Page 18 of The Lies of Lena (The Otacian Chronicles #1)

Chapter Seventee n

Q uill held me and played with my hair until I drifted to sleep, and when I woke up in the morning, his side of the bed was empty. I was tangled up in my sheets, my quilt tucked around me. A sweet gesture before he left.

Last night had been…outstanding. But I was sick of his secrecy, and when Thursday rolled around, I would follow him home. I didn’t care if he would be upset with me.

But how do I avoid being caught?

I stayed lying in bed as I brainstormed, and then the idea came—an invisibility elixir.

I had been working on healing and stamina elixirs, but Mother and I had never tried an invisibility one. Still, I had to give it a shot. I would go out to train, and after he walked me home, I would take the elixir and follow him .

It seemed easy enough. Even if I didn’t get answers, I could find out where he lived, at least, since I apparently did not deserve that information either.

It was just past seven in the morning, and as I went to leave my bed, I remembered I was naked. I threw on a nightgown and peeked out my door.

Silence.

Mother must still be at Wendi’s house. I sauntered to the bathroom and hopped in the ice-cold shower, wincing like I did every morning.

To have hot water…it must be so lovely.

When I left the bathroom, squeezing my hair and wearing a bath towel, Mother strolled in with a quirked eyebrow.

“Well?” she asked as she hung up her cloak.

I sucked in my lips and turned the other way.

“Oh. My. Gods,” she breathed as she walked forward. “It happened, didn’t it?”

“I’m not telling you anything,” I mumbled as I strode towards my bedroom.

“How was it?”

I paused.

“Amazing. Now, no more questions,” I said quickly as I escaped to my room.

After I re-entered our living area, dressed in a sweater and pants with my hair pulled back, I went to the kitchen where Mother was making breakfast. She told me about her night with the ladies and how she almost won a hundred coppers playing cards. I told her about mine, save for the sex details. That would be dreadful .

Although, I did wish I had a friend I could talk about things like that with.

“I want to learn the invisibility elixir.”

Mother gaped at me for a moment before she continued making breakfast. “Why would you want to learn that? You can barely do a stamina one, and that’s one of the easiest.”

I huffed and crossed my arms as I leaned against the counter beside her. “Well, maybe I could learn it, but you make it.” I took a deep breath. “Quill is hiding something from me. He won’t let me meet his parents. He won’t even tell his friends about me, and you already know I don’t know where his house is. He says it’s complicated but proceeds to not tell me why it’s complicated.”

“I did always find that strange,” Mother said, stirring the porridge she was cooking. “So, what, you plan on following him, then?”

“Yes. After we finish my lessons.”

“But that’s at 10:00 a.m.—the Inner Ring will be closed off.”

“Doesn’t matter if I’m invisible.”

She sighed. “What if something happens?”

“Like what?”

“I don’t know,” she huffed while throwing her arms up. “What if they’re a family of murderers or involved in gang activity or something?”

I rolled my eyes. “I highly doubt it’s that. But regardless, I have to see for myself what he’s hiding. I have to know.”

I spent the week learning the invisibility elixir and making more healing ones. I actually was having an easier time grasping illusion magic than stamina, though my invisibility potion only lasted fifteen seconds.

“I need more than just seconds,” I grumbled after ingesting the mixture and witnessing it fail.

“The longest I can get you is maybe thirty minutes,” Mother groaned. “And I’m still nervous about it. I haven’t made many of these. If I knew how to conjure up a familiar, I would make a bird to spy on him or something.” She rubbed the back of her neck. “I suppose my suppression has kept me from learning a lot, too.”

By Wednesday, we finally got it to the full thirty minutes. Mother and I had cheered, but to be safe, I stayed in our home the entire duration of it. I wouldn’t want to become visible out in the open suddenly.

“I will make three for you, just in case.” She sighed. “I’m going to be worried sick.”

