Page 10 of The Discovered
Daelon smirked. “Would you like me to?”
“No. I want you to go away.” That sounded way more childish than I intended, and I cringed as Daelon stared at me, quirking an eyebrow. I pulled down my dress that had bunched up slightly, revealing more of my legs than I wanted Daelon to see.
“Goodnight, Áine,” was all he said before he left me bothered and confused in this dark, unfamiliar bedroom.
Chapter3
Iglided through the air like a ghost, below the clouds but above everything else. I peered down at the barren trees below, whose branches stretched out toward me as if to pluck me from the sky. The air was cold and dry, prickling my skin like tiny needles. I soared quicker now, and the scenery began to shift as a massive, dark castle loomed in the distance.
I didn’t want to fly anymore. I wanted to go back to the earth where I was safe, but a force stronger than gravity pulled me past the forest, above the castle, and then sharply toward one of the many towers. A light flickered in a window near the top, and in an instant, I took a swan dive like a fallen angel through an open window.
I rolled gracefully onto a velvety, golden carpet. The inside of this place held an energy I had never felt before. It reeked of pleasure and pain and sheer power that felt unnatural, cold, and blinding. Candles lined the wall of this lavish interior, their flames suddenly growing and moving erratically. Down the hallway to my right, I heard a rising din of laughter and voices, and to my left was silence. I chose the silence, levitating once more so that my feet hovered above the ground. The hall was bathed in mostly darkness other than the occasional candle lamp jutting out from the walls and the flickering chandeliers above. The walls were intricately carved stone with golden accents. It was like something out of a fairytale, if not for the rotten, decaying energy that seemed to ooze from the stone like blood.
I halted before a large set of dark, wooden double doors with lavish detail. They flew open suddenly, startling me to the ground.
I hesitated as I faced the darkness, but a force—a sinister, bone-chilling power—pulled me toward the abyss. I wanted to scream but couldn’t as I reached out for something to grab onto. I dragged my fingernails across the carpeted floor.
Hello there,a deep voice boomed in my mind with acoustical prowess, and in a single moment of pure panic and desperation, I was sucked through space and into the void. My ability to scream had been restored, and soon I was caught in an endless, deep well of pain.
You’re so weak,the voice mocked as I struggled against the darkness.You are nothing. No one. And there is nothing for you in this realm but more suffering and grief.
I couldn’t see anything but obsidian black, and thick smoke burned through my lungs like fire.
You are all alone. And you always will be.
The voice wrapped around me like a boa constrictor and squeezed and squeezed until I was hollow. Until I was nothing. Just like it said I was.
“Wake up, Áine,” a voice urged.
I jolted awake. My breath caught, and beads of sweat formed along my hairline. I felt like I was in the abyss still—where both my psychic and physical senses had been completely overloaded, and all of my deepest desires and hidden thoughts rose to the surface—where I was mocked and called weak and pitiful.What was that place?
Where was I now?I sat up quickly, my confusion and panic waning as I brought myself back to reality.
Daelon stood over me, his face etched with concern. “It was just a dream,” he murmured.
A dream? I didn’t think so. I hadn’t had a dream so vivid in my life. I guessed this was just another witch thing I was going to need to get used to.
I began to shake, overwhelmed and feeling lost. The dream—or nightmare—had been so realistic, and it had struck a chord deep within my psyche. Something powerful was out there in this realm that I didn’t understand, and it yearned for me. It had always yearned for me, and now I was here on its home turf. I was wholly unprepared to confront whatever—or whoever—it was. This was all too much.
“Hey,” Daelon consoled, clearly sensing I wasn’t fully focused on him yet. “You’re safe.” With his steady eyes locked on mine, he willed me back into the present. The way he spoke with such authority made it hard not to believe him.
“How—” I couldn’t finish the question. I hugged my knees to my chest. I hated how pathetic I probably looked right now. I needed to keep up my front to protect myself from Daelon and his carefully concealed intentions, but I was scared and exhausted. I couldn’t shake the sinister voice from the dream that told me I was weak. That I wasnothing. And that there was nothing for me in Aradia but loss and pain.
I stared at a spot on the comforter in front of me. “Why are you here?”
“I heard you scream. I wanted to make sure…”
I lifted my head up to look at him when he trailed off, seeming to self-censor. His normally impassive, in-control vibe had been shaken, worry etched into features that seemed out of proportion to a nightmare. What wasn’t he saying?
He broke our gaze, composing himself. “I could lay next to you, if you want. Above the covers, of course.”
I hesitated, unable to admit how soothing his shielded, protective presence had been when I’d returned from that hellish void.
“I promise not to bite.” And just like that, he was back to his usual antics, his eyes gleaming with mischief.
Absolutely not,I thought, but I said, “Okay,” instead. Frustrated with myself, I laid back down and let out a sigh.
Daelon seemed surprised, but quietly walked to the other side of the king-sized bed. I felt his weight settle into the mattress next to me.
