Page 25 of Twisted Fangs

The memory of her body pressed against mine, the taste of her lips, the way she trusted me - it all burns now, a mockery of my promises to keep her safe. I've lived for centuries, fought countless battles, and yet I let my guard down at the worst possible moment.

"I got careless," I mutter, more to myself than to her. "Let myself feel..." I trail off, unable to finish the thought. The truth is, I let myself care, and that weakness has damned us both.

The silence stretches between us, broken only by the distant drip of water. In the darkness, I can hear her steady heartbeat, a rhythm that has become as familiar to me as my own. Another reminder of what I stand to lose.

18

RHEA

Chains dig into my wrists, suspending me in this dank cell that reeks of despair and decay. Every muscle in my body screams in protest as the chill of the stone seeps into my bones. Across from me, Valen is a pale shadow of the warrior I've come to know. His usual vitality has been leeched away by the remnants of poison and pain.

Our eyes meet, and in his crimson gaze, I search for some semblance of hope, some sign that we can endure this too. But there's a vulnerability there that I've never seen before, and it terrifies me.

The clanking of metal against stone heralds the approach of Aelith, the dark elf noble whose cruel whims have dictated the course of my life for far too long.

"Ah, the lovely Rhea," he croons, his voice slithering through the air like a venomous serpent. "How the mighty have fallen."

I meet his cold eyes with a glare that could cut steel. "You think this makes you mighty? Lording over two prisoners?" I sneer.

Aelith chuckles, his fingers tracing the hilt of the ornate dagger at his belt. "Oh, I'm not here to gloat about my... catch," he sings.

Valen's gaze sharpens, his body tensing despite his weakened state. "What do you want, Aelith?" Valen growls.

The dark elf turns to Valen, his smile widening. "I want you to know that your little rebellion has been... entertaining. But it ends now," he demands.

My heart hammers as I watch this exchange, a sense of dread coiling in my gut. Aelith is toying with us, drawing out the inevitable for his own twisted amusement.

"And what,"I interject, my voice steady despite the fear that claws at my throat, "do you plan to do with us?" I ask snidely.

Aelith's gaze slides back to me, his eyes glinting with malicious glee. "Why, Rhea, don't you know? You're the star of the show. The final act in our little hunting game," he hisses.

A wave of nausea washes over me. I've seen what happens in these games—the torture, the slaughter... and I know that Valen and I are meant to be the grand finale.

But then, Aelith drops his bomb. "Didn't the great Vrakken tell you? Your beloved parents are still alive. Imagine that—all this time, fighting for vengeance, and they've been in our... care," he says in his slithering tone.

The world tilts beneath my feet. My parents? Alive? Valen's eyes meet mine, filled with a mixture of regret and uncertainty. My mind races.

"Why should I believe you?" I ask skeptically.

Aelith's smile never wavers. "Believe what you will. But ask yourself—why would your precious Vrakken lie to you?" he replies.

I turn to Valen, my heart a chaotic drumbeat against my ribcage. "Is it true?" I ask him in a soft voice.

Valen's silence is a knife in my chest. He doesn't respond, just hangs his head in defeat.

Aelith claps his hands together, his laughter bouncing off the stone walls. "Oh, how delightful! The bond between you two is truly something to behold," he says, his voice tinged with sadistic glee.

I ignore him, my focus solely on Valen.

Valen's color drains from his already pale face. "Rhea, I—" he starts.

"Enough!" Aelith's voice cuts through our exchange like a whip. "This touching reunion has been most enlightening, but we have a proposition for you, Rhea," he says.

Aelith stands before me, a smug grin on his face as he gestures toward Valen with a flourish. "Rhea, dear, you have a choice to make," he says, his voice dripping with false sympathy. "Your beloved parents are indeed alive, and you can save them. All you have to do is end the Vrakken's life."

My heart suddenly threatens to burst from my ribcage.

"Show them to me," I demand, my voice steady despite the turmoil raging within.

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