Thorns of Fate: Serendipity Saga Book One

Chapter Forty

My heart lifted when I saw Will. I felt like screaming in joy for one magnificent second. Then the rest of my circumstance caught up to me. Henrick didn't immediately react to us as we rounded the corner and entered the arena and I watched him warily. I had made it. Will was here. And I was completely at Henrick's mercy.

My footsteps slowed, my feet resisting the urge to step forward and Liam dropped behind me, pushing me forward with a finger jabbed into my back. I arched way from his touch, lurching forward again. My skin crawled when he touched me.

We had crossed halfway over the arena by the time Henrick acknowledged our arrival. He twisted to the side, looking barely over his shoulder. When he saw us he turned fully, holding his arms out to me. I didn't respond to his gesture.

"Hello, dear princess. Welcome to Rome," he said, gesturing around the arena with one hand. "I'm so pleased to finally have you here within my fold."

"You can let Will go now," I hissed.

Henrick looked up at the bubble with consideration and pressed his hand towards the ground, palm down. The sphere in the air, licking with flame, lowered until it pressed against the ground. The circular area burst, leaving a circular wall of fire around Will's form and resting his feet on the ground.

He looked over at me, his face bruised and bloody but his eyes eager. He smiled at me across the field but grimaced when he did. His lip which looked like it had begun the process of healing split open again and blood welled down his chin.

Henrick looked over at me. "Satisfied?" he asked.

"I want to talk to him and then I want you to let him go," I replied, crossing my arms over my chest.

Henrick rolled his eyes. "I'm not certain that you are in a position to be making demands, Ms. Santina."

Liam jabbed a finger into my spine again, forcing my steps forward. I stumbled, having to fight not to fall to the ground in the midst of the arena. It didn't look the same as it had with Achillia, most of its interior crumbling and falling to pieces. I knew from pictures on the internet that in the modern day, there was no cover over the variety of chambers that were exposed below in the center of the arena. Henrick had layered a floor here across the columns below, making it a flat surface once more. How were they getting full access of everything here? This stuff was highly protected.

As we neared closer to Henrick, Liam gave me a rough shove, knocking me forward. This time, I didn't manage to keep me feet and fell forward, scraping my hands along the ground and plummeting to my knees before Henrick. I scrambled to my feet, not liking the idea of the vulnerable pose so close to the two of them.

"Kyra."

I looked toward the voice. Will had spoken through the wall of flame, calling out to me. I stepped over to him. I really didn't care what Henrick did as long as Will went free.

"Will," I greeted, able to see him if just barely over the licking flame. "Are you okay?" I asked him. I knew that wasn't the greatest question. He had been kidnapped, tortured, and was now contained within a cage of fire by a madman. Okay wasn't really in the equation but I felt that I needed to say something.

"I'm fine," he returned, putting forth a bravado that I could see right through. It looked like his nose had been broken and he had two black eyes with bruising across the bridge. His jaw was slightly disfigured and he grimaced when he spoke. His lip looked like it needed stitches. He was far from okay.

"Let him go," I said, whirling on Henrick. "I'm here. You have what you wanted. Let him go."

Henrick crossed his arms over his chest, staring down his nose at me. "I haven't precisely gotten what I wanted yet, but we're getting there."