Page 44 of A Fate in Flames

My heart lurched at the sight.

A bed.A real bed.

I wanted nothing more than to collapse onto it—to sink into its embrace and sleep until this nightmare was over.But something else caught my attention.In the corner of the room was a small wooden table beneath the glow of a torch.A gleaming copper tray rested atop it.

Food.

My feet carried me forward before I could even think.I hardly registered the lack of windows, the uncertainty of whether it was day or night in the world beyond these walls.My hands shook as I reached for the platter, where ripe fruit glistened.A pitcher of water and a simple brass cup sat beside it, beading with condensation.

I ate greedily, shoving pieces of fruit into my mouth—apples, grapes, juicy berries, and pomegranates—the sweetness bursting across my tongue like explosions of pure pleasure.I gulped down the water.I had never tasted something so divine.It soothed the raw ache in my throat and filled the emptiness in my stomach.I paused only when my stomach lurched, no longer used to the fullness.

It filled my body but did nothing to touch the void inside me.

Theo.Tavrik.

The thought of them gnawed at me, even as I revelled in newfound nourishment.I set down the half-eaten apple, my appetite suddenly diminished by guilt.How could I enjoy this moment of comfort when they might’ve been suffering?When they might’ve be—

No.

I wouldn’t let my mind travel down that path.

I turned to the adjoining chamber, where the promise of warmth beckoned me.

The smooth black stone tub was already filled, steam curling in the air, scented with the delicious sweetness of orange blossoms.I dipped my hand into the water, the heat swirling around my fingertips.

I shed my filthy clothes, letting them fall to the floor in a heap.A discarded skin I never wanted to touch again.

I sank into the tub.The moment the hot water embraced my skin, I nearly wept.A half sob, half sigh escaped me as the heat penetrated my sore muscles.

The pain melted away.For the first time in what felt like an eternity, I was myself again.I lingered, soaking in the comfort.Hands drifting over my skin, scrubbing away layers of dirt and grime.The sweet scent of the soap filled my lungs, replacing the stench of suffering that had become my constant companion.

For a fleeting moment, I was not a prisoner.Not a pawn.I was simply a girl in a bath.

The unknown loomed just outside this fragile moment of peace.

I delayed until the water began to cool but eventually forced myself to rise.Droplets ran down my skin as I stepped from the tub, leaving wet footprints on the floor.I wrapped myself in a linen cloth, the fabric light against my freshly cleaned skin.

The bed called to me, its softness promising solace.I couldn’t resist it—couldn’t fight the pull any longer.I sank onto it, the mattress cradling me gently, easing every tension in my body.I ran my palms over the smooth sheets, savouring the feel of them and before I even realised it, my heavy eyelids fluttered closed.

The soft creak of the door pulled me from the fragile grasp of sleep.My body objected, heavy with exhaustion.I knew I hadn’t rested for more than a few minutes.

I pulled the blanket up towards my face, clutching it tightly.Had she come back to torment me?I had become so accustomed to cruelty, that my body reacted on reflex.

An unfamiliar woman had entered, her figure a blur against the dim torchlight.In her arms she carried a bundle of fabric.Unlike the Jinn, whose presence filled the room with oppressive weight, she moved with quiet grace, her touch light as she approached the bed and laid the garments down with careful precision before extending a pale hand toward me.

It was an act of kindness I was not accustomed to here.

Suspicion curled in my gut.Still, I took her hand, allowing her to help me up.Her gentle touch was a stark contrast to the cold treatment I had endured.

A genuine smile softened her delicate features.Her eyes—golden, like pools of honey—caught the firelight.She tucked a strand of pale hair behind her ear, the rest of it partially tied back, but cascading in loose tendrils around her small frame.

I straightened my posture, studying her carefully.The realisation hit me suddenly.

“You’re not a Jinn.You’re—”

“Mortal.”She confirmed before I could finish, her smile widening as she reached for a folded garment.

I flinched, my arms flying up instinctively to shield myself.She paused, understanding blooming across her features before she proceeded with careful slowness.