Page 52 of A Kingdom so Crimson

Kaizen only hushed me as I tried to force myself to look out, but my head lolled to the side as his sturdy hands wrapped around my shivering body. I heard the shift of the door and the click of his boots on the tiled floors, bounding up the stairs.

"Ka—" I began, but he cut me off sharply.

"Save it, Eliah."

Pain. Every step he took, every pounding beat in my head, was excruciating. Even breathing felt heavy, each blink and swallow laden with discomfort. I focused on his heartbeat and scent—a blend of old leather, cedar, and bergamot. Despite his vigorous daily activities, he smelled surprisingly fresh.

A door clicked open, and he gently laid me on my plush bed; his warmth receded, leaving me shivering beneath his cloak. I mustered the strength to lift myself slightly, straining against the ache as the sound of running water filled the room.

"What happened?" I whimpered, the words barely escaping my lips. I clenched my teeth in a useless attempt to still the chattering; my limbs trembled with an unnatural cold sweat. Closing my eyes, I sought refuge from the growing ache pulsating through me, each fiery wave of pain crashing over me like a relentless tide, leaving me utterly vulnerable and hollow. As if my soul was being taken from me with each shallow breath.

"Geisha," he cursed. "Eliah, stay with me!"

He shouted something down the hall, but the words blurred together in my hazy mind. I forced my eyes open again, wincingat the harsh light that flooded the room, catching sight of Kaizen striding back toward the bath. His back was bare and slashed with scars—four circular ones that looked more recent and battered down his back, side, and neck. He pivoted, rushing back to my side, removing the cloak, and crouching low, sliding off my stockings and heels before he pulled me close to him, warming my body against his hot skin.

"Kaizen," I managed to choke out, my voice barely a whisper.

"Hold onto me," he begged.

With all my strength, I held onto his neck, slumping into his sturdy chest as he began fumbling with the strings of my skirts. He lifted me slightly and removed my skirts before taking me into his arms and gently lowering me into the steamy, hot bath. My petticoat clung to me like a second skin, leaving nothing to the imagination.

He raced out of the room, leaving me to sit in the comforting warmth that enveloped every inch of my body. I shifted, positioning myself so only my back was exposed as shouts reverberated from the hallway and hurried footsteps shuffled back and forth. Closing my eyes, I willed my thoughts to silence, but the searing pain continued to shoot through me, sending icy-hot waves cascading down my skin.

"Oh my," came a gentle voice next to me. I turned my head to find Saasha kneeling beside me, holding a towel. "Let me take this off," she urged, pulling at my petticoat and lifting it over my head just as Elise rushed in, followed closely by Kaizen.

"She's ice cold. We need to heat the water," Saasha declared, holding onto my shivering arm.

"Saasha, go help Levon; I brought up your kit," Kaizen commanded urgently, his voice laced with worry. "Elise, go make some hot tea and prepare her bed."

"No," I breathed. "My head," I mumbled weakly, hearing feet shuffle away. The water began to warm, enveloping me in asoothing heat that again dulled my senses. My shivering ceased, and I allowed myself to slump further into the tub; with my back to him, I felt his bright amber eyes searching.

Soon, footsteps approached, accompanied by the clinking of a tray.

"Here's the tea and a robe," Elise said softly.

"Help me lift her out," Kaizen's voice was hoarse. I tried to protest, to tell him I wanted to stay in the bath a little longer, but no words formed as arms lifted me out and wrapped me in the robe. He gently laid me in bed, pulling the covers over me as a click of a spoon clinked against china.

"I'm going to Levon. Make sure she drinks the whole of it." His footsteps could barely be heard, as the only indication of him leaving was the door closing shut.

"You heard him, Eliah; drink," Elise said.

I felt the cool porcelain touch my lips as a citrus warmth cascaded down my throat. I let her pour me another and another until I was warm and comfortable, feeling the weight in my eyes drag me deep into the inevitable.

I awoke to a startling screech that rumbled throughout the room and bounced off the walls, only increasing with sound. I covered my ears only to find shackles on both my wrists and ankles that burned with any movement. It was so dark I could barely see the silhouette of the chains holding me as awareness shot through my chest.Wheream I?

I was no longer in bed but somewhere with stone flooring and walls. It was damp, with water dripping off in the distance. Thecool breeze drifted in, swirling the murky air that smelled of mildew and urine, chilling me to the bone.

I yanked on the chains, their metallic clang echoing into the depths of the room or cell I found myself in. Panic surged through me like a wave, trampling any sense of calm as I yanked on the chains again and again. Not caring about the sticky blood that now dripped from my wrists or the pain that inevitably forced me to stop.

It was too quiet, too dark. I blinked, hoping my eyes would adjust, but my ragged breathing was the only tangible thing in the suffocating darkness. Another horrifying screech pierced the air, followed by the crack of a whip and distant shouts. I had to be somewhere in the estate, but—

Slowly, the door creaked open, casting a faint sliver of light into the oppressive darkness, revealing more than just the shadows of my own fears. I held my breath, pressing myself against the wall, hoping to blend into its cold embrace, the shackles digging deeper into my skin.

A dark figure emerged from the doorway, suffocating the air around me and freezing me with terror. It approached with an unsettling grace, tall and imposing like a man yet moving with the fluidity of smoke until it halted just a few feet away. The darkness seemed to pulse and writhe around the figure as if it were a part of it.

I blinked repeatedly, straining my eyes to discern more than just the figure's outline. Ice seemed to crawl toward me, raising tiny bumps on my skin and causing uncontrollable shivers. The man advanced, drawing nearer and nearer until he stood only a few feet away, while the frigid air around me felt like shards of ice slicing through my every breath.

Another screech pierced the air from the open door, causing the man to pause and turn toward the sound, waiting. Withouthesitation, I thrust my foot into the air, the chains scraping against the stone floor as I swung them toward his feet.

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