Page 193 of Crimson Promises
The air grew charged, and for a moment, I thought I glimpsed a flicker of pain in those bottomless eyes, an emotion so raw and vulnerable that it shook me. It was gone as swiftly as it came, replaced with the controlled mask he wore so well. But in that fleeting second, it was as though the walls between us wavered.
"If you're so insistent on playing the savior, here's your chance." Lucifer leaned in closer, the heat from his body contrasting with the chilly air of the library. "Retrieve a rare flower from the depths of the Heartless Forest. It blooms only under the light of a dying star. That is Bennett’s first task; the waxing crescent moon will be upon us shortly.”
His words held the weight of a challenge.
Then Lucifer’s voice softened, the bitterness replaced by something indefinable. "Deliver the instructions to him yourself if it grants you a sliver of peace."
As the final word left his lips, a gust of wind enveloped him, the pages of the nearby books rustling wildly in its wake. When the air stilled, he was gone, leaving me alone with the echoing silence of the library and the burning weight of the task ahead.
* * *
The labyrinthine corridors seemed to stretch endlessly. I was still surprised that Lucifer would let me see Ben. If it gives you a sliver of peace, he had said. Their darkened twists and turns left me dizzy. I caught views of the city every so often. I wonder what it would be like to interact with the citizens of this realm: would they all be as scary as the members of Lucifer’s court? Or would they be different entirely?
It wasn't long before the air grew denser. I knew I had arrived at the dungeons.
Two guards dressed in black armor guarded the entrance, their expressions unyielding. But they seemed to be expecting me. Word of my audacious venture had traveled faster than I had.
"Open it," I commanded, surprised by the steely undertone in my own voice.
One of them, taller with a scar tracing down his jawline, hesitated momentarily before nodding.
Without a word, the other guard inserted a heavy key into the lock, the tumblers clicking loudly in the silence. The door groaned, swinging open to reveal a corridor lined with cells on either side. Faint whimpers and the occasional rustling of chains were the only signs of life.
He was sprawled in one of the cells, looking like a bird with broken wings. Each bruise on his skin was stark against the pallor of his flesh.
"Bennett," my voice broke the thick silence, but it came out as barely more than a whisper.
He raised his head, and our eyes met. Those once vibrant green eyes, now shadowed with pain and defeat, held a flicker of surprise and something more intense, more profound. Recognition, relief, fear, and warning all tangled together.
Ben stared at me, pain evident in his gaze, but the shock was undeniable. "Aurora, you shouldn't be here."
His words stung, a raw reminder of our last bitter encounter, the rift of betrayal still fresh between us. Taking a shaky breath, I squared my shoulders. "I came to help. With the tasks."
Ben’s eyebrows drew together, a hint of anger flashing in his eyes. "You shouldn’t get involved. This is my mess."
My hands instinctively reached out to reach for him, but I brought it back to my chest midair.I don’t know how I should act anymore.
“I had to come. I couldn't let you endure this alone."
He tried to push himself upright, wincing with the effort. "You shouldn't be here," he murmured again, eyes scanning my face as if trying to commit every detail to memory. "It's too dangerous. He’ll?—"
"He's the one who let me come see you. Have you seen a healer yet?" I interrupted, voice quivering with determination and barely contained panic. "I care about you."
"Yes, one was here earlier. Another will come by later. Whatever time that is." A sigh, heavy with pain and regret, escaped him. "That's what I'm afraid of," he admitted, reaching out to touch me but was cut short by his chains. "I don't want you caught in this web. You deserve so much more than this darkness."
Ignoring the dull ache in my chest, I leaned closer, urgency sharpening my voice. "Lucifer gave me the instructions for your first task.” I paused, gathering my thoughts. “You need to retrieve a rare flower from the depths of the Heartless Forest. It blooms only under the light of a dying star. He warned the waxing crescent moon will be upon us shortly.”
Silence hung heavy between us for a moment, but then he shook his head, frustration evident. "It’s always riddles with him. A dying star? How am I supposed to find it, let alone retrieve it?"
Gritting my teeth against the rush of emotions, I pressed on. "We will decipher it together. That’s if you still trust my judgment."
His gaze locked onto mine, an almost tangible electric current passing between us. "Of course, I do. I always have, Aurora. My betrayal wasn't about trust. It was about protecting you."
A guard's voice boomed from the end of the corridor, "Time's up!"
I took a step back. The guards arrived, but my gaze stayed locked on Ben's. Before I left, I whispered one more thing. “For during your second trial: Only in darkness can one truly see the light; embrace the shadows to set your path right.”
As I was ushered out of the dungeon, my mind was a whirlwind of emotions. Anguish, rage, helplessness. But beneath it all, a steady undercurrent of determination. I would find a way to save Bennett. I had to. The alternative was too painful to consider.
