Page 28 of Of Night and Blood: Special Edition

He was a wicked temptation, and he knew it. Every smile, touch, and word were calculated from that moment we bumped into one another on the balcony of the palace. Fooling me a second time would not be so easy. I began washing my hair and body with the products laid out on the small table near the bath, once again being hit with the scent of the demon fae.

My memories of that first night when we danced, laughed, walked, and kissed were triggered by the strength of the smell. Every moment had felt so right, like a piece of me had been reunited with the whole. I risked not only my future, but also the lives of every fae in the realm just to spend one more day with him. Like he was a sweet wine and I was a long-time addict. Even so, it had seemed as if he was inherently good, like the wine was healing a sickness. Looking back, I knew that I was being manipulated, used.

My anger forced me out of the bath, needing me to move, to act. I grabbed onto a nearby towel, which was, of course, black. The soft fabric felt better than the ones at the palace, which were stiff and left balls of lint on my body. Another tactic to reel me in most likely. I would not submit, I would not give in. No matter what I had to do, I would find my way back home. That was a promise.

“Stupid, murderous demon!” I shouted.

“He is definitely something,” I heard from behind me. I whipped my head around to see Lian standing by the door, her hands on her hips. She was dressed in all black, her blue hair pulled back. She had a large sword strapped to her waist that shone even in the dull fae light. Black lined her eyes, looking much more lethal than the last time I saw her.

“Why are you here?” I asked, not attempting to be kind when I knew it would get me nowhere. Lian did not seem to care, plopping down on the large bed. She pointed at the chair Bellamy had been sitting in, where a small pile of black fabric sat.

“Figured you would want some clothes. Pino made them for you, he based the measurements off the dress you got. There are more items in the wardrobe, but Bellamy picked those ones out. I helped Pino make this set.” I looked from the clothes, to her, then back at the clothes again. Suspicion rose within me, and I glared over at her as I walked to the chair.

Lian turned away to give me some privacy, a small mercy. The undergarments were a perfect fit, sliding up my thighs with little effort but holding snugly enough not to slip. The trousers were a bit loose, but in a way that felt intentional. The tunic had enough space for my breasts, allowing room to breathe. The comfort the soft, clean fabric brought was a bright side to an otherwise horrifying situation. “He made all of these? In a day?” I asked, suspicious once again. How long had they been planning to take me?

“You have been in and out for three and a half days. You peed the bed twice. It was funny.” She snorted. My cheeks heated in embarrassment. For reasons I was unsure of, I hoped that it was not Bellamy watching over me when I relieved myself in his bed. That explained the smell though.

“How long will I remain a prisoner of The Elemental?” I questioned when I finished pulling on the socks, hoping to gain any information I could from the Air.

She sat up straight and folded her arms across her chest.

“Why would you assume yourself a prisoner? Perhaps he saved you from a prison disguised as a sanctuary.” Her vague response only served to annoy me, causing me to tighten the thick boots too much. I unthreaded them and began again, letting out an exasperated sigh.

“The doors are locked and I have yet to be told where I am. I was also brought here against my will and knowledge. Again. I imagine being a prisoner is fairly similar to that,” I said.

Lian scoffed.

I stood up, walking towards her. She backed into the bed frame, brows furrowed.

“Are you afraid of me?” I asked, not at all surprised.

“Last I checked, you were able to control minds. I would prefer you did not make me jump off a cliff or forget who I am. Fear can be healthy,” she responded, her nonchalant tone a stark contrast to her shaking body.

“Well, I prefer not to do any of those things, so perhaps you should speak to your demon master about what he tells his subjects,” I retorted. “Now move over.”

To Lian’s credit, she did not hesitate to drag her small frame to the right side of the bed. Making rather slow movements to ease her discomfort, I sat next to her. When I first woke up, I was unable to focus too much on the details of my surroundings, but now I had an unknown amount of time on my hands to lay idle.

Near the glass double doors sat a large wardrobe, black as night with red detailing that looked like bloody vines. The dark chair Bellamy had sat in was paired with a sleek black desk that had nothing on it, as if it were rarely used. No lanterns sat on any of the tables, instead the light somehow danced midair. The light itself was different than the fae fire that lit the palace, it had a sun-like glow to it and seemed to radiate energy.

Above the large black bed hung red silk curtains that draped down to conceal the mattress, allowing for privacy if needed. The ground was also black, feeling similar to marble. Both colors dominated the room, ominous and heavy. The black floors made the four walls seem as if they expanded forever, an endless vortex of darkness and blood.

Similar to being at the mercy of The Elemental. I had no idea what his plan was for me, why he so desperately needed me here. As I sat there with Lian, I thought of ways that I might try to find out.

Chapter Eighteen

“So, where are we?” I asked, trying to sound casual.

It occurred to me that we might be in the Demon Realm, seeing as I was their prince’s captive, but there were so many fae that I was unsure.

Plus, our histories always referred to the Demon Realm as nearly unlivable, full of volcanoes and black sludge in place of rolling hills and soil. I saw her roll her eyes, and I figured that meant she had no plans of telling me anything. My suspicions were confirmed when the minutes dragged by in silence. I felt awkward at best and considered asking her to leave, but then I realized she was more than likely guarding me. As if I needed a babysitter to hold my leash and keep me in line.

“Fine, do not tell me,” I grumbled, crossing my arms.

In the quiet, my thoughts strayed to the pain Sterling inflicted on me, then the blood gushing from his chest. I could still hear the screams of the fae around me, see Tish panicking with her hands around the wound, feel Sterling’s hand ripping from my own. Was I sad that he had died? Truthfully, I was not. I myself had wished him dead days ago. But what did that make me? Ghastly, among other things.

Weak, that was another. Frailty was what allowed me to be attacked, and I wondered if today would be different if I had been trained in physical combat rather than focusing solely on honing my powers.

Xavier and Mia always said that it would be a waste of time and potential to teach me combat, but now not knowing seemed rather foolish. Was it ignorance that convinced them I would never need to use my fists, or something else?

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