Page 36 of Isle of Beasts and Shadows

“Hmph. Come, Anya.” Princess Thea’s tone was dismissive as she motioned for her handmaiden to follow. Anya’s gaze lingered on Airella, a subtle smile playing on her lips, hinting at hidden meanings and unspoken alliances.

Feeling a surge of frustration, Airella clenched her teeth and closed her eyes briefly, steeling herself for what was to come. With a determined resolve, she turned on her heels and made a beeline for the dimly lit corridor leading to the prison cells.

As she navigated the maze of narrow passageways, the haunting pleas of the incarcerated echoed around her, their desperate voices tugging at her heartstrings. She pressed on, her steps quickening as she neared the cell that held the key to her mission.

“Jonathan?” Airella’s voice cut through the somber air, causing a ripple of anticipation among the other prisoners. Their eyes, filled with a mixture of hope and longing, followed her every move as she approached Jonathan’s confinement.

Jonathan, with his back turned towards her, froze at the sound of her voice. As he pivoted to face her, the dim light revealed the weariness etched on his features, a stark contrast to the fiery determination in his eyes.

“Airella, you were supposed to get out of here! Where is Sirius?” Jonathan’s words spilled out in a rush, his worry palpable as he took a step closer to the cell bars.

“He stayed back as a distraction,” Airella replied, her gaze scanning the surroundings in search of a means to free him. Theabsence of keys left her momentarily stumped, but a flicker of determination sparked in her eyes as a daring plan took shape in her mind.

With a silent prayer, Airella gripped the cold iron bars of the cell, her muscles straining with the effort as she exerted all her strength. The metal groaned in protest, but gradually yielded to her relentless tugging. Inch by inch, the bars bent, creating a narrow gap.

Breathless and exhilarated by her small victory, Airella turned to face Jonathan, whose eyes held a mix of admiration and disbelief. In that moment, as the echoes of their hasty escape reverberated through the dungeon, a glimmer of hope ignited in their hearts, fueling their resolve to defy the odds and forge a new path together.

“Can you squeeze through?” She asked tentatively, unsure if her strength would bend the bars any further.

“I might,” he replied, his voice strained as he contorted his body to squeeze through the narrow gap. With his hands still bound behind his back, he wriggled through, narrowly escaping the confines. Upon emerging on the other side, she swiftly severed the rope binding his hands with Dawnbreaker, granting him freedom despite the raw rope-burn etched into his wrists.

“Maybe Sirius has lost the guards. We have to find him and escape this place for good,” Airella urged Jonathan, tugging at his arm.

“Hold on, we can’t just leave. We have to convince the king about the dangers of the isle.” Jonathan declared adamantly.

“They won’t listen to us. Perhaps the soldiers will challenge Duran and demonstrate to the king the unsuitability ofthe isle for habitation,” she exclaimed passionately, pivoting and leading the way out of the dungeon in a race to find Sirius before he encountered further peril.

Airella and Jonathan had been navigating the labyrinthine corridors of the dungeon, their breaths shallow and rapid, the air thick with tension. The flickering torchlight cast fleeting shadows, causing their anxiety to spike at every turn. They were so close to the exit—freedom was almost within reach. But suddenly, a soldier emerged from the darkness, a glint of malevolence in his eyes as he charged towards Airella with a raised dagger.

Jonathan didn’t hesitate. With a swift, desperate move, he thrust himself between Airella and the assailant, their bodies crashing together with violent force. The dagger found its mark, plunging deep into Jonathan’s chest. He gasped, a harsh, wet sound escaping his lips as the pain seared through him. His knees buckled, but he maintained his stance long enough to meet Airella’s horrified gaze.

As the soldier withdrew the blade, intending to strike again, Airella’s shock transformed into a raw, primal rage. With an almost inhuman speed, she clutched Dawnbreaker and swung it with all her might. The axe connected with the soldier’s skull, a sickening crack echoing through the dungeon. He collapsed lifelessly to the ground, his own dagger clattering beside him.

The moment of triumph was fleeting. Airella lowered Dawnbreaker, her hands trembling violently as she stared at the fallen soldier. Guilt and revulsion washed over her, the reality of what she had done sinking in. Her breaths came in frantic gasps, eyes widening in panic as she turned her attention back to Jonathan.

He was on the ground, hand pressed weakly against his wound, blood seeping through his fingers.

“Jonathan!” Airella screamed, dropping to her knees beside him. “No, no, no, Jonathan, stay with me!” Her voice broke, and she tore at her cloak, trying to fashion it into a makeshift bandage. Tears streamed down her face, her mind racing for solutions, but sheer terror clouded her thoughts.

Jonathan’s eyes fluttered open, his breath shallow and labored. “Airella,” he whispered, his voice barely audible over her sobs. “You have to... keep going...”

She shook her head violently, refusing to accept his words. “I won’t leave you,” she insisted, her hands desperately working to stop the bleeding. But deep down, the horrifying realization that she might lose him was taking hold, making her actions even more frenzied.

Chapter 23

Sirius wielded the handle of his scythe, striking a patrolling guard on the head, causing him to crumple to the ground.

As the footsteps of soldiers drew nearer, a guard bellowed, “Halt! We have you encircled, traitor! Where is the girl?”

Sirius turned to face the advancing soldiers, a sense of resignation settling over him. With a measured calmness, he raised his scythe, the blade gleaming in the dim light of the passageway. The weight of the weapon in his hand felt both familiar and burdensome, a physical manifestation of the choices he had made.

“Stop this at once,” a guard beside the first soldier demanded, his voice tinged with authority.

Sirius couldn’t help but notice a flicker of recognition in the royal guard’s eyes, a sense of unease creeping over him. Memories intertwined with the present, blurring the lines between past betrayals and present dangers. As he stood there, a rush of emotions flooded Sirius—a mix of fear, confusion, and a sliver of hope. The weight of unresolved emotions lingered in the air like a haunting echo, enveloping him in a shroud of uncertainty.

“Father?” Sirius uttered softly, the word heavy with significance.

Finally, everything made sense, connecting the dots between Duran’s peculiar behavior and the mysterious presence of Father. Father had indeed followed them off the island, embarking on a covert mission to ensure the humans’ journey to the isle.

---