Page 23 of Sonata
14
Viola
Ijerked in Lucien’s arms when Seraphina snarled at us from down the hallway. Harmony whimpered but didn’t release her hold on Lucien, for which I was grateful. Everything was going to shit, and we lived every second on borrowed time. My head was a mess of things that were swirling through my brain. Everything he said playing on repeat. Listening to the conversation, the witch had never made me stop and consider her words to examine them closely. All I wanted was to find a way to get us away from her. The reasons why she was holding us prisoner, although important, I knew they could wait.
I should’ve known better.
What does a descendant of a Muse mean? Like we were incredibly talented or something else? I’ve read enough romance novels to know what a mate was but was Lucian saying it in that way, or did it represent something else in real life? Plus, since we knew for a fact that our music killed people, how come we didn’t kill Seraphina when she forced us to play? The woman glowed like the brightest star after each performance while we barely had the energy to walk. I knew without a shadow of a doubt, I didn’t purposely make her look younger and energetic. My friends wouldn’t either. Which meant she was screwing with our heads somehow, and if I could figure it out, I’ll be playing my heart out to suck the life out of her while Lucien ran circles around the bitch.
And he ran.
While I struggled with all the questions in my head, the guy dashed to the side, and everything around us blurred while his boots beat a fast tempo on the floor. Harmony’s hair was over his shoulder because she had her face tucked into his neck while choking him in a death grip. He didn’t just stick around, almost getting himself killed many times for nothing. He even let my friend get a ride on his back while he tried his best to keep us alive. Maybe those romance novels got something right?
Maybe you like the guy enough to drool all over him, so this was a perfect opportunity to latch on to something to justify how you feel.A voice born from all insecurities and hurt feeling sneered in my head.
It could’ve been right, but I didn’t think feelings were involved.
Were they?
Come to think of it, I did trust him enough to sit limply in his arms, lost in stupid thought while he attempted to avoid magic blasts all around us. The sound was faint in my ears, the flashes of bright orange and yellows dancing at the corners of my eyes, but I wasn’t scared anymore. My heart had a steady rhythm, and my breathing was even. While pieces of rock, wood, and glass rained down on us and dust of plaster billowed in our wake.
I trusted him with my life and the life of my friend.
I might’ve known Lucien for a little over forty eight hours, but it sure didn’t feel that way. Was it even that long? I had no concept of time in this place. Did it matter? Not really, not to me anyway. Deep in my soul, something in me recognized him, and that was enough to get my mind on track, too. Without thinking, I placed my hand on his chest, feeling his muscles twitch and contract with his every move. Warmth spread from my palm all the way to my elbow. The problem was the guy was a heartbreak waiting to happen.
The hotties always are.
But I didn’t remove my hand, nor did I convince myself to guard my silly heart.
Things happen as they happen, and if anyone thought they had control over destiny, I already felt sorry for them. If my heart breaking was on the horizon, I’d just deal with it when it comes. Until then, we had a witch to escape and hopefully some crazy monkey sex as a reward if we ended up killing her. The sound returned all of a sudden, and I pressed my face into Lucien’s shirt.
“I want to try something.” My words were muffled, but I hoped he could hear them.
“What?” Lucian grunted after the crash of what I guessed was a wall, stopped.
“I want to try something, but you’ll need to hold me as steady as you can.”
“Not the right time, Vi.” Harmony chirped. “Not the time at all. It’s my ass staring her in the face, and all she sees is a bullseye.”
We were about to die, and Lucien chuckled.
“If this works, we might get your ass out of here.”
“Do it.” I wasn’t done talking when she interrupted. “Now, do it right now.”
“I don’t know if this will work.” My eyes locked on Lucien, he was slowing down, and fear started creeping up inside me. “I’m going to play, and I want you to run for the exit. Don’t hesitate, just go.”
“The wards will kill us all.” But he did turn in that direction.
“I thought you had a good idea, Vi. Not cool.” Harmony added her two cents.
“We are going to die anyway. Don’t stop Lucien, no matter what.” I had no idea why I felt so calm about it, but my heart melted when he gave me a sharp nod. He even flipped me in his arms so that I can wrap my legs around him and Harmony and held my back in case I fall back.
Placing my chin on the violin, I kept my gaze on him as I lifted the bow, which was tucked under the strings when I picked the instrument up off the bed. The dust and grime on Lucien’s face didn’t take away from his beauty. It only added to it. The way his chiseled jaw was clenched, his eyes slanted in concentration, and his body gliding smoothly as if we were floating off the ground, he reminded me of a warrior from days old. A forgotten hero that will give his life to protect what he considered his. A new piece I recently heard before we were imprisoned by Eternal Eclipse came to mind, and I closed my eyes.
Forgotten Odes composed by Bianca Ban filled the air around us, the notes slowly picking up speed. Mind focused on the wards ready to kill us or keep us prisoners, I saw Lucien in my mind's eye. Imagining his strength and determination, his grumpiness along with his beauty, I devoted every inch of my soul to the music seeing it ripping through whatever magic Seraphina had cast around the building like its shredding paper. The aggressive tempo of the piece thrummed in my chest as the bow sawed faster, and Lucien moved in sync with it.
I felt the evil magic as we neared it but didn’t slow down the movement of my arm, not even when he stumbled, and Harmony snatched my shoulder to keep me from falling back. Warmth bloomed at the center of my chest, and I begged it with all I am.Destroy the ward. Let us out, please. I’m begging you, destroy it!The short piece of music was reaching its crescendo and end as I tightened my legs around Lucien. His hand splayed on my back, his fingers warm and steady. The warmth burst into an inferno, and I could’ve sworn it was a living thing inside me rushing to be freed.
Heat exploded from my back as the last note was played, and my ears popped, snapping my eyes open just in time to see Lucien burst through the door. The fresh air filled my lungs.
I’ve never smelled anything sweeter in my life.
The smell of freedom.
Harmony hooted, and Lucien grinned at me still running full speed. It was a sight I never dreamed I’ll see.
It was all short lived.
