Page 10 of Of Nightmares & Fire
“Don’t mind Zinya. She’s nicer than she seems.” Mav says, nudging me like an old friend would with his elbow. I look down at the contact as my brow furrows. People in the castle never openly touch me so casually, and now Mavros has touched me twice in just minutes. It’s an odd feeling and instantly puts me on edge with more worry—the king has killed for less.
Unsure of where to look or what to say, I focus my attention into the bottom of the drink and chew my lip. I can feel Mav looking at me, but I refuse to meet his gaze. I need to blend in… he is loud, and people notice him. Even now I can feel their eyes lingering on us. The talking that Zinya warned about is already starting. My heart runs away with my thoughts, and before I can think better of it, I slam back the gold liquid just like Zinya did. The regret is instant. The burn sears at my sinuses, liquid fire down my throat, and a vat of lava from the pits of Zameil. I have to hold my breath in order to keep in the coughing fit that is slamming its fist at the back of my throat under control.
“Damn, bet that hurt. You don’t look like you’re one much for drinking, Princess.”
“If you don’t mind,” I bow my head in dismissal and clench my jaw as my voice comes out as a wheeze. Bowing upon leaving was a common occurrence in the castle, but in the bowels of the kingdom, I doubt such reverence was needed. I hope that Mavros doesn’t notice. “I’m still feeling very tired. I think I will go rest for a bit.” He narrows his eyes on me with a lopsided grin, a loose blonde curl falling over his dark brow, and his nearly silver eyes light with mischief. Already I can tell this man is going to be trouble if I don’t get out of his shadow soon.
“You want some company?” He wags his eyebrows as I pin him with a pointed glare, and his laughter follows me as I make my way through the sea of bodies.
“My brother seems curious about you…” I jump at the sound of the gravelly voice that now greets me as I break through the crowd heading for the stairs. Kryros leans against the wooden pillar that frames the stairs’ entrance, his wide arms crossed over his equally wide chest. Mavros and Kyros look nothing like siblings. Where Mav has light features and a stealthy, sharp physique, Kyros is the embodiment of darkness, the epitome of brutality, pure and roguish masculinity. His midnight eyes reveal nothing as he stares into me. Penetrating…searching…
“Your brother?” I ask, my gaze swinging to land on the man in question. His eyes are trained on where I stand talking to Kyros.
“He doesn’t need a distraction right now.” I can’t help the face that pulls my lip back.
“Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t realize there was so much to distract from in a tavern waiting out a monsoon. Please don’t let me keepyou from doing whatever it is that is so prudent.” I roll my eyes and stride past him for the stairs. My eyes round as I pass him. The surprise of my own curt tone shocks me. I’m stopped abruptly with large fingers caging around my wrist, and I look down at the contact before looking him in the eyes.
“Who are you?” He asks in a low voice as he pulls me a fraction closer. I can smell the whiskey on his breath, woven with the scents of earth and fire, smoke and honey. My brows dip to match the shadows in his eyes.
“I am no one.” I say defiantly, shrugging out of his grip; his hand falls away, and I stomp my way up the narrow stairs. I don’t know why his words bothered me so much, but I can’t help but look back when I reach the top. Kyros is gone.
I’ve had time to let the panic fully engulf me. My heart won’t slow, the rampant beat making it nearly impossible to lie in bed and sleep. The castle is likely in an uproar, having realized I am not where I am supposed to be. When the rain stops, there will be a new flood. A wave of silver as my father unleashes his battalion.
Staring blankly at the rain-washed desert, my eyes are drawn to the palace that leers over the city on the horizon. I’ve never seen the castle from this view. From here, even as the heavens open a floodgate while the clouds churn in an angry dance of fury, the flashes of lightning illuminate the pale sandstone walls in starkcontrast to the darkened sky; it’s a sight to behold. A shiver of dread rolls down my spine as I think of what could be happening within those walls right now—of Colette.My leaving undoubtedly has put her in the line of fire from my father’s rage.
I force myself away from the window and sit on the mussed up bed. Kicking off my boots, I pull my feet up as I press my back against the low headboard. The heaviness on my mind brings tears to fill my vision as I take in a ragged breath and bite down on my fist to stifle the sob that is trying to escape.
Sinking into the bed, I cover myself with the rumpled blanket and let my tears fall. I let the worry for my only friend chase me into the nightmares I know are waiting once I drift into sleep’s embrace. Just like they always do.
Chapter nine
Astraea
Thedarknessiseternal…a vast expanse of nothing that swallows me whole. Even though my eyes are peeled wide, I see nothing. It’s how they always start. The nightmares that have haunted me for as long as I can remember.
Then, just like every time, the flashes begin.
Bright white light zooms past me at breakneck speed. The blur of motion stretches into one long white streak in my periphery. My body is thrashed at a steady rhythm like the galloping of a horse’s hooves. Screams pierce my ears, straight through my brain. Despite digging the heels of my hands against the sides of my head to try and block out the sound, the screeching, pain-filled wail always gets through.
“Stop.”My body thrashes more, trying to escape the cries.“Please stop!”Heat wraps around me like a vise. A lasso of fire digging into my skin, around my arms, and cuts into my ribs. I can hardly breathe through the tightness.“Please.”My voice comes out as a wheeze.
The thrashing of my body slows, and just like every other time it does… The shadows consume me again, and the sound of a deep, rumbling laughter follows me into the dark. Nothing else is there, no one but me and the echoing darkness. Its laugh is taunting me with a wicked peal. The tightness that was once wrapped around me, binding me in place—is gone. Replaced by a cold mist against every part of my skin, and as the shivers take over—I cry.
“Just go in there and wake her up.”
“No way! You know you aren’t supposed to wake someone up from a nightmare. You do it.” The sound of boots shuffling, a thud, and then the“OW!”that follows tells me enough to know I’m no longer in the clutches of the nightmare… I squeeze my eyes tight, trying to pull moisture into them, but even before I force them open, I know there is none to give.When was the last time I drank water? I groan, rolling to my side.
“Well, shit, thank the dead divine! She’s awake. See, Zinny, all it took was—OW! Stop hitting me!”Mavros is in my line of sight now. The huge man, bent at the hip, looks at me with a tilted head, like I am some sort of piece of art he is here to inspect. He’s become more lively with each interaction we have, and I have to admit, he makes me feel… something.
“Don’t give me a reason to hit you, and I wouldn’t have to.” Zinya says flatly, her arms crossed over her chest.
“What the fuck did I do?” Mavros whisper-shouts.
“You keep calling meZinny. You know I hate that. Plus, you’re just…” Her hand comes out and gestures up and down Mavros’ body as he stands and glowers at her. “You…”
“Just me? What does—”
“Uhh, hell. Could you guys please be less loud?” I grumble, having had enough of their raised voices drumming into my brain. Clearing my throat after my sleep-heavy voice cracks, I press my index and middle fingers into the center of my forehead. A futile attempt to stanch the tension building behind my eyes. Another side effect from the dreams… they are especially worse if I am woke early, or if my sleep pattern is off at all. Considering I didn’t sleep at all the night before last, last night I slept in an old wooden chair, and now I have fallen asleep during mid-morning… The throbbing that has begun in the center of my skull is likely to only get worse as the day goes on.
