Page 82 of The Kingdom of Flames

“As you wish, Lord Solis. Does the Lady Celestine require refreshment after your walk?”

Tristien looked as if he would strike James again but stopped. He smiled instead.

James is brave as well. The poor man has seen this Lord before.

“Oh yes, bring plenty of refreshments. She is going on a long journey.”

Tristien gripped her arm in his hand and took Celestine up the stairs, marching her along the hallways that used to dazzle her.

“You are mine,” Tristien informed her as if this was news. “No one else’s. I have a mind to pluck the eyes of every man, woman, and child in this realm.”

“Please, master.” Celestine walked with his fast pace. “I will be yours alone. Do not punish the people that love you so.”

Tristien snorted. “Love. Obedience is what I seek.”

It was colder here, in the western tower. The luxury of the manor fell away, and the walls seemed thicker. They walked up a long spiral staircase until Tristien shouldered the door open and flung her inside. It was a tower room with small slitted windows.

“Get in,” Tristien said.

Celestine sprawled onto the ground.

“Get in,” Tristien repeated himself.

Celestine looked back at him, confused. He nodded to the wall next to her. She looked over.

It was unfinished. The stone lay in heaps to the sides.

“No! Tristien you can’t do this.”

“No?” Tristien asked, stepping inside. “Shall we rid the realm of the blindfolds and go the other way? It’s going to be messy, but I’m certain we can complete the task.”

He’s insane. He is absolutely insane. He will do it.

Celestine walked into the unfinished wall. The smell of stone dust, the wetness of the damp room. The stones drank any warmth from her body.

Tristien eyed her with a grin. This demigod had lost his mind, and when James brought the tools for his master, he turned away in shame as Solis began his work.

Celestine wept bitterly as each stone was raised. Every time he reached for another to enclose her in the wall, she hoped against hope this was a cruel lesson that would stop.

Yet Tristien never stopped. Brick after brick was mortared and placed in perfect stance. The light vanished as she was enclosed. Mumbles of pleadings fell from her lips.

“Such a pretty face, we can’t hide that away.” Tristien smiled as he placed his final brick and immured her up to her neck. She had to stand on the tips of her toes to see down at all.

“Please don’t do this!” Celestine screamed. “Let me out Tristien!”

“Shh,” the demigod whispered. “You’ve had a long day. I can see it in you. There’s nothing to worry about now. Nothing at all. I’ll feed you, when I decide to. And try not to disturb your sisters in there. I never could leave a trinket behind from the bride hunts.”

He left her there, dragging James along with him. Celestine fell back from the opening, only a foot and a half of movement available to her. When she tried to push on the freshly mortared stone, it was impossible. Some fixture of his power was in it.

In the darkness, she tried to explore the confines of the wall in the tower. She wished sorely that she didn’t.

When she found the skeletons of brides past, the bones breaking under her feet, she screamed until only the touch of madness calmed her.

For ten days and nights, Celestine was immured in the tower. Only the bones of her “sisters” kept her company. Sometimes they spoke to her in her madness. They begged her to join them.

Tristien often came, never speaking to her. He would burst into the room to be sure she was there. Sometimes, she woke with him staring at her, a madness so wild and fervent in his eyes that she cried out. He loved the sounds of her terror. He drank her despair like a fine wine.

On the final morning of the tenth day, she heard horns. At first, Celestine thought she was dreaming or hallucinating. Perhaps her mind had finally broken.

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