“I will be fine. Quill wouldn’t hurt me.” I looked to the ground in introspection. “I just don’t know what he’s hiding. That’s what scares me.”

Thursday came around, and everything was normal; Quill helped deliver our orders, and we trained and did our usual flirting. I was beginning to get decent at wielding my greatsword and was skilled with my dagger. At least, I felt like I was. The whole time I had been with him, my chest felt…weird.

I would be betraying his trust, but what did he expect?

“You okay?”

“Yeah, why?” I asked, winded from the set of movements I did.

He frowned, his lips pulling to the side. “You’ve just been quieter today than usual.”

“Really? I don’t think so.”

It was hard to focus, knowing I was going to be following him, and also because the second I saw him, I started thinking about Saturday night.

Gods, I wanted to go to bed with him right now. But I wouldn’t give in to him again. Not until I knew what was going on.

“Are you angry with me?” he asked quietly.

I lowered my sword. “Why would I be?”

His frown deepened, and I froze as he unsheathed his sword.

“Try to hit me,” he ordered.

“What?” I stepped back. “Are you crazy?”

“You said weeks ago that you wished to battle one on one.” He looked me up and down. “So, try to hit me. ”

He was right, but still, the thought intimidated me. “What if I hurt you?”

He snorted, and his cockiness had me raising my sword and getting into a fighting stance.

“Very good,” he praised.

I swung my weapon without wasting more time, and Quill clashed his with mine. Vibrations went up my arm, and I struggled to keep hold of the blade.

“That isn’t even at my full strength,” he taunted, but his grin was pleasant. “Again.”

I backed away, readied myself, and tried again. I swung, this time lower, and Quill blocked it with ease. Before he could order me, I swung repeatedly, him blocking every move with little effort.

Frustration built up in me, and I yelled as I swung and swung.

“Lena—” Quill started, but I kept going until our swords clashed, our faces inches apart. My head was craned upwards to glare at him while he examined me with a mix of worry and concern.

I pushed away with a grunt and sheathed the sword behind my back. I hated that I was angry. I hated that he didn’t trust me enough even to know where his fucking house was!

“I know you’re upset with me,” he said carefully.

I turned to face him and put a hand on my hip.

“Just please know I am…” He considered his following words, then exhaled. “I’ll tell you more soon, I promise.”

“Right… ”

“I mean it.”

His tone and the intensity of his expression almost made me believe him. He pulled me in and kissed me, then hugged me tightly. I hesitated, then hugged him back just as hard.

“I love you, Lena. I love you,” he murmured into my hair.

“I love you, too,” I whispered

Please forgive me, Quill.

I stepped inside and closed the door to my home after Quill departed, then waited a few moments before I opened it again, making sure he was a safe distance away. Mother gave me words of encouragement and apprehension before I chugged one of the invisibility elixirs. She confirmed it worked, and then I opened the door to leave.

Pulling the hood of my cloak over my head, I began following discreetly behind. Gods forbid my potion failed; this would hopefully conceal my identity enough.

I kept a tasteful distance as Quill wove his way through the Outer Ring and up the steps into the Inner Ring. I made sure to avoid accidentally running into anyone, thus blowing my cover.

I wondered what his house would look like. Maybe I’d even see his parents. He told me he had no siblings, but that could be a lie.

I held in my sigh.

Why? Why so many secrets?

I expected him to walk up to one of the homes around the clock tower or perhaps one of the more elegant homes nestled near the Center. Instead, he went down an alleyway .

Strange.

He went down further, and he angled his head in my direction. My heart stopped, but he looked straight through me before continuing.

I might be invisible, but I should play it safe, just in case.

The alleyway was a dead end, nothing but lush, overgrown hedges boarding the white fence that enclosed it. My brows drew together as I watched him go to the right and move through one of the bushes.

What the hell?

I waited a moment, then made my way through the same plants, finding a secret path behind one of the bushes. Quill twisted at the rustling noise I made going through the brush, and I froze. He scanned around, then continued.

