Page 52 of Rising Out of the Darkness (Divine Guardians Duology #1)

“Your father—” His throat bobbed. “He asked me to bring him the whip, Dec.”

A familiar metallic taste saturated my mouth as more continued to drip against the stone floor. I would not be returning to Lena any time soon. Already, I was breaking my promises to her, just like I ended up doing to everyone in my life.

Somewhere in the night, time had evaded me. Daylight shone from a sliver of a window near the ceiling of the stone wall beside me. This room was all too familiar, though it had been a while since I’d seen the inside of it.

The musty smell invaded my nostrils, evoking memories of all my past visits.

Of being hauled in here to remind me of my place and my allegiance to this kingdom.

Of the lies that dripped from my father and Alastor about how these “lessons” would teach me to be a strong royal.

There were no lessons at all. Rather, my father had attempted to bleed the weakness out of me.

A whoosh came from behind me. The tails of the whip shredded deeper into my skin, and I could no longer hold in my shudder.

Self-healing was a natural ability once Elysians had gone through Ascension.

With the strength of my dynamis, I healed faster than most Elysians.

However, when I was brought down here, it was never fast enough.

Healers were often brought in to heal me so that my father or Alastor could continue with their “lessons” without me passing out.

Over the years, my tolerance to pain had grown abnormally high, but everyone had a breaking point, even me.

Judging by the pain that radiated throughout me, I was getting close to needing another healing. Boots paced behind me, the sounds of more than just a pair. My father must be here with Alastor. Sometimes, they took turns dealing out my punishment.

There had been countless opportunities for me to leave this place, to be free of them. Each time, I’d turned them down, remembering my true purpose. I’d stayed to help those who couldn’t help themselves. There was no way I could leave them unprotected.

A small part of me, a very small part, also held on to the hope that my father would wake up one day with a change of heart.

My mother had had faith that he would one day find the path back to the light, which was why she’d written to me the night she died.

She’d begged me to fight for him, to help him see the error of his ways.

Another promise I wouldn’t be able to fulfill.

As if possessed by the Hells themselves, a deep roar bellowed out of me and the whip slashed deeper this time. I felt a chuckle vibrate against the back of my skull.

Fucking Alastor Grimshaw.

I should have known that it would be him handling the whip in place of my father. He had hated me ever since my Ascension, especially once my dynamis became stronger than my father’s.

Everything in this kingdom had begun to fester and wither the moment he became my father’s advisor.

It was Alastor I blamed for the evil that had taken root inside my father.

There was no question that I held a hatred for my father, but Alastor?

My disdain for him knew no bounds. One day he would meet his end in the same manner that he’d murdered my family, at the end of a blade.

A chill ran down my spine as he gripped my hair, raising my face to his.

“I thought now that you were older, you’d be a little wiser. Then we wouldn’t have to visit this room as often, little prince.”

Hells, how I despised when he called me that. “You know me, I can’t resist a good time.”

Alastor growled, his fist colliding with the flesh of my cheek. He leaned down close. Close enough for me to get a deep draw of his foul breath.

He flicked his fingers against the jagged red scar on the back of my neck. “Don’t forget who holds the real power here, boy.”

When I didn’t respond, he merely chuckled and exited the room with a crash of the door.

Before I could regain my breath, the door swung wide once more and the screech of the wooden chair against the stone floor stung my ears. Father slid the chair to where I kneeled, hands bound to iron rings on the floor. Iron to make sure I wouldn’t use my dynamis.

He squeezed my shoulder, making me hiss in pain. A smug look of satisfaction grew on his face. Rage continued to build within me as I spit out the blood pooling in my mouth.

Disgust replaced his smirk. He pulled out a handkerchief to wipe away the blood from his pristine black boots. “Is there anything you would like to share about your display in my city?”

Grinding my teeth together, I tried to remain calm. “No, not really.”

My father’s face turned red, earning me another strike across my already bruised cheek. It took everything inside of me to keep my face in a state of boredom.

