Page 31 of Wind and Water (Reign of the Witch Queen #2)
“You mistake calm for casual, Wren. I’m not without feeling, and since you’ve been in my head, you already know that.” The only hint that I’ve touched a nerve is a slight twitch in his left eye before he returns to searching our cell.
“I’m sorry. I know you care. This place has put me on edge. I wish they’d do whatever they plan. Sitting here for who knows how long is wreaking havoc on my nerves.” I pick up a small black pebble and hurl it across the room. It clanks as if it were metal rather than stone.
Liam cocks his head. “Coire is not what I expected.” He walks to the wall where the pebble landed. Careful to avoid the oil, he picks up the stone and puts it in his pocket.
Before I can ask him what he’s saving that for, the door opens with its vault-like clicks and pops.
Standing, I back away.
Heat permeates the chamber as three creatures enter. One carries a skinned, charred rabbit on a platter. The scent would be tempting if not for the stench of hell that’s mixed in. The others haul a small cauldron and a larger tub, both filled with water that sloshes over the sides.
The creatures have arms and legs, but that is where the similarities between them and us end.
They are half my size yet carry at least one hundred pounds of water, and I can’t even guess the weight of the containers the water is in.
Their eyes are black, with no light within and no whites, deep-set into faces shaped like foxes, but without fur or hair.
Their skin is black like tar and has an oily sheen.
They do not speak or make eye contact as they place the items on the ground in front of us.
Walking with heavy feet that leave tracks on the floor, they exit the way they came, with the large door slamming shut behind them.
Their footsteps shine in the torchlight for a moment before being absorbed as if the stone were sand.
“This place is wrong.” My stomach lurches despite my hunger.
Liam pulls a bite of meat from the bone and tastes it, then does the same with the water. “You’ll get no argument from me.” He hands me a piece of meat.
I push his hand away.
“Eat it. Who knows when or if they’ll feed us again.” He scoops water with his hand and sips it.
I force the bland rabbit down and sip some water. My hunger is at war with eating anything that comes from this place or the creatures who brought it. Still, I manage to eat enough to satisfy Liam, and I drink the slightly metallic water. “Is that for bathing?” I point to the larger tub.
“I think so.”
Rather than soaking my clothes, I use the bathwater to rinse my arms, then splash some on my face. Once I’ve done as much as I’m willing to, I sit next to Liam. “We’re going to die here. I wonder what will happen to our souls when we perish in such a place.”
“I don’t think our souls will be condemned by their location at our death. She can only steal our souls if she makes us shadow demons, and let’s hope she wants something else from us.” He shivers.
Becoming nothing but a shadow bound to an elf witch is a fate far worse than death. I hope that if that happens, one of the centaurs or one of Liam’s people finds a way to kill me and set me free.
His mind at the edge of mine, he nudges my shoulder. “We’re not dead yet. Don’t lose hope.”
It’s hard not to laugh. We’re in hell, and he’s telling me not to lose hope. If that’s not irony, I don’t know what is. “Thank you for coming with me.”
His eyes are warm and filled with emotions that he doesn’t share, even through our mental connection. “You are welcome.”
Part of me wants to pry and know precisely what he’s feeling because I doubt it’s hope. That was to keep my spirits up. We’re probably going to die here, and who knows what we’ll have to endure before that inevitability.
He pulls me close to his side. “We’re safe for now. Let that be enough.”
I wish I could feel as at ease as he seems. I admire how he can be prepared for disaster and remain relaxed at the same time. Maybe it’s his training. However, I’m no soldier, and the notion of spending an eternity in hell has me on edge.
It’s hard to say how much time has passed. We’ve been fed a few times and slept at least four, maybe five times. There’s no change in light other than when the torches guttered out and left us in total darkness.
After a while, one of those creatures came and slipped a new torch into the sconce. Liam thanked it, but it showed no sign that it understood before stomping out of our prison cell.
My bones ache from the hard ground, and I try walking around and stretching while Liam does push-ups, sit-ups, and an assortment of other body-weight exercises. His lack of outward concern is starting to get to me. “How long do you think it’s been?”
He sits up and wraps his arms around his knees. “Seven days.”
“How can you know that?” My voice hides none of my fear or annoyance.
Shrugging, he continues his sit-ups. “I can tell by how often I need to sleep.”
“Good for you. I need daylight and a setting sun. Why is she keeping us here, and why doesn’t she do something?
What does she want?” Crossing my arms over my chest, I lean against the wall.
My terror on the first day has eased into a mix of boredom and a sustainable level of fear.
Maybe we’re to be left here until we die.
“And why feed us if she’s going to let us die here? ”
Backing up to the wall, he leans back and calmly watches me. “I don’t have all the answers, Wren, but I’m guessing she needs you alive.”
“You constantly being calm and reasonable is starting to infuriate me.” I clench my fists to keep myself aware that the anger rising inside me is unfounded. Still, I want to punch someone, and Liam is the only one here.
“Would you prefer me to fly into a rage?” His jaw ticks. It’s the first sign that any of this is getting to him.
I find that little signal very satisfying. “I think I would. Yes.”
Suddenly, his mind is fully open to mine.
His fury, rage, and fear for my life come rushing at me like an out-of-control boulder streaking down a mountainside.
The enormity of his feelings batters my mind and emotions with everything he’s been holding in.
My knees give out, and I crumple to the floor.
I press my back against the rough, hard surface to keep from total collapse.
Within Liam, there is no concern for himself.
He only cares that I will be hurt or worse.
His greatest fear is that he might live without me. Fury and sorrow bombard me.
I shake my head, trying to push his heartbreak aside. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know. I couldn’t see past your calm exterior.”
The images and emotions pull back.
Liam brushes away a tear that fell to his cheek. Closing his eyes, he takes several long, slow breaths. When he opens those sapphire eyes, the soldier is back in place, and everything else is under control.
Pushing myself to my feet, tears streaming unstoppably down my face, I cross to him and kneel. “Forgive me. I’m an idiot.”
He takes my hands. “No. You’re afraid, which is completely normal. This entire chamber is designed to break you, and I am little help, for which I have no excuse.”
“I should have realized. You followed me into this terrible place, and I’ve been horrible to you.” Maybe this is where I belong if my character is so weak that it can be destroyed in a few days.
A hint of a smile pulls at his lips. “You are too hard on yourself. I’m trained to survive a great many things, and you now know that even I am barely holding on in this place.”
Sitting beside him, I rest my head on his shoulder. “I will do better, Liam.” I pray that I can live up to that vow.