Invisibility elixir, you are my best friend.

We strode through for a few minutes, it being nothing but plants surrounding the narrow pathway, and then suddenly he turned, going through yet another bush. I did as well and gasped at what I saw when I reached the other side.

Obsidian walls.

I was about to have a heart attack.

We’re in the Center! Just by the castle! What the hell is Quill doing here?

I then realized I had lost him. Panicking, I glanced around. Then, as I was about to follow this new, cleanly cut path, I heard someone yell. I jerked my head upwards and saw a royal guard standing atop the wall.

Shit !

“What do you think you’re doing?” the guard exclaimed, crossbow aimed at me. “Run, and I will shoot!”

I shakily raised my arms, not knowing what else to do, and another guard descended from the post and grabbed my wrists tightly, cuffing me before lugging me towards the castle.

I was in trouble, so much trouble. Not only for sneaking into the Center…but if they discovered what was in my bag—

Without much thought, I slammed myself and my bag against the castle’s stone border, shattering the vials of elixirs.

“Are you crazy! Don’t do that, or you’ll get a bolt in your head,” the man detaining me hissed.

The guard dug his grip into my arms, and I yelped, looking up to meet his gaze. He seemed young, well, older than me. Maybe mid-twenties. His deep brown eyes seemed nervous looking at me, or perhaps concerned. The wind blew his white-blond hair, and I would have been able to acknowledge the guard’s handsomeness if I hadn’t been scared shitless.

“Do not argue, do not fight. I don’t know what you were thinking sneaking around the castle, but if you wish to spare your life, do not cause trouble.” His words were clipped.

My lip trembled, but I nodded, looking forward as we hiked up the castle’s side stairs. The guard on the tower lowered his crossbow cautiously as he monitored our ascent.

This was the nearest I had ever seen the castle; it felt even taller and more ominous this up close. I tried to steady my breathing as we made our way up the steps, guards exchanging glances and briefly touching on how I was captured. Sweat was dripping down my forehead, and my body was trembling uncontrollably. Another guard stepped in line in front of me, and a door to the castle opened for us. A stairway appeared as I stepped through the entryway, and we began our walk up. Sconces lined the stone walls as we hurried through, leaving it eerie and dimly lit.

I was being led up to the prison.

An older guard was speaking to one of his comrades when his eyes went to mine briefly, then up to the guard next to me.

“Where did you find her, Torrin?” The man almost laughed, but Torrin ignored him as he led me to my cell.

He gently pushed me inside, and I turned to stare at him. My whole body continued to shake.

“You will remain here until morning when the Queen calls on your punishment.” I could swear sympathy flickered in his eyes. He took my soaked crossbody from me, its contents only being broken elixirs and copper. I knew I would not be seeing it again. “Good luck,” he whispered, then closed the door, leaving me alone in the cold, dark cell. The small, barred windows, one in the back wall and one in the door were the only sources of light. Both are far too small to escape from.

I was frozen for a moment, standing there in disbelief over what the fuck had just happened.

“Wait!” I exclaimed.

Torrin peered through the opening of my cell door.

“My…my mother will be worried sick if I don’t return home. Can I send a note to her? Letting her know that I am okay?”

Torrin didn’t respond and walked away .

I stood there for a minute before I began to sob, falling back onto the stone “bed”, if you could even call it that. I buried my face in my hands.

What have I done? What will happen to me, to Mother? I had no idea what the punishment for sneaking into the Center would be, but I knew for the Inner Ring, it was a hefty fine. Part of me hoped it would just be monetary, but it would rob us of everything we had. We couldn’t afford the Inner Ring trespassing fee, and I could only assume the Center was an even greater sum.

And that’s assuming imprisonment isn’t another part. I’ve never seen any Outer Ring citizen put to death over being in the Inner Ring past curfew. But I was so close to the castle when I was caught…I didn’t even know where I was going!