“Behave,” my father growled, “and this all stops.”

Rage shattered my bored expression. “Dammit, Father! I told you about those beasts! They were killing the people inside of our town, outside in the forests…children died! Children! Do you not care about the people in your city any longer?”

“They are weak. I have no room for weakness in my city,” he scoffed.

“I don’t even know who you are anymore.” My voice was ragged.

“I’m your king, and you’ll do well to remember that son. ” He tossed the handkerchief at me and rose from his chair.

“I know exactly who you are. The question is, do you? Or has Alastor washed every good part of you away to the point that all that’s left is his minion to do his dirty deeds?” I seethed, earning me another slap.

I took a steadying breath. “Once, you were brave, stoic…even compassionate. You helped those in need in your kingdom. You were a loving husband who brought fresh flowers to your wife every morning, and a father who rode horses with your sons every afternoon.”

The blood drained from his face. We didn’t talk about my mother or brother, ever.

“Can’t you see, Father?” My throat became thick with emotion as my father’s eyes glossed over. “Don’t you see what you’re doing is destroying this realm? It destroyed them …and every day it’s tearing me apart.”

We glared at each other in silence. I prayed to all five gods that this would be the day I finally broke through to him.

“This is the only way,” he breathed.

“It’s not.”

Rage filled his eyes once more, burning away any sign of remorse. “Will Elena be ready for her display at the end of the month?”

“She will.”

“Good. Maybe you’ll be able to redeem yourself. I’m tired of the embarrassment you bring to our family.”

My teeth dug into my lips, filling my mouth again with the taste of copper.

“You leave today. I’ve spoken with Edan. He’ll be expecting you. Examine that boy’s powers and send me a post of his progress.”

“Fine.”

He gripped my chin, forcing me to make eye contact. “His daughter, Adara, you remember her, right? She’s overseen the boy’s training. She’ll report to you directly.”

Nausea rippled within me at the thought of having to spend even a moment around her.

“Please do try to not make a fool of yourself in front of your potential wife.”

I pulled my body as close to my father as the iron would allow me. “As I’ve told you several times before, I will not marry her,” I growled.

“The king decides what is best for this kingdom, not the prince. You will do whatever I say you will, boy.” He shoved my chin out of his hand and stood up so fast the chair fell with a crash behind him.

“Also,” he growled, “you will be the one to punish the guards who were on duty when the beasts entered the city. The two who were near the gate where the beasts slipped in will be sentenced to execution, by you.”

Even when my eyes fell shut, they felt the blaze of my father’s glare. “Clean yourself up. I expect you out in the front courtyard in an hour.”

With his last words, he stormed out of the door.

A few moments later, the door creaked open and Clara rushed in and fell to her knees beside me. Over the years, she had been the only one who had ever seen the full extent of these “lessons.” Now she sucked in a gasp. My back must be one gruesome sight to see.

“Gods, Declan…what reason did they give you this time, cousin?” Her voice broke off at the end.

“Have they ever needed a reason?” I sighed deeply.

A similar sigh echoed beside me as she unlocked the chains around my wrists.

“Declan, I’m going to have to clean the wounds before I heal them.

Some of these are deep, and I don’t want you to get any infections.

I think Alastor used iron-barbed tails this time.

They’re going to scar, and it’s going to be a little more painful than usual to heal. ”

“It’s alright, Clara. Do your worst.”

She passed over a flask of whiskey. As she pressed the cloth to my wounds, I hissed at the sting.

“When you leave, tell Killian and Liam to meet me in the courtyard immediately. My father is making me take charge of the punishment of the guards on duty.”

“Hells,” Clara whispered.

“I will also be in charge of the execution of two of them. Two of our guards.”

“Oh, Dec, I’m so sorry.”

“I—” I shook my head to refocus before I fell apart. “I have a feeling Alastor may do something as well.”

“You mean summon the curse?” Her breath hitched.

“Yes.” Lifting the flask to my lips, I let the spicy liquid burn away the copper tang in my mouth.