'm Char." Char holds out a hand for me to shake. I graciously take it. "I'm guessing you're in because you're the White Stag." Char shakes her head and grumbles, "These idiots always make the worst decisions."

My curiosity gets the best of me. "What are you in for?"

Char snorts. "I doubt you will believe this, but I am royalty." She shoves a small spoonful of the inedible mixture into her mouth. "I refused to kill wolves. It's apparently considered treason."

I look down at my food and gulp before touching it with a fork. "How long have you been here for?"

Char pauses to count in her head. "Four years." She shakes her head. "I'm not exactly sure. The Leviathans never let anyone out."

"Why don't you just fly out? I mean, you have wings." I gesture to my antlers and smile. "An advantage that I don't have."

Char bursts out laughing as if I've told a hilarious joke. I look at her quizzically. She pauses. "What? They haven't taken away your magic yet?"

"Magic?" My eyes widen in astonishment as I think back to when Axel opened the mirror portal to the village. My voice grows excited. "I can use magic?"

"You don't use magic. It's more like..." Char pauses to think. "More like you have magic. All creatures have it. In fact, the White Stag is almost purely magic." She looks at me. "Leviathans took away my magic. A Leviathan's magic is the ability to fly."

I can't help snickering. "So, the wings are just for show?"

Char rolls her eyes. "Basically. A wolf's magic is the ability to shift. Your magic is healing."

I sit back in my chair. "Is there anything else besides healing?"

Char glances around before leaning in. "There are rumors that the White Stag can master any type of magic through Odin. But that's just a rumor."

"Lunchtime is over! Back to the cells," a guard bellows.

Char grins at me. "Dinner tonight?" I nod my head vigorously.

~

My thoughts don't stop flowing once I get back to my cell. If I'm able to master any magic, doesn't that mean I can technically get out of here?

I think back to the time when Axel opened the mirror portal. He centered himself and chanted a few words. I don't remember the words, but if magic is anything like healing, then all I have to do is imagine it and it will happen.

I plop down in front of the mirror and cross my legs. I practice centering my breathing, like Axel taught me to. I picture the mirror rippling to reveal Axel's dark hair. I want to feel his skin through the mirror, his hands on the surface. I can hear his voice repeating in my head.

My eyes open to reveal a regular mirror. Desperation and anger build in me. "Why the fuc-" I scream. I'm about to hit the mirror when a faint voice comes through on the other side. It's barely audible.

"Arabella?"