Now that she was a part of the Fae, she could see everything. Various doors lined the walls, some with bars, others just solid wood, metal, or a sort of glassy material that Bella had never seen before. The glass doors were fogged, almost like Videns, only she couldn't see through them.
"Interesting that they should be such," Bella said to Kataros as he led the way down the hall, gesturing to each glass door they passed. "Considering that this is a dungeon, and you're trying to keep things in."
"They're incredibly complicated to break," he replied. "Considering the fact that they're diamond."
Bella blinked at him, ignoring his slight fraction of an attitude, and stared in disbelief at the doors. "Are you serious?"
"Do I sound otherwise?" He stopped and turned around, flickering a glance at her father before leaning closer to her and lowering his voice. "And there aren't just 'things' behind these doors."
She narrowed her eyes. "What do you mean by that?" When he only stared at her a moment before continuing on, she raised her voice. "What did you mean by that?"
"What is it, Bella?" her father asked as he caught up, frowning worriedly. "What's wrong?"
"Just what he said, just now," she told him, waving him off when he narrowed his eyes. She grabbed the demon's shoulder, making him stop. "You can't keep hiding things from me, Kataros. Especially when you keep hinting at them. It's confusing, and a bit redundant." She glared at him stubbornly when he avoided her look and just stared blankly at one of the walls. "This is why it's so hard to trust you—you won't let me." She sighed and stepped back, throwing a hand in the direction of one of the glass doors. "How do I even know that it's diamond? You could just be saying it."
He glanced over at her, unamused. "You don't believe me? Over some simple doors?"
She bit down on her tongue, resisting sticking it out, and said, "Last I remember, diamonds weren't so simple. They're beautiful and expensive. I've seen diamonds." She looked at the door. "This looks nothing like it."
A harsh laugh echoed through the hall, originating from the demon, and Bella frowned at him in confusion. Then, his forehead crinkled, staring at her as if she were some complicated child. "Don't you see, Bella? I'm not making it hard for you to trust me. In fact, I'm making it quite easy. You're just still too humane to see it." He shook his head, giving the door a small glance. "Yes, it is quite different than what you've seen, but it is still diamond. It's just a rare sort, a type unknown to humans, save those who live knowingly in the world around them." He looked back at her. "And, yes, I have secrets, but that is only because some secrets are meant to be kept."
"But you keep leading me to them," she complained. "You bring up conversation before swiping it away like some unwanted attention." She drew closer, eyes narrowed. "What are you keeping down here?"
He hesitated, giving her suspicious father another one of his quick glances. "I am sure you will come to find out." Without another word, he turned back around and walked down the hall.
Exchanging a look with her father, Bella followed after him, eyes boring into his back, which was covered in a slick white material that looked like it would melt with the slightest raise of temperature. Though, Bella was sure that it was as cold as his heart.
But then, she was starting to believe that even that was warmer than it seemed.
They finally came to a stop in front of one of the diamond doors. Only, instead of that foggy glass, this one had black shards etched into it, as if someone had shoved onyx through the door, which was something Bella found highly impossible since it required so much strength—strength she was sure no man could hold. But then, the Fae weren't just men.
"It's iron," Kataros told her when he spotted her confused frown, gesturing to the shards. "The Fae is somewhat...allergic to it. It weakens us—and it's difficult to be around."
"It can kill you?" she asked curiously. Then, she corrected herself. "Us." She flinched when her father's lips tightened into a straight line.
His lips twisted into an amused smile. "Many things can kill us. Humans have just come to believe that we are simply immortal, which is something we like them to think."
"So that they live in fear of you," she said, remembering her own fear. It was only about a week ago that she had been so afraid of them herself. Even now, though she was one of them, she was still afraid.
He nodded thoughtfully, then turned to the door. "You are new to this world still, so I suggest that you do not touch the door."
"But won't it hurt you too?" she asked, a little too worriedly. When he blinked down at her, she cleared her throat. "I mean, you did say that we were allergic to it."
