To the Shadowsinger | Azriel

Chapter 48: Time to disappear

Look for the window with two red twin flames, Chaaya had told Azriel after they made their deal. He was impatient as he waited for the sun to set but he was able to close his eyes for a moment of rest.

Once this was all over and he and Rai went home, he would have a good night's rest. Until then, dark shadows remained under his eyes.

After returning to the castle, Azriel found that Rai's day was almost the exact same as yesterday. She remained emotionless and passive as servants, guards, and ladies led her to new places to occupy throughout the day. Azriel hadn't managed to stop bouncing his leg even once while he watched her through his shadows.

Just as the sun painted the sky in shades of pink and orange, Azriel saw a pair of balcony doors open and their white curtains dancing to the wind. A high fae female Azriel recognized as one of the ladies that followed Rai around stepped out onto the balcony. He watched as she set two candles on the window ledge and lit them before walking back inside.

Two red twin flames. That was his sign.

As much as he wanted to race inside the room at the chance to see Rai up close, he sent his shadows in first. They scanned the room, not feeling Rai, but also not feeling any signs of danger or a trap. With that known, he took a deep breath and fell off his perch.

He didn't make a sound as he landed on the balcony, he didn't even disturb the curtains. He stepped through the curtains on soundless feet and saw that the room was exactly how his shadows described. The room was a cozy living space with toys and blankets littering the floor, books were stacked everywhere, and the walls were covered in a child's art. Or at least, he hoped the awful art was from a child.

A mother is risking her and her child's life to help me, Azriel frowned at the thought.

"Oh," a Lady stepped out of a bedroom, looking surprised to see him and stumbling over a wooden toy boat. "Sorry for the mess," she kicked the toy across the room. "I didn't expect you to arrive so quickly but I promise the place was clean an hour ago. My son makes a mess faster than I can clean."

Azriel took a defensive stance, tilting his chin up and pinching his lips. He was trying to read this female, he couldn't understand why she would help him or if she even knew what she had gotten herself into.

The lady's eyes darted to the front door at the sound of someone passing by outside. She looked back to Azriel with a kind smile once they were gone. "I'm Harani," she bowed her head. "I was told you are the Queen's mate. I've agreed to help you meet with her."

His eyes narrowed. He could feel the lady's sudden shift; he heard the increasing speed of her heart and saw the way she averted her eyes. There was something she was uncomfortable about and wasn't telling him. He'd trust her for now, but he was cautious.

"Has Chaaya told you anything else?" He made his way around the room and let his hand travel along the walls. His shadows seeped into the pore and hunted for anyone who may be listening. They only came back with news of a sleeping child in the room Harani had come out of.

A twisted smile formed on Harani's lips, "just that a certain fellow whose name begins with C and ends with S will be dead within the next few days."

So she hates the king... interesting. There were still many things Azriel wanted to know, but time was running out and he was impatient to see his mate again. Where was she?

Almost as if Harani could read his mind, she gave him another warm smile and said, "She should be here any minute. You'll have to disappear when she arrives, but I've asked if she could join me for tea and reading alone tonight."

Azriel nodded. The ticking clock only seemed to grow louder each second that passed. Unease filled the air, he was standing by the window and Harani was sitting on the couch and looking down at her hands in her lap. He knew there was something she wasn't saying.

"Know that if you are hiding something from me," Azriel's low voice caught her attention. "I will not act kindly. Not when it comes to my mate's safety."

Harani tapped her foot faster, she couldn't look him in the eyes. "It wasn't my intention to hide anything, I just..." She twisted one of her rings around her finger, "I was hopeful. The Queen hasn't been herself for quite some time. Most days, she's like a walking corpse. She doesn't move without someone guiding her, she doesn't talk or speak or react. And then some days..."

Azriel waited for her to continue. He was losing his calm and ended up snapping, "what?"

Harani's dark eyes were glossy as she glanced up at him, "I don't understand it. Sometimes she'll be sitting with us and all of a sudden, she's looking around as if she doesn't know where she's at. It usually only lasts for a minute or two but you can tell she's scared and confused."

The lady stood up and began picking the toys off the ground in a rushed manner. Azriel bit his tongue hard enough to taste blood while he stared out the window and processed what he heard. He wished Rai would get there sooner so he could hold her again and tell her everything was going to be okay, he would help her get better.

"I think it happened the same day the lords were killed by the Beast of Darkness," Harani frantically cleaned the coffee table. "Some rumors say she saw the aftermath of the massacre and she still hasn't recovered while some say the Beast may have done something to her. I don't know... I don't understand and I was hoping that if she saw you, maybe she'll be okay again."

Just as Azriel turned to look at the lady to give her a hopeful look, a light knock came from the front door. His heart skipped a beat; it was time for him to disappear.

Rai was on the other side of that door. 

A/N: Thank you guys for the kind comments last chapter<3 I'm doing a lot better today.