Page 14 of A Demon’s Resolve (Demonic Tales and Adventures #3)
CHAPTER 14
The wind whipped Kian’s hair all around his face, stinging his cheeks as it slapped against them. The heavy wooden door started to rattle slightly.
Stop , Danara screamed as if Kian were stupid. He cannot know what you are doing.
Kian rolled his eyes. Not that Danara could see the action, but he lessened the force with which he wielded the new ability to control the air currents. Slowly, his hair floated down to settle around his shoulders in a mess of tangles.
Kian automatically combed the strands with his fingers. It wouldn’t take long for Brant to figure out what he’d been doing while he’d left Kian to starve in this hovel if he came in to find his hair a windblown mess.
Based on the minimal amount of light that came through the crack in the door, Kian guessed it had been two days since Brant had left him there. Then again, he had no idea how long he’d been knocked unconscious, so it could have been longer.
His stomach grumbled by the lack of food. But it was not having access to water that left Kian feeling weak. Something that wasn’t going to help whenever Brant returned.
Still, progress had been made. It was satisfying to feel the power that flowed through him. Kian wasn’t na?ve enough to believe it was a match against Brant - yet. Realistically, all Kian could hope for was the advantage of surprise to help get him out of this mess before Brant kept his promise and killed Kian.
Not that Kian planned to go down meekly. His mother had been a victim and there was no way Kian planned to become one. No. He was a fighter and he wouldn’t die without doing as much harm as possible.
There was also the knowledge that Alec was likely tearing up the world looking for Kian. Knowing Brant, he was biding his time to complete his plan to ensure that Alec felt every minute of torture he planned to inflict on Kian. That would mean he had to allow them to connect again. How he’d blocked them in the first place, Kian had no clue, but he only had to survive long enough for Alec to find him.
There was a dramatic sigh in his head. I have already told you, Alec cannot save you. The voice was little more than a whisper.
Danara’s quiet tone did more to scare Kian than the words. He could feel the queen’s anxiety, which was odd since she was wasn’t actually real.
If you know he is looking for me, why don’t you just tell him where I am? There had to be a way for Danara to speak with Alec just as she had Kian. Right?
I do not know where you are. There was a level of frustration in Danara’s words. Kian wasn’t sure if it was directed at him or the situation, not that it mattered. It wouldn’t change anything. I am only here spiritually, not physically. I cannot see you.
Great. What the hell good does that do? Kian took a deep, calming breath. If Kian had to defeat Brant, he needed to get to work to learn everything possible about the powers. What next?
Earth, the queen told him. You must be careful. One tremble and Brant will know what you are up to.
“Then how the hell am I supposed to practice?” His voice startled him as he’d grown so accustomed to talking in his mind.
The floor is made of dirt and rock. You must work to move it. Hurry, there is not much time left. The queen’s voice sounded different to Kian, more afraid.
What’s wrong? He couldn’t put his finger on it but Kian was sure Danara knew something she wasn’t sharing.
Nothing. Just practice. I will be back.
For the first time since waking, Kian was left alone with his thoughts. The silence was deafening. Refusing to dwell on it, he got to work on moving the dirt and small pebbles on the floor.
Sweat dripped down Kian’s face. Having no idea how much time had passed since Danara had left, Kian was beyond frustrated that he hadn’t been able to move a speck of dirt. Admittedly, part of it had to do with worry about why the queen had left so abruptly and hadn’t returned. Rubbing his temples in frustration, Kian tried to clear his mind of everything.
Alec’s face filtered in his head. Alec, please find me. Sitting up straight, Kian could swear he heard him answer. It was faint, so faint it might have all been in his imagination but something deep inside said it was real.
Renewed energy coursed through him as Kian held onto that small sliver of hope it provided. As if drawing from Alec’s strength, a handful of dirt rose up, leaving a small indentation before floating across the room to drop into a pile. Okay, it wasn’t exactly a pile as it was only a handful; still, it was a start.
The knowledge of what needed to be done helped him practice until a large hole appeared in the floor. A grin tugged at his lips in excitement. It still wouldn’t be enough to go against Brant, but Kian was once more making headway.
Not knowing when Brant would return, Kian reversed the process and quickly moved the dirt back in place, even packing it down so nothing appeared out of place. Tempted to jump up and shout with glee, Kian refrained in case Brant was close enough to hear him.
Plus, Kian wasn’t so sure he could have stood. If he didn’t get water and food soon, there was a good chance he’d be too weak to put up any kind of fight.
Was that Brant’s plan? If it was, there was little Kian would be able to do about it. Not about to give up, he tried to find a way to get food and water before becoming too weak to help himself.
Kian wiped the sweat off his forehead and forced the morbid thoughts away. Instead, they were replaced with the desire to take down Brant. There may not have been much of a chance, but if there was a way for him to kill that son of a bitch, Kian would find it.
A noise startled on the other side of the door causing him to jump. Stealing himself for what was to come, Kian scrambled to sit against the far wall and purposefully looked defeated. The door swung open and light poured through the now open space, temporarily blinding him.
“Not to worry, I haven’t forgotten about you, human,” Brant sneered. “Just thought you’d want to know Alec is close by, causing all sorts of destruction.” His cruel laughter filled the cell. “By the looks of things, he is much more dangerous than I ever was. I only killed a few women; he, on the other hand, has killed thousands.”
His words filled him with dread. There was no doubt it was because of Kian that Alec was hurting others. Somehow, he had to get out of here to help. “You may manage to kill me before Alec finds me but I will have the ultimate satisfaction of knowing he will kill you in the end.”
“As if the brat could.” Brant spat on the floor in disgust.
Not able to cower any longer, Kian pushed to his feet with his spine ramrod straight, hands clenched at his sides. “Really? Then why didn’t you fight him?”
Brant sneered. “Because this is so much more fun.”
With one eyebrow indicating Kian didn’t believe him, he said, “Or you are too scared to fight him?”
Prepared for the blow that followed, Kian used the pain to push out to reach Alec, hoping with the door open he might feel Kian.
“I know what you are trying to do but it won’t work. You can’t call out to him.” Bending down, Brant reached out to grip Kian’s chin cruelly in his hands. “But don’t worry, soon he will hear your screams.”
He threw down a bottle of water and a protein bar of some sort. “Eat,” he ordered. The evil grin Brant wore sent a shiver through Kian’s body. “I wouldn’t want you to die too quickly, after all.
Then, he slammed the door. Kian heard the lock slide into place but he didn’t care. A smile of triumph forced a smile as he opened the bottle of water and took a sip. Brant just made a big mistake underestimating him.
With more energy than he had, Kian ripped open the wrapper of the protein bar. He took a bite savoring the knowledge that he was going to kill the smug son of a bitch if it was the last thing he did.