Page 25 of A Storm of Fire and Ash
My eyes widened in shock as the realization hit me—Zayn had told my father.What the fuck?
The confusion twisted within me, and I began sobbing uncontrollably. I yearned to pull myself closer to him, to curl up in his lap and feel the comfort of his embrace. “I didn’t mean to do it! But I—I…” My voice faltered, the words lodged in my throat as if speaking them aloud would shatter my very being.
“Shhh, shhh, it’s alright, Sweet-Pie. It was an accident,” he soothed, his voice gentle yet laden with the gravity of our circumstances. “Isolde always knew that once you discovered the truth, it would trigger your powers. It’s why I never allowed her to tell you. I didn’t want you to have magic… to be ridiculed and judged by humans and other species. But oh, Sweet-Pie, was I wrong. We both were. You are going to do great things.” He lifted his dirty, trembling hand and stroked my cheek tenderly. “You are strong, smart, and so beautiful. Isolde always said you had your mother’s eyes, each a color of fire and ice.”
As he traced my face, I felt a surge of emotions: love, pain, regret. “There is something hidden in this castle,” he continued, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “I don’t know exactly what it is, but there has been talk about a weapon. You need to find it. Whatever it is, find it and destroy it. It will be used against the Fae kingdoms. King Aymon wants full control of all realms, and he plans on achieving that with whatever weapon he possesses.”
“How do you know this?” I asked, my brows furrowed in confusion and concern.
“I’ve been down here a long time,” he explained, looking away as if the memories pained him. “And when I’m forced to make weapons, I hear people talk. It’s the one thing I can do: listen. You need to get close to the prince and figure out what the weapon is, but don’t trust him. Work with Zayn and his people to destroy it. King Aymon cannot rule, Elara.” His words hung heavy in the air, a burden of treacherous knowledge that left my heart racing. I knew then that our lives depended on the decisions I would make next.
I had never seen my father so serious before. The intensity in his gaze amplified the frantic beat of my heart.
“Let me free you!” I pleaded, pointing desperately toward the heavy wooden doors next to my father’s cell. “We can leave through those doors and run. We can make it back to the village and get help from Landen. He will keep us safe until we come up with a plan. I—”
My words were abruptly cut off by the unmistakable sound of a dove cooing in the distance.
Already? I’ve hardly had any time with him, though.
“You must go, Elara. And never come back here,” he insisted, wiping away the tear that began to roll down my cheek with a tenderness that made my heart ache.
“I will not do that. Just let me try!” I shouted, shutting my eyes tightly as I willed my magic to manifest. I could feel its presence, waiting to be unleashed.
Come on, fire, don’t fail me now!
I felt a tiny spark flicker to life within me, but just as quickly as it had come, it slipped away, extinguished like a candle caught in a gust of wind. The cooing of another dove echoed ominously down the hall.
“Sweet-Pie…” his voice broke gently, filled with a sorrow that pierced my heart.
“No! I can do this! I can free you! I have my magic now!” I exclaimed, pulling my hands out from between the cold bars of his cell and pressing them against my chest as if my anguish could ignite the flames I so desperately needed.
“Elara, you must go,” he urged, extending his hands through the bars to cradle my face. “Do not blame yourself for what happened. Find it within to forgive yourself. I love you so much. Your mother loved you just as fiercely. She always said that you were her prophecy. I believe this was all supposed to happen the way it did, and she knew it.”
Tears streamed down my face, and I began to ugly-cry, snot dripping from my nose as my vision blurred from the tears. I will always blame myself for my mother’s death.It was unforgivable even if it was a stupid fucking prophecy from the gods. Curse them.
“I love you, too. I’m so sorry, Father. I promise I will be back. I’ll bring you food, and I-I’ll figure out a way to get you out!” I cried out, my voice cracking under the weight of my emotions as another dove sound echoed down the dim hallway.
“Go, Sweet-Pie. Remember what I told you.” He caressed my chin lovingly before crawling to the far back of his cell, where he sank onto a pile of hay that looked unbearably dirty and old. He wrapped a cloak around himself, a familiar material that brought a wave of comfort mixed with sorrow. It was the same cloak that had wrapped around me after I killed my mother.
Zayn.
“I love you, Father,” I sobbed one last time, feeling the heaviness of our separation clawing at my heart. With determination, I stood up, turning and running towards Eryn. I didn’t glance at the other men trapped in their cells, nor did I wait for Eryn to catch up. The only thing that mattered was the need for fresh air, the instinct to escape this place of darkness and despair.
“Elara! For fuck’s sake, stop! You are way too fast! Someone will notice!” Eryn hissed from behind.
Lost in my thoughts, I sprinted, my father’s final words ringing in my ears. There was a weapon hidden within the castle, a weapon that the King coveted to consolidate his power. I didn’t know what it was, but I felt a flicker of hope that maybe Fintan would have the answers I needed. I had to find a way to get him to reveal the truth to me.
Eryn caught up with me. “Great Divine, woman. You shouldn’t run like that. It is painfully obvious you are not human. Are you trying to get us killed?” She asked, her voice laced with seriousness.
Shit, I hadn’t thought about that.
“Sorry... I guess I forgot,” I shrugged.
We began to walk through a section of the castle that I had yet to explore, each step echoing softly against the stone floors. Unlike the damp and shadowy dungeons near the guards’ quarters, this part of the castle felt more open and inviting. Large windows adorned the walls, allowing the cool night air to flow freely inside. It felt refreshing against my skin, helping to dry the tears that had stained my cheeks.
Eryn led us toward a balcony that overlooked the sprawling grounds below. As I reached the edge, I paused and tilted my head back, allowing my gaze to wander upwards to the vast expanse of the night sky. I filled my lungs with three deep, calming breaths. When I finally opened my eyes, I was utterly captivated. The sky was a sprawling canvas of sparkling stars, twinkling brightly against the dark backdrop. My breath caught in my throat, and a gasp escaped my lips, overwhelmed by the sheer beauty of the celestial display before me.
“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” Eryn asked, her voice soft and contemplative as she tilted her head back to gaze at the vast expanse of the night sky. Her lavender hair shimmered in the starlight. I merely nodded in response, lost in the starry display before us. “Just wait until you go into the Fae kingdoms. It’s nothing like you’ve ever seen.”
