Kamaria's Light

Chapter 4: The Huntress

Velantri's footsteps echoed through the cavernous hall as she walked to King Teriyan's throne room. She breathed in the chill air and watched as her breath condensed to form a cloud ahead of her, she smiled. She'd always felt at home in the cold. The Palace was located high up on an icy mountain range that overlooked a valley below. Memories of her brother chasing her through its stark high ceilinged halls flooded her mind, she smiled at the memory. The palace to her was a safe haven, a place that had saved her from the darkest part of her life. Memories of white suited doctors prodding her began to form in her head. No, she shook her head. Shoving those memories deep down inside her, she strode on.

High above her, black stone statues depicting armored warriors lined the upper tier of the hall. Velantri eyed the statues warily as she approached the throne room. An unnerving chill that had nothing to do with the cold ran down her spine, rumor had it that they would awaken and descend on anyone who bore the king ill will. She'd always hated those statues, especially as a child. Her brother had teased her endlessly about how they'd one day snatch her up as she was wondering the halls. What would it take to awaken them, she wondered.

A groan from the man she dragged behind her her nearly made her jump. Anger flared inside her. Her control was Deep breath, She took a moment to settle herself before looking back at him.

"The fact that you've given up your futile struggles is something I'm immensely satisfied with." Velantri sneered down at him.

The man looked up at her, his eyes suddenly filled with fear. "Please" he begged "Don't take me to him."

Velantri leaned closer to his face and smiled "Where's that bravado you displayed earlier? Surely it wasn't just an act."

"Please." he pleaded, tears forming in his eyes "Please, not to him. I beg you."

His sobs began to fill the room, looking at him now. Velantri felt a sliver of pity for him. Broken down as he was, she could almost relate to him. But no, this was her job.

Clearing all emotion from her face, Velantri stood " To him is exactly where I'm taking you." the man's eyes bugged out of his face at those words. "You're about to get exactly what you deserve. Your fate was decided the moment you decided to act out against the Reach."

"Please—" his shouts echoed off the High walls

"Enough! " Velantri's snapped as she turned to face him. "You will remain quiet. Or I will inflict so much pain on your body that you'll be too busy writing in pain to attempt your pointless pleas for mercy. "

Focusing her mind on his, Velantri bridged their minds together, it was as she expected inside his head, fear, sorrow, replaying memories of his loved ones over and over again. It was time to prove her point.

The man let out a silent scream as he grabbed his head. The mind was a fragile thing that required a delicate touch, bridging minds. An ability that was engineered into Velantri could be used for many things, reading thoughts and inflicting pain as she was doing now.

I expect total silence from you. she screamed into his head sending searing lances of pain ripping through his mind This, what I'm doing to you. This isn't pain. I'll show you pain if you even utter another syllable to me. "Now" she broke the link "Not another word or—" she sent another lance of pain into his mind. More groans filled the hall, but to his credit. The man remained silent.

Velantri's steps slowed as the almost featureless doors to the throne room loomed ahead. On either side of the doors stood one of King Teriyan's personal guards. Their hulking presence only made more menacing by their stark white armor that seemingly blended them into their surroundings.