"It won't feel pleasant," he told her, "but I can handle it better than most. From the inside, it is meant to be impossible for the prisoner to break out. Only the one that holds the power of the castle, and those who ally themselves with that power, can escape such a prison." He straightened. "Avain can do no more harm in here." His voice was gruff—almost pained—as if Avain was more than some simple traitor; as if he had meant more.
"I'm sorry," Bella said, almost instinctively.
Kataros merely blinked down at her, nodded tightly, and turned his back to push the door open, which easily slid across the dirt floor without a sound. Then he stepped inside, motioning for Bella and her father to follow.
Inside was dark and dusty. The only source of light was a lamp hanging from the center of the room. Other than fifty feet of space on either side, a dirt floor, and some blankets tossed in a corner, it was empty of necessities. Avain stood in one corner, fresh blood dripping down his chin, his sharp teeth bared in a malevolent smile. Thais stood closest to the door, a look of pain and disgust in her eyes, not even bothering to glance over when the others entered the area.
Both of her hands were at her sides, one of them tensing, blood coating the knuckles.
"Any luck?" Kataros asked her.
This time, she turned to him, all business—though Bella could still make out the likings of despair and hate. "Of course not. You think that because we were...close...that he would spill his guts?" Her hand went to her hip, where a knife sat. "That takes a lot more than simple memories." She sneered at Avain. “I wonder how Desiree felt about your little betrayal.”
“What she feels means nothing to me,” he replied blandly, staring at her with a blank expression; face so passive it gave Bella chills, and she only shivered more when he glanced over at her.
“Of course it doesn't, you twisted bastard,” she spat. “Knowing the sort she ended up transforming into, she was only your petty sex appeal.” She cringed. “Pig.”
"You were close?" Bella asked Thais, voice hushed to keep Avain from overhearing, eyes settled on his, which were targeting a glower at the faerie he had supposedly been so close to.
Her lips twisted into a grimacing smirk. "Nothing too...extreme." She straightened herself out, throwing Avain a glare. "He's a crazy fool—simple as that. I wouldn't be shocked if he was doing it just for the attention." With that, she stormed out of the room.
Avain merely stood there in his corner, blinking at the spot Thais had just been in, holding a look that said he had something to say. Though, when he caught Bella studying him, he only smirked and the expression disappeared.
"You wouldn't do this for attention," Kataros said, and it took Bella a moment to realize that he was talking to Avain. "Thais knows this as much as I—maybe even more. It's not your style. Your actions have reasons."
"Just cause is more of the answer," he replied casually. He straightened his posture, bringing the back of his hand to his lip and pulling it back, staring at his blood curiously. "Never has she broken my skin. Not once."
"It seems that the actions of one can change another," the demon said, leaning against a wall and crossing his arms, looking him over. "She has hit you, but you haven't hit her. Why is that?"
"Who said I didn't hit her?" he asked.
"Her state," Bella said, eyes narrowed. When they glanced her
way, her eyes only narrowed furthermore. "The Fae can heal quite fast, yes. But if you haven't even begun to finish, then I am to suspect that she would still be healing as well. But she isn't. She is perfectly fine."
"What's to say that it wasn't somewhere else on her body?" he demanded, almost snarling.
Bella hardly blinked. "If the simple fact that she seemed well wasn't enough, there is the idea that you are acting very defensive over this." She took a step towards him, which made her father grab her arm uncertainly. "You feel something for her, don't you? But you're hiding it." She smiled smugly, ignoring the warning that was flashing in the very back of her mind, and shrugging out of her father's concerned grasp. "Now, why is that?"
He stared at her, then shifted his gaze past her shoulder. “I see the blood of the half breed runs through your veins.”
Snapping her fingers in front of his face, Bella said, “Stop trying to change the subject.”
Ignoring her, his head tilted, eyes still focused on her father. “Am I to presume that Thais didn't make it in time to heed my warning? Or did you all flat-out ignore her?” His lips twisted into a wicked smile.
Bella stared at him, slowly growing cold, then glanced over at Kataros, whose eyes were narrowed in suspicion. “How did he-” She cut off when a distant howl sounded, freezing, hands clenching into small fists.