When my sobbing died down, I curled into a ball. With it being daytime, I had hours more trapped in here. I had to think and come up with some sort of excuse.

At some point, I cried myself to sleep. When Torrin returned to my cell, I jolted awake, and my body began to shake again. I rubbed my eyes and glanced out the little window opening of my cell, and though the sun was still out, it was nearly set, meaning it was probably around eight at night. My stomach was grumbling as no meal had been provided all day.

Maybe the Queen will recognize me…maybe she will be forgiving ?

But what would I say? That I was following my mysterious boyfriend and had no intention of entering the Center? Like anyone would believe it. Despite the hours of being held here, I drew up blank when it came to any good excuses.

Torrin handed me a tray of food: a sandwich, an apple, a pastry, and a glass of water. I frowned and looked up at him.

“Seems like a good meal for a prisoner,” I muttered.

“Here,” he said, handing me a piece of parchment. I took it, and he gave me a quill and a lidded ink pot. “I will obviously read whatever you wish to have sent out.”

I hesitated. What do I say? If I told her I was taken prisoner, she would not be any calmer. But if I said nothing and were put to death, she would never forgive me. Still, I couldn’t risk her coming here and using her magic to free me.

“What are the odds I am to be put to death?” I whispered.

Torrin raised a brow. “You won’t be put to death unless you try something reckless. Like bashing yourself against walls to break free, things of that sort.”

My frown deepened. “Imprisonment?”

He crossed his arms. “I don’t know what your punishment will be.”

I looked down at the paper and began to write.

Mother,

I have met Quill’s family. I accidentally stayed past curfew, and they kindly offered to let me stay at their home until tomorrow. Please don’t worry. I will see you in the morning.

Love, Len a

I handed the note back to Torrin, who read over my letter. I told him where my home was and watched as he called a guard to deliver my message.

“I will have this sent,” he promised. “Rest up, Lena.”

I blinked at the use of my name and looked down with tearful eyes as I ate my food.

“Lena?”

My eyes couldn’t open, but I was relieved to hear the voice. I felt more awake than I had in the past when we communicated.

Kayin, is that you?

“What have you gotten yourself into?” She was light-hearted in her comment, which annoyed me.

I am in a prison cell, if you must know.

“Sneaking off to see your lover?”

I felt my face frown.

How do you know of him?

“I know many things, and I know you need not worry. You will be fine tomorrow.”

Hope bloomed in my chest. But still …

How could you possibly know that?

“Trust me. Try and sleep well, Lena.”

Morning came, and Torrin briefly said, "Good morning," as he fetched me from my cell. He didn’t speak as I was led up another set of stone steps, these ones leading to the main part of the castle. My eyes felt swollen, just like the many other times in my life when I had cried myself to sleep.

Despite the outside of Castle La’Rune being so dark and gothic, the inside was nearly all white, the floors a beautiful marble.

“Did my note get delivered?” I asked quietly.

“It did.”

We stopped in front of an enormous black door, easily four times my height.

Torrin squeezed my arm. “Do not try anything reckless.”

“You said that yesterday,” my voice trembled as I spoke, and I furrowed my brows as I turned to him. “Why are you helping me?”

His eyes bounced between mine. “He is my friend.”

All I could do was blink at that comment, and before I could reply, Torrin opened the doors, and we stepped inside the throne room. The sound of our shoes echoed in the ample, open space.

Ahead of me, Queen Ryia sat on a tall, black throne, her head resting on her hand. The one to her left was empty, the King not present. A handful of guards were stationed throughout the room, and a few moved to block to door from which we entered.

I couldn’t acknowledge the blue velvet curtains that rested above the left wall, a wall lined with floor-to-ceiling windows, nor the marble floor that was black now instead of white as we inched forward. No, I had no chance to acknowledge anything in the room once I realized who stood beside the Queen, his hands tucked behind his back.

Quill.