The Dragons' Crystal

Chapter Thirty-One

I felt my face harden. The fear that had been present moments before started to fade away, both in the relief that I was being rescued but also because I didn't want Darius to see me this way. He had hurt me more than he could ever know. He was the last person I ever wanted to see. I could have gone the rest of my life without ever seeing him again. I didn't want to be reminded of what had happened, even if it had been the happiest time of my life. He had ruined it. Darius had destroyed it in seconds. 

"Now, Odelle." Darius held his palms towards me as he slowly walked into the cell. He knew what he had done. "I know we left off on not the best of terms but-"

"You mean the worst possible terms?" Dove chimed in as she popped her head out from behind him. She walked into the cell with him, nudging his side. She remained just inside the door, turning to face the entryway, while Finn and Genevieve stood guard on the outside. 

"Yeah." Darius sighed, eyes falling back to mine. "I have more explaining to do than you think, but I need you to trust me this time. This is a situation I thought I protected you from, but I was completely wrong. Before we go any further, you need to understand why you're here and where here is."

"Or why you were suddenly so mean to me?" I broke eye contact, looking away. "Or why you lied to me? Why you told me we hadn't ever been friends? That you used me?"

He cracked a smile that was more nervous than anything. He slightly bit his bottom lip, hand ruffling his messy hair. "Yeah. Just... Let me explain first. I promise I will answer everything." He knelt in front of me, beginning to mess with the chains. "They aren't locked with keys, but instead a mind game. If a person can figure out the right combination of the pieces, the chains will open." He spared a glance, which met a glare from my end. His eyes quickly turned back to the locks. 

Despite my anger, it was comforting to be back in his presence. With him came the rush of memories that I had fought to keep pushed back. The gates had been wide open since he appeared in the doorway, leaving me no choice to reflect on how I had felt back then. I had been smitten by Darius and his smile. "Go on, then. What do you have to explain?"

He hesitated, then smiled. "I found Allira."

"What? When? Where?" We had looked so hard for her. Even if it didn't matter to me anymore, I still wanted more information on it. It would, at the very least, bring the tiniest bit of satisfaction to my restless mind. 

"Our last night searching. Do you remember when we settled at the inn for the night?" He paused, but didn't look up. I supposed he was just hoping I remembered. "After you fell asleep, I needed to get some fresh air. I went outside in hopes of clearing my mind and instead I ran into this elderly lady."

I pictured the older lady I had seen when Darius and I left, the one that had exchanged a smile with him. Had that been the lady? I said nothing, letting him continue. Had he really found Allira?

"She was begging for money. I gave what I could to her and she revealed herself as a witch to me." He paused. "She never said she was a witch, but I assume she was. She was messing with potions and blood."

"A witch?! You trusted a witch?!" Genevieve hollered, turning her head into the cell. 

"It worked out fine in my case." He waved her off. "I told her what our mission was and she told me Allira was closer than I thought and she could show me where she was." Darius sighed. "I'm not sure if I'm thankful or if I regret telling her to do so." He continued to fiddle with the chains, now fully seated upon the cold stone. "She made me drink this potion. I was able to see everything." He tapped his finger impatiently against the chains.