Page 43 of Blood Caged

The guard pushes them open, and I squint against the sudden brightness.

Sunlight. Actual sunlight. Tears begin to well, and it’s not because the sun is blinding me.

I step forward hesitantly, hardly daring to believe it. The warmth hits my skin, and I can’t help but close my eyes, savoring the sensation. How long has it been since I felt the sun on my face?

As my eyes adjust, I take in my surroundings. We’re in a garden. Not just a small courtyard but a sprawling space filledwith lush greenery and vibrant flowers. The scent of roses and freshly cut grass wafts up and I inhale deeply.

It’s…beautiful. And utterly unexpected.

I glance back at the guard, confusion warring with suspicion. He simply nods, giving me silent permission to explore as he hovers a few feet away.

Cautiously, I move further into the garden. My bare feet sink into soft grass, and a gentle breeze caresses my face. It feels surreal after days in that sterile cell.

Almost unconsciously, I reach for my magic. Inside, it had felt completely smothered, but out here…there’s a faint stirring. It’s like a whisper compared to my usual power, but it’s there. Hope flares in my chest for a moment before reality crashes back down. It’s still not enough to do anything useful. Whatever they’re using to suppress my abilities is clearly working outside as well.

Still, even this faint connection is a comfort. I close my eyes again, basking in the sun and that tiny spark of my true self.

I breathe in the fresh air, savoring every moment of this unexpected experience. The warmth of the sun on my skin feels like heaven after days in that horrible cell. As I stand there, eyes closed, I hear the creak of a door opening.

My eyes snap open, instantly alert. More guards emerge from the building, but they’re not alone. My heart leaps as I realize they’re escorting other witches into the garden. They’re being led a safe distance away but not too far for me to get a look at them.

I try not to stare too obviously, not wanting to draw attention, but I can’t help studying each face that appears. Some look as shell-shocked as I feel, blinking in the bright sunlight. Others move with a weariness that speaks of long captivity.

One woman catches my eye. She’s tall and willowy, with long dark hair streaked with silver. As she passes near me, our gazeslock for just a moment. But in that brief connection, I see a flash of recognition, a spark of solidarity.

My breath catches. It’s not much – we don’t dare do more than share that fleeting look – but it’s enough to send a surge of hope through me. I’m not alone here. There are others like me, other witches who might become allies.

For the first time since my capture, I feel a glimmer of possibility. Maybe there’s a chance we can find a way out of this nightmare.

The guard clears his throat behind me. “Miss Blackwood.”

I turn to look at him.

“It’s time to go back in.”

My heart sinks, but I force myself to stay positive. This is a big change for the better.

“Sure,” I say. I trudge back inside, my mind whirling with everything I’ve just experienced. The guard’s hand on my arm is gentle but firm, guiding me through the maze-like corridors. As we walk, I can’t shake the image of those other witches – their weary faces, their haunted eyes. And that one woman…the connection we shared, however brief, lingers in my thoughts.

Back in my “upgraded” cell, I sink onto the bed, my fingers absently tracing patterns on the soft comforter. The taste of fresh air still lingers on my tongue, warming my lungs, a bittersweet reminder of the world beyond these walls.

I close my eyes, focusing on that tiny spark of magic I felt in the garden. It was weak, barely there, but it was mine. They haven’t taken everything from me, not yet. I hold onto that feeling, nurturing it like a fragile flame.

My body still aches, still feels drained from days of bloodletting. But beneath the exhaustion, I feel something else stirring. A fire that refuses to be extinguished.

I’m not alone here. There are others like me suffering the same fate. And if we’re here together, we can find a way out together. I know we can!

I may be weak now, my magic suppressed, and my body pushed to its limits. But I won’t stay this way forever. I’ll recover, gather my strength. And when I do…

A smile pulls at the corner of my lips, small but determined. I’m getting out of here. No matter what it takes, no matter how long I have to wait, I will find a way. And I won’t leave the others behind.

The vampires think they’ve won, that they’ve broken us. But they’ve made a grave mistake. They’ve given us hope, however small. And hope, combined with a witch’s determination, is a dangerous thing.

16

Chapter 16

Soren

---