Page 18 of Chains of Nightshade

And yet... the way her magic responds to mine, the way she looks at me when she thinks I'm not watching...

My tail lashes against the ground. No. She is my pawn. Nothing more. These feelings are irrelevant. Inconvenient.

But as I steal another glance at her peaceful face, I can't quite convince myself it's true.

9

VERA

My heart pounds against my ribs as I descend the worn stone steps. The darkness wraps around me like a shroud, but I force myself to breathe steadily, remembering Aurel's teachings. "Stay calm. Focus on each step. Listen to your surroundings."

The map he showed me in our dreams burns in my mind as I navigate the twisting corridors. Left at the broken sconce. Right at the statue with the missing arm. The air grows colder, damper with each step deeper into the mansion's bowels.

A door creaks somewhere above. I press myself against the wall, holding my breath. Footsteps echo, then fade. Once silence returns, I continue my descent.

"You're doing well," I imagine Aurel's voice guiding me. "Remember what I taught you about the shadows."

I whisper the incantation he showed me, feeling the magic ripple over my skin. It's not much - just enough to blur my edges, make me harder to notice. My legs tremble with the effort of maintaining the spell, but I push through the weakness.

The corridor opens into a wider chamber. Torches flicker in iron brackets, casting dancing shadows on ancient stone. I pause, listening for guards. Nothing but the quiet drip of water.

"Three more turns," I mouth to myself, checking each intersection against the map in my memory. "Left, right, then down the final stairs."

My chest tightens as I near his prison. After weeks of dreams, of training, of yearning - I'm finally going to see him in the flesh. The thought makes my pulse race faster than fear of discovery.

I press myself against the cold stone wall, my heart threatening to burst from my chest. Footsteps echo from around the corner – the steady rhythm of dark elf guards on patrol.

"Steady your breathing," Aurel's voice whispers in my mind, as familiar now as my own thoughts. "Remember what I taught you. In through your nose, out through your mouth."

I follow his instruction, forcing my racing pulse to slow. The spell of concealment flickers around me, and I struggle to maintain it.

"Focus on the shadows," his voice guides me. "Let them embrace you."

The guards pass by, so close I can smell the leather of their boots. My legs quiver with the effort of standing still, but I don't dare move. One of them pauses, and I bite my lip to keep from gasping.

"Did you hear something?" he asks his companion.

"Just the water dripping. This place always makes noise."

They move on, their footsteps fading into the darkness. I wait until I can't hear them anymore before releasing my held breath.

"Good," Aurel's praise warms me despite the dungeon's chill. "Now, three more corridors."

My hands shake as I trace the wall, using it to guide my steps. The stone is slick with moisture, and the air grows heavier witheach descending step. I've never been this deep in the mansion before. Never dared.

"You've got this," he encourages, and I draw strength from his confidence. Even if it's just in my mind, his voice steadies me.

A rat scurries past my feet, and I clamp my hand over my mouth to muffle my startled squeak. The concealment spell wavers again, but I manage to hold it this time.

"Almost there," Aurel whispers. "You're doing so well, Vera."

The cold seeps through my thin dress as I descend deeper into the dungeons. Each step feels heavier than the last, and my legs tremble - not just from weakness, but from fear. The shadows press in around me, and even with Aurel's concealment spell, I feel exposed.

A drop of water hits my neck, making me flinch. The stone walls seem to close in, and my breath comes in short gasps. The magic flickers around me, threatening to fade.

"Aurel..." I whisper into the darkness, my voice barely a breath. "Are you sure I can do this?"

His voice fills my mind, warm and steady despite the chill. "You've already proven stronger than you know. Remember the first time you held the magic?"

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