Dawn of Arcane Destiny

Chapter One Hundred Thirteen

"I'm starting to hate this room." Ella Rose said rocking Roselen in her arms.

"Me too. But we would probably hate it a lot more out on the battlefield." Lillia pointed out.

"True." Ella sighed. "I wish we had been of more help, though."

"We did what we could." Lillia said. "Drayce and Caelum are going to do what they can to stay alive. So, do we."

Cassian groaned flopping on the floor in absolute boredom. He started hitting his wooden sword against the wall. "I be bored."

"Do you want to say hi to your cousins?" Ella asked. Lillia could tell she was trying hard to sound upbeat. Better to be bored than terrified.

"All they do is sleep and cry." Cassian said still tapping his sword against the wall.

"They're just babies." Ella said.

"Ugh. I never want babies." Cassian said.

"You were a baby not that long ago, Cassian." Ella said.

Lillia's ears perked up. "Quiet everyone. And stop that tapping, Cassian."

Cassian frowned giving one last wack. A louder wack sounded outside the door. Then another one. Like someone was trying to figure out how to get in.

"Oh Non we're so dumb." Ella cursed softly. All the guards had their weapons ready as the banging continued.

Lillia tried to breath evenly but was having a hard go of it. It was just like what had happened during the first attack. Next everyone would be dead.

Ella Rose touched Lillia's shoulder. "It's going to be okay, Lillia, breath." She whispered.

They all waited but the banging continued. They knew they were in there. They had heard Cassian's tapping. The wood of the door started to strain, cracking slightly. It was time to leave. The guards had their weapons ready, their eyes alert. One of the guards opened the opposite door and motioned for them to follow. The lanterns were put out except for one. Which was grabbed to take with them.

Lillia stepped through holding Thorin tight. The air changed. The staleness of the safe room changed to the cool draft of the tunnel. The guards closed and bolted the door behind them. One of them led the way, while the other two stood in the back.

They hadn't gotten far down the tunnel when they heard the door rattle behind them. They had gotten into the safe room.

Lillia pursed her lips willing herself not to go into hysterics. She needed to focus. She promised Drayce that she was going to be careful. She had her knife at her side. However, she also had a baby in her arms. She would work with what she had.

Thankfully Cassian was being quiet. Ella held his hand as they walked down the tunnel as quietly and quickly as possible. They reached a fork in the tunnel. One had a staircase leading up while the other continued on.

The guard in the front looked back. "The stairs lead up into the castle." He whispered. "The other leads outside."

They couldn't go outside. It was a battlefield. But the castle was no less dangerous if the Soulless had gotten in. Lillia picked their poison.

"Let's stay in the castle. We might be able to find another place to hide. Most of the Soulless will be outside anyway." She reasoned. She hoped it was rational.