Under the Shadow of the Moon

Chapter 59

Colin sat up with a start, a shiver running up his spine. A sharp pain shot through him, starting at his lower left ribs and spreading until his whole body burned. He cried out, pressing his hands over the origin of the pain. He couldn't see anything from the tears that blurred his vision and the pain that blurred his mind, but he felt a pair of gentle hands on his shoulders.

Razaia put her hand on his cheek, shushing him softly. She draped her other hand over both of his as they clutched his side. "Colin... please don't move... you're hurt... I don't want to see you in pain."

He felt her gently lean him against a cold stone wall and wipe tears and sweat off his face with her sleeve.

He coughed, feeling something cold and metallic spill from his mouth and down his chin. He groaned as he shifted, wincing as he opened his eyes fully. The room was dark, barely any light around them. He could just barely make out the shape of Razaia's features. She was shaking, her hood pulled over her head and her hands tucked into her sleeves. She was shaking.

"What-what happened?" He winced, reaching out to touch her.

She took his hand, placing it against her cheek. He could feel her tears rolling over his fingers as they brushed against her cold skin.

"Last night... they took us, after the attack on the Refuge House... the White Sand... Colin, they found us..." her voice was gentle yet frantic, catching on every few words.

He groaned again as he brushed a few loose frizzy blue braids from her face, tucking them into her hood. "You're okay though? They—" he stopped, groaning again as he clutched his side. "They didn't hurt you, did they?"

Razaia shook her head. "I'm alright. It's you I'm worried about."

She placed her hands over his once again, over the sutured gash on his ribs. "What happened to me?"

"You got shot, Colin. 'It's just a graze' he said... 'he'll live' he said... Silas is the one who fixed you up..." She shook with fear and anger, collapsing in on herself.

Colin steadied her, wincing as he did. He pulled her close on his right side, letting her curl up against him. Her head on his chest was enough to assure them both that they would get through it together.

They hadn't realized they had fallen asleep until the sound of loud footsteps and someone struggling echoed through the dark hall. A boy was flung into the cell beside them, his face bloody and swollen. As soon as the bars shut, he threw himself against them yelling incoherently. "Where are they? What did you monsters do to them? They better be safe or I'll kill every last one of you!"

Razaia buried her face into Colin's neck, her shivering starting back up. He rubbed her back, placing a soft kiss on the top of her head.

The boy stopped screaming as the men left the hall, the doors slamming shut violently. Colin now saw that they were back in the Castle dungeon with the same dim yellow lights and rusted steel bars. Colin looked towards the boy as he started to speak.

He took a breath to compose himself and started to address the two. "I'm glad to see you're awake. Are you in pain? Did they hurt you while I was gone?"

The lights were brighter now, making it easier to see everything. Colin could see every detail of Razaia's face, her tear stained cheeks and bloodshot grey eyes, cracked and bloody lips, and the gash on her forehead. He could see the sea-blue eyes and dark hair of the boy, and the sullen, worried expression he wore.

Razaia shook her head. "Is everything okay? You look terrible! Did they hurt you?"

"Nah, they didn't hurt me too bad," he said, shifting onto his back, folding his arms behind his head as he wiped dripping blood from his nose. "You don't have to worry about me. Worry about your handsome knight over there, is he alright?"

Colin blinked. "Silas?"

"Yep," The boy laughed, though it was awkward and tense. "I'm the one who stitched you back together," he laughed again. "Some of my best work right there."

Colin chuckled dryly. "Thank you for that, I appreciate it."

"Don't worry about it, I'm happy to help."

Razaia smiled, dropping her gaze to Colin for a moment. "Who were you yelling about? Who are they trying to hurt?"

Silas sighed, his chest rising high before falling once more. "My younger brothers—well, they're not really my brothers. I've raised them since they were very little... after they lost their parents... well their mothers... well Euen's mother..." he sighed again. "It doesn't matter. I promised I would protect them, and here I am, in the depths of their father's castle without a single idea of where they might be."

"I'm so sorry..."

"It's not your fault, but I appreciate it all the same." There was a pause, but only for a moment before Silas spoke again. "Lily-Rose. Is she okay?" His voice was still deadly calm.

"When we last saw her, she was for the most part. Luna got knocked out, but I'm pretty sure Lily is safe. If The Eye wanted to stop us, they would have just taken all of us."

"Unless they have a different plan..." Colin cut in. "Distract our friends with a rescue plan... make them think they were winning... capture them... and"

"Burn the capitol... then kill us all..." Razaia finished the sentence for him.

"Something like that." Colin pushed another braid out of her face as it slipped from her hood.

They shared a worried glance, Silas giving an uneasy reassuring grin. "Luna's smart, she'll figure out how to save you and how to stop The Eye and whatever his ridiculous 'White Sand' is planning."

Razaia nodded, her blue braids bouncing against her shoulders as more tumbled from her hood.

Silas spoke again after another moment of silence. "You don't have to worry about them hurting you two, you're precious to them. They could trade you to the DoSD for anything they want. It's me they don't care about. Marcus Contreras just wants his precious sons back."

Razaia seemed to relax, her tense shoulder drooping and a sigh escaping her. Colin groaned as he shifted. "Are you sure?"

Silas nodded.

Colin's eyes drifted shut, the pain taking over his senses.