Page 21

21

NIGHT AND DAY

ELLA

A fter this bombshell had been dropped on Garmr, he unleashed some of his own power over the army. A demonstration that ended up creating a green dragon that grew in size as it flew below over them all. This seemed enough to appease his people, because I noticed he made it look as if it had come from me. Which was when I had to question, would there have been a mutiny of some kind if he hadn’t given them what he had promised them?

I didn’t have too long to think on the answer, because he gripped me by the arm and walked me back into the hallway. This led straight back to the room I had first woken in, and I could see the doors still open. I could also see the arches in both sides that obviously led to different parts of the castle I was being kept in. But clearly, Garmr had only one place in mind for me, because he all but tossed me through the door to the room.

“Hey!” I complained as I stumbled to the bed, saving myself from falling. I flinched then when the door slammed shut, and the locks sliding into place were ones I could hear but not see. He then held his body against the door, with his palms flat to the wood and his head hung as if trying to get his temper under check before facing me.

“Now, you are going to tell me exactly what happened to your powers,” he said in a threatening voice, all niceties from earlier long gone as his dark tone shadowed all else.

“They were taken,” I stated, folding my arms because I didn’t want to show him how my hands shook. I honestly didn’t know what he might do now I was useless to him.

He swung his head around to face me with his stance remaining the same.

“How?” he seethed, looking back at me, making me swallow hard.

“I don’t know exactly…”

He moved, coming at me and making me take quick steps away from him, my hands out in front of me to protect myself.

“You don’t know?” he asked disbelievingly.

“Something took them, a creature,” I told him quickly.

“What creature?” he asked with barely contained anger, as he persistently followed me around the room, making me continue to try and keep my distance.

“I don’t know what it was called,” I admitted, making him growl.

“Try.”

“Look, I am not exactly up to date with my Ancient Greek, okay!” I snapped, unable to help myself, which was when he finally took a breath and started to calm slightly.

“Describe it to me,” he said after releasing another heavy sigh, finally pausing his chase of me.

“I don’t know, some creepy bird guy.”

He snarled, whipping his head to the side as if speaking to the door.

“Damn that bitch Persephone, meddling in my business again!” he yelled, now turning to punch a fist into the mirror that cracked on impact. One that, at least, didn’t shatter completely and remained in the frame.

“What exactly did it do to you?” he asked, his dark tone pulling it out of me because I didn’t exactly want to feel how that mirror had. So, I told him,

“I was asleep, my dreams were manipulated, he made me eat…”

“Pomegranates… fuck!” he guessed, making me jump at his next lash of anger.

“Yeah, then I woke and found that I had no powers left,” I finished again, making him sigh.

“It was a creature known as Epiales, master of Melas Oneiros.”

“Yes, that was it,” I said, remembering Lerna telling me now.

“I had wondered why you didn’t even try to fight me at the village of Ananke,” he said, making me grit my teeth at the memory, knowing that I could have ended this then and there if I’d had them.

“Well now you know, I am obviously useless to you,” I said, making his head snap up as he growled.

“Oh, you think so, do you?” His mocking tone instantly put me on edge.

“I er… well yeah, that’s what you want me for, isn’t it?” I asked nervously. Once again, he started to stalk me, only this time I was backed up into the bed. Which meant that as soon as the back of my legs hit the edge, I went falling back onto it. Leaving me feeling far too vulnerable because I couldn’t get away before he began lowering himself down over me.

“Oh, my dear girl, my sweet scented, foolish girl… if only you knew all there is that I want from you,” he purred, making me shake my head.

“I don’t… I don’t understand,” I told him as he lowered his weight further into me, one hand next to my head while the other came to stoke back my hair.

“For I want it all, you see,” he whispered, leaning toward my ear, making me hold myself deathly still.

“All you have left to give and more,” he told me, this time making me shudder against him as he put his lips to my ear.

“I want every inch of you,” he told me, fervently kissing me there at my neck, making me turn my head away. Something that clearly angered him, because he gripped my chin and forced me back to look at him. He snapped his growing fangs at me before letting me go and grabbing on to my hair.

“And I will have you!” he growled, before suddenly removing his hand. Doing so by pulling the glass rose from my hair, now holding it as he lifted himself off me. Then he walked to the door and paused long enough to tell me the shocking truth.

“Just like the last time you begged me, Ella.”

“No… No…” I denied over and over again.

“You will beg me again, beg me… to make you mine,” he promised, before crushing the rose in his hand and letting the tiny shards fall when he opened his fingers.

I could take no more and I turned away from him to cry, not wanting him to see my tears. In fact, I had expected him to just leave in his anger, but he seemed to linger for a few moments. Then after my shuddering sobs had eased, I finally heard him leave… he no doubt wished to enjoy my pain for longer.

I honestly didn’t know.

In fact, I couldn’t be certain I knew anything anymore. And worst of all, without my memories, I didn’t know if he was telling the truth or not.

Or was I now…

Just lying to myself?

* * *

I didn’t know how much time had passed, but after my frustrated tears had run dry, I had torn myself free of my dress and put back on the clothes that Jared had created for me. The feel of his ring firmly in my pocket was one comfort I needed right now.

By the time I opened my eyes, the first thing I saw was a tray of food waiting for me at the end of the bed. But even more confusing wasn’t that I hadn’t heard anyone come in, no, it was the sight of the glass rose back to being perfect and sitting on the tray next to my plate.