One after another, several more followed until it finally faded off into silence.
Johnathon was the first to react, quickly striding over to his daughter and wrapping an arm around her, giving Avain a suspicious glare. Though, Bella hardly paid him any attention, wide eyes slowly settling on Kataros. “Was that...?”
He didn't even look at her, eyes focused on the ceiling, and he nodded. “They're early, but they're here.” This time, his eyes settled on hers. “The battle is beginning.”
18
When Bella, Johnathon, and Kataros left the cell, Thais was striding down the hall, her eyes hardened and sword drawn. Everything Bella had come to know about the woman—her laidback personality and kind smile—was gone; all replaced with someone that was almost as alien as Bella was beginning to feel. It was as if everything she had come to know was a lie.
“They're right outside the walls,” she informed the demon, violet eyes shimmering red under what little light shone through, jaw set. “They haven't breached the courtyards—that I can see. But it's only a matter of time.”
“Has anyone been injured?” Bella asked, cringing when Thais's blank stare settled on her.
“Not quite yet,” she replied. “Especially considering the fact that the walls haven't been breached-”
“Thais, enough,” the beast said quietly, voice suggesting that she listen, eyes wandering along the floor. “I am assuming that we're surrounded.” He began walking, waving for everyone to follow him, and everyone did so hurriedly, heading for the stairs that led into the cellar in the kitchen.
Thais nodded, sheathing her sword, though she kept a firm grip on it as they walked up the stairs and into the kitchen. “There's no way anyone can even attempt sneaking by without being spotted. I'm sure Silina and her girls know about the trouble we're in-” She cut off with a snarl. “But, you know them.”
“Are you saying that we won't receive aid?” Bella exclaimed in disbelief. Not even Yasandre would help them? Even despite her obvious feelings for the beast? “Not from anyone?”
The faerie shook her head. “Silina would not have the lives of her children risked unless she had no other choice, and there are no such matters for us.” She drew in a sharp breath as the door leading from the kitchen was drawn open. “We're on our own.”
“Not quite,” a sinister voice said, as gentle as it was harsh, and they all stopped right inside the dining room, staring at the source of the voice. Malum stood, leaning against the table as if there wasn't a war waiting for them right outside, glass in hand, eyes as blue as ever. When those eyes travelled over the group and came to a stop on Johnathon, Bella stepped in front of him protectively, her eyes narrowed suspiciously. In response to this, he chuckled, pursing his lips at her reaction, though his eyes were on her father again. “One would think that you wouldn't ally yourself with the very beast that put you in this mess.”
“Malum,” Kataros growled, and Bella cast a nervous glance in his direction.
“What?” he asked, throwing his free arm out with a shrug, eyes round, miming some innocent expression. “It's just an honest observation.” He slowly smiled.
“First off,” Johnathon said from his place behind Bella, “I'm not allying myself with anyone. I'm simply here to protect my daughter, and as soon as we're able I intend on taking her and myself very far away from this wretched place.”
“Papa...” Bella pinched the point between her eyes, shaking her head.
Malum laughed. “You, honestly, think that Katharos is going to let the girl go? Ha!” He raised the glass to his lips. “You humans never learn.”
When Johnathon made as if to step around Bella, she held an arm out, keeping him back, and glowered at Malum. “If you've come back to flaunt-”
“I'm not flaunting anything, sweetheart,” Malum replied, setting the glass down and pushing himself away from the table, ignoring Johnathon's threatening glare. “And I haven't come back; I never even got the chance to leave.” He snorted. “The brutes that are right on your doorstep were there before I could even think about stepping foot outside of the gates; and the rest of the Fae in here were awfully crude about making it clear that they didn't want to...well, let's say, open the doors for me.”
“Are you going to help us?” Bella asked hopefully.
This time, he didn't even bother to snort. “Whyever would I do that? I owe you nothing.”
“So you're just going to sit here?” she asked incredulously, blinking.
He grinned. “No, Bella; not at all.” He took one slow, steady step after another towards her, looking at his nails in disinterest. “What I'm