Page 42 of Dark Flame

Sixteen

HARLOW

The door slamsshut behind Alec, taking his cranky vampiric ass away. After about ten seconds, I check the door and find it locked, exactly as he said it’d be.

“Well, great,” I mutter, turning back to the bed.

In reality, this is better than the dungeon. Not close to freedom, but at least there’s a working toilet, a shower, a proper bed, warmth, and no walls that are about to cave in on me. And bonus: Alec forgot to take the remaining two granola bars, so I have those to munch on.

I climb back into bed, my muscles untensing as they melt into paradise. If this mattress is as old as this castle probably is, it’s been well preserved, because it feels like a cloud.

I should be planning any escape possible, but for this small moment, I obey Alec’s instructions because with barely any sleep over the past three days and now a full belly, my body succumbs to sleep within the enemy’s stronghold.

* * *

“Mommy, save me! Mommy! Daddy! Momm—”

A hand clamps over my mouth, the other looping around my waist, and they lift me off the ground. “Shut it, you little brat. You’ll have the entire coven on us.”

My screams are muffled against the hand until the second person gestures, and a wall of shimmering blue falls around us. A silencing enchantment, if I remember the High Priestess’s teachings. Why would they want me to be quiet?

Why are Mommy and Daddy not coming?

I struggle and kick against the person holding me, but all my efforts are for nothing. They’re too strong.

Suddenly, the forest around us disappears as the three of us appear inside a house. There’s a door, and I’m being shoved into it with a muttered, “Stay in there and shut up. Hopefully it won’t be long.”

“Bind her mouth,” the other voice says.

The shadowy person gestures towards me, their magick a green wave that falls onto me. When I open my mouth to scream, nothing comes out.

The door shuts, and it’s small and dark in here. I slide to the floor, drawing my legs up to my chest.

Mommy…Daddy…help me.

My silent pleas go unanswered, so I pray instead.

Hecate, protect me. I’m sorry I didn’t clean my room yesterday when Mommy asked. I promise I will next time. Just tell them where I am.

* * *

From sleep,I’m yanked to the top of my consciousness, almost violently. I scramble upright, drawing the blanket closer as the past few hours return in a burst of images.

The cell. The bedroom. Alec.

My dream.

An odd dream. Where would such a thing come from? I’ve never been away from my parents. Every memory I have is with them.

Which is why I know whatever that was, was nothing more than a nightmare bred from my current circumstances.

I reach up and pull my hair over my shoulder, and some of the strands stick to my skin, plastered with sweat. My hands quiver as I readjust myself back onto the mattress and get comfortable, trying to push anything of my parents from my mind. For now, I can’t let grief take me out—again—because crying in front of the vampire once was enough.

It was only a dream. A strange dream. Nothing more.

With a few deep, calming breaths, I let sleep take me away once more.

This time, dream-free.