“He fixed it… but why?” I asked myself out loud, as if hearing my own voice was also a comfort. As for the food, I knew that starving myself wouldn’t achieve anything either, because well… I didn’t think going on a hunger strike would make any difference to my current situation. Not when I had my baby to think about. Another life I had every reason to fight for.

So, I grabbed the bread that I now recognized as the same type I had eaten in the tavern with Tyr and Asher. Two people I hoped were okay, along with everyone else I had been forced to leave behind.

Of course, my mind kept going back to Jared and what he must be going through, while he was no doubt trying to plan ways for getting me back. Which was also why I knew I needed to be ready for when he did. Keeping up my strength being one of them.

When my door unlocked again, I had just finished everything on my tray. Even draining the glass of water twice, as it came with a jug to refill it. I tensed as the door opened, expecting once more to find Garmr entering the room. However, what I didn’t expect was the guard who wouldn’t step foot over the threshold. A demon that once upon a time I would have no doubt found terrifying. But since entering Jared’s world, I had honestly seen too much to be scared right now. Even of the dark grey demon that had wrinkly hard skin, a jaw full of too many jagged teeth, and twisted gnarled horns that looked like pieces of a dead tree. His eyes, like Garmr’s when angry, were a glowing red and deep set under high arched, over pronounced brows.

“The King requests your presence in the throne room,” he stated, making me repeat a single word of that sentence.

“Requests?”

“Commands,” he corrected, making me huff.

“I thought so… and if I don’t?”

“I am not allowed to use force,” he replied, surprising me, because that was the first threat I had been expecting.

“Then I think I am good here, thanks,” I replied sarcastically, making him growl.

“I would not advise this, as he will be angered if he has to come and get you himself… and he is allowed to use force,” he added, making me sigh because I didn’t exactly have many options. And who knew, maybe it would offer me a chance to escape. Which was why I swung my legs off the bed and walked toward the door.

“Then, I guess, lead the way,” I said, making the demon huff, with actual steam coming out of his large nostrils.

At least I was doing this on my own terms. I had made a point of getting out of that dress, knowing he would likely be angry about that. I wondered if it was the thing that would actually send him over the edge and lash out at me. Because strangely, up to now, he hadn’t hurt me, something I still couldn’t wrap my head around. Other than manhandling me a bit, he had remained, for the most part, surprisingly gentle.

Something I knew couldn’t last.

The demon led me through the dark hallways, that were easier to see thanks to the lantern the guard carried on a pole. We also walked through one of the arches this time, and I knew straight down headed back to the balcony.

The castle seemed like a labyrinth of doors and archways leading off in all directions. Telling me that if I ever did manage to escape that bedroom, then I would only end up lost. I could also tell, with the lack of windows, that this castle must have been at least half built underground. Perhaps inside of the mountain I had seen glimpses of when on the balcony.

I also then wondered if Lucius’s castle was like this, because Amelia had explained it had been built inside of a mountain he owned. But then, with how uninviting and creepy this place looked, I couldn’t exactly see my cousin being happy living there if it was.

The place didn’t change much until we walked through a pair of ornate doors. And just like back in my room, there were battle scenes carved in the panels of black wood, with the metal handles coming out of the picture. These were two hands, outstretched from the burning souls below, as a rain of fire came from the winged demons above. Again, totally creepy and not exactly where anyone that wasn’t evil would want to set up home.

And speaking of demons that lived here, the guard opened these doors for me to walk through, into a room that made me gasp. It was vastly different to the rest of the castle I had seen. This space looked like it belonged in a fairy tale, it was like walking from night into day. A great stain glass window created a kaleidoscope of colors to play and dance on the pale marble floor. The light streaming in through the arched window depicted a scene of heavenly grace, as Gods and Goddesses sat in golden thrones watching those below. All around them a garden of Eden grew, that created most of the color in the piece. One that took up nearly the entirety of the wall that must have been at least four stories high.

There was nothing else in this huge space, one that was big enough you could have fit fifty of my trailers in here stacked like Jenga and still have room for fifty of my trucks. I felt like whistling, just so I could hear the echo. But then my guard alerted me to the fact that opposite this incredible window was another door.

Although there should be another name given for a set of doors that enormous. This time there was no carved scene, just panels of arched black wood with curled iron fixtures.

Everything was bigger, with the ceilings reminding me of English cathedrals. In fact, the space we were in now, looked as if it had been made with giants in mind, making me wonder if this was Garmr’s castle or one he had simply taken by force.

Of course, one look at the grumpy guard and I didn’t think asking was a good idea. The very last thing he looked like he wanted to be doing was escorting me anywhere.

Two guards stood either side of the colossal doors that must have been the same species of demon, because they looked very much the same. But then again, I wondered if the same thing could be said about humans, in their eyes.

This random thought left me as the doors opened up, after the two guards each pulled the lever at their sides at the same time. The sound of wheels turning as some great mechanism was being used made it echo throughout the enormous hall. And speaking of enormous rooms, I ended up leaving one colossal space for another.

The vast space was lined with Greek style columns, this time carved from a lighter grey stone that made them stand out in contrast against the bare black, rock walls. In front of each column stood stone plinths with each holding a large golden bowl that was filled with flames. As if lighting the way down to the main feature at the end, one that made me shudder when finally looking that way.

For there, sat on a very demonic looking throne was Garmr and like always…

He was waiting for me.