Page 122 of Forsaken Secrets

49

Kaiya

My head throbbed, and I felt cold to the bone.

What the fuck had happened?

I opened my eyes tentatively, but wherever I was was so dark that I couldn't make out any details. Groaning, I pushed myself into a seating position and took stock of my surroundings.

Water dripped behind me, a steady pitter patter that helped to calm my nerves. If I tried, I could pretend it was rain, and I was just sitting atop the cliffs with my eyes closed.

But no. That's not what was happening. That damn vicar had DRUGGED ME. But why? Why was he working with Lady Ellingsworth? What good did I do her here?

If they'd hurt a silver hair on Aunt Grace's head, they would all pay!

Rage and fear warred inside me, a culmination of the shittiest day I'd ever experienced.

I just needed OUT. Gods. There had to be some way out …

All I could see in the darkness, though, was the rocky cave and the entrance with bars going from floor to ceiling.

It looked similar to the cages the vrytra had been in …

A low moan outside my cell made my skin crawl. What in the seven hells was that?

I felt for the dagger in my sleeve, but it was still on the floor of the damn ruins.

My panic climbed.

Creaaaaaak.There it was again! Like a tree shifting in the wind.

At least the bars would hopefully keep whatever it was out of this cell …

The moaning seemed to come from my left, but I couldn't see anything except vague shapes in the pitch darkness.

I let my eyes drift shut and reached out with my korra, pressing through that barrier.

There was something there. It felt bitterly cold and metallic … and when I pressed into it, an icy bolt shot through me. I let out a gasp as I tumbled back into my body, fear crashing through me.

What the fuck was a wraith doing here?

Something clanged in the distance, and a low whoosh sent air cycling through the area. It brought with it the rancid smell of decay.

I scrambled back to the corner of my cell.

Whatever was down here was not something I wanted to mess with.

"Miss Maderoth?" a man's calm voice echoed through the chamber. It was vaguely familiar … Lord Ellingsworth?

I scooted further into the shadows, trying to put distance between me and whatever was coming. What if he brought a wraith with him?

I had nothing to fight with, but I might be able to figure out a way to overwhelm him while he opened the cell doors and came in.

Maybe …

A deep orange light illuminated the cell as he moved closer, and I blinked at the sudden brightness.

"How lovely of you to join us this evening," he said, voice warm.

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