Page 51 of Wings of Lies
“Why would I listen to a word you have to say?” I snapped, clenching my teeth as I spoke to hold back more tears.
He finally lifted his head. Coffee locks scattered across his forehead as his eyes narrowed. They roamed my face, glanced on either side of me, and then back to my face. Despising his attention, I dropped my gaze to his neck and the silver chain that partially hid beneath his stiff leather uniform. I imagined choking him with it. The skittering of feet prompted me to imagine more ways I’d kill him to escape. The only good thing about my purple power was the ease at which it shoved every emotion away except my blistering anger.
“Cacus and Bael should be finding our dinner. I’d say make yourself useful, but the cuffs hinder that. I guess go sit somewhere until we eat.”
“Oh, and sweetheart?” My gaze jumped back to his at the condescending endearment. “Don’t try to wander off. Not only are you powerless, but these ancient forests would swallow you whole and kill you. That is, if I didn’t catch you first.” His glacial eyes flashed a bright blue before settling back to their normal color. It happened so fast that I was sure I was imagining things.
“Whatever you say, asshole,” I said, then turned and left to find a place tosit.
Far from them, on the opposite end of camp, seemed like the best choice. My back and wrists rested against one of the peeling white trees, shoulders aching—especially the one hit by lightning. I sat at an angle and faced the thicker part of the woods. They beckoned, whispering of freedom, of answers.
I shot a glance at Aspen, still sharpening his sword. A few feet away from him, Brock stoked a fire. But no one paid attention to me. The temptation to run and find a way to Magda’s was there.
I knew they were paying attention. It may not look like it, but they knew exactly where I was and what I was doing. And if by any chance my jailor told the truth, then I wouldn’t make it a night out there, not with these cuffs on and not with having no supplies or survival skills. That was what Oliver was for. Now, I had no one.
A heavyweight replaced the anger simmering in my core, removing the itching tickles.
I was helpless and alone. With no answers.
Something flashed in my peripherals. I stared in between the dimming gaps of the white trees, waiting. But the shadow was gone.
A twig snapped on my other side. I jerked.
“Jumpy?”
I squeezed my fists at his voice. Glaring, I tilted my chin up, eyeing two specs of red hidden in his swaying beard. His yellow eyes narrowed into the forest. I swung my neck back, looking again, but there was nothing.
“What’s out there?” I asked, regretting that I was talking to him but needing to know if my other jailor told the truth.
Brock grunted. “Anything and everything. From creatures that would burrow into your stomach to eat your intestines to healers that would attempt to save your life for a few coins. We’re in The Divide. A place where there are no rules or laws for anyone. It’s a free-for-all of sorts. Some live here, and many die here.”
The Divide, so we weren’t in the Tenebrous Kingdom yet.
“You’re actually telling me?” I hadn’t expected such a thorough answer.
Weren’t his eyes just yellow?Now, they were the color of a fall leaf before it crinkled and fell.
His arms crossed. “Makes my job easier. So, you don’t think you can run off like all the rest.”
All the rest?
I opened my mouth and forgot what I was about to say as the burnt orange turned green. “Your eyes.”
A slow, pretentious smile answered me, covered partially by his thick mustache. “That sliver of hope I still feel in you, it’s best you drown it. No one is coming. No one is getting past our group. And running will get you killed. You wouldn’t survive out there.” He nodded down to my cuffs. “Not even a night. So please, save Prince Aspen and me the inconvenience of having to find your bleeding carcass.” With that beautiful description, he turned away and ended our conversation with a “Dinner’s ready.”
He felt my dimming hope? What hope?I could barely feel it. He must’ve sensed the particles of dust squashed beneath the boots of betrayal and capture.
Marcus handed me over to a prince. Or maybe handed isn’t the right word. Before they knocked me out, Marcus sounded surprised that some prince had shown up. He wasn’t expecting him. But theyall must be from the Tenebrous Kingdom, so why would it matter to Marcus if he took me to his sovereign or Prince Aspen?
My bottom and back were stiff by the time I decided to stand. As much as I tried to ignore my stomach, its screams were too loud. It didn’t help watching the four figures eat Cacus and Bael’s catches.Although, how did they manage to collect food for everyone else and not just eat it all themselves?Maybe they had their fill of Yant Foxes before they came back.
Nightfall crept in, casting long shadows across the campsite as I made my way over to the sputtering fire. Luckily, my princely jailor was gone. He disappeared into the woods along with the disgusting creatures. Brock was the only one left by the campsite.
“What can I eat?” I asked, keeping a safe distance away. Brock had utterly mortified me, but I was also starving.
Brock peered up from his stump. “Squirrel and rabbit,” he stated, holding out a metal plate with two chunks of meat, staring back into the fire as he did.
Was I supposed to grab it with my teeth?Or was this another reminder he was giving me, wanting to break down the last of my hope and rub the dust in my face?He smirked knowingly when I didn’t take it.
