Redemption

Chapter Thirty-Four: The King

The echo of continuously dripping water was the first thing I heard when I came to. At first I thought I might be back at Tueri, having fallen asleep, but that was wishful thinking because my room would never be this cold.

I opened my eyes a fraction of an inch and found myself lying on a dark stone floor. Unsteady and disoriented, I sat up, sending throbbing pain radiating through the back of my head. The room was spinning so quickly, it made me nauseous.

I wasn't sure where I was, but this definitely wasn't my bunk. In fact, I wasn't even sure I was in Tueri anymore. There were tall stone walls on three sides of me, leaving the room dark and damp with no windows to let the warmth of the daylight inside. Straight ahead of me were metal bars from floor to ceiling, like a cage door. It was eerily quiet, except for the deafening dripping that echoed through the cellar.

As my vertigo began to pass, my recent memory resurfaced. I suddenly recalled the assault in the meditation gardens and Dennis' betrayal. I felt a stab in my heart as I contemplated his treachery. Micah had tried to caution me from the beginning, to warn me that something wasn't right about Dennis. But I had passed it off as jealous paranoia and tuned him out. I had been so blinded by my feelings for Dennis, that I couldn't see his deceitfulness the way Micah could. I'd refused to listen to him, and look where it got me- imprisoned and alone.

I started to panic as I clambered to my feet. I made a beeline for the exit, but I was stopped short by long shackles that were secured tightly to my wrists, chaining me to the wall. I yanked and tugged on the iron chains, sending pain shooting through my broken wrist in a desperate attempt to free myself.

"You're wasting your time," a deep voice saId from a shadowy corner of the cell.

I jumped at the sudden sound. It took a moment in the dim lighting, but eventually I was able to make out the dark silhouette of Dennis, smiling ruefully at me.

The sight of him sent anger flooding through me. He betrayed me! There were few people left in this world that I had trusted completely, and Dennis was one of them. Or so I had thought.

I had never loathed someone as much as I hated Dennis in that moment. I felt pure vengeance as I stared his pompous leer. I could feel the magic stirring inside at the anger and hatred in my heart, but try as I might, I couldn't bring it to the surface. I strained against the effort, waiting to get revenge against this man who used me to gain favor with the King, but I couldn't find the power inside of me.

Dennis smirked knowingly. "It sucks being powerless, doesn't it?" I furrowed my brows, confused by the statement. "King Casimir couldn't have you trying to escape. So he created extra fortifications for your imprisonment. As long as you are his prisoner, you'll never be able to access your magic."

My stomach dropped at his words. If what Dennis was saying was true, the only defense I had would be of no use to me here. A part of me wished that Micah was with me, that I had my protector by my side when I needed him the most. But another, greater part of me was thankful that he hadn't walked me to the meditation gardens that afternoon. If he had, he would be in the cell next to me, if Dennis had let him live. No, it was good that I was alone.

"Where am I?" I asked, working to keep my voice steady.

"In Cattious, of course. In the royal dungeons. This is where King Casimir imprisons all of the traitors of the crown."

My heart began racing, and my forehead formed a layer of sweat. I was in the King's city, possibly even inside of his castle, the most dangerous place I could be. And I had no magic to help me escape. What would happen to me now?

Undoubtedly this would end with my death, but I wondered how it would happen. Would he have mercy on me and make it quick, or would he torture me to get as much information as possible before slitting my throat. The King was known as the cruelest individual that had ever lived- would his reputation prove well-deserved? My hands shook, and my eyes dilated in fear at the thought of what my future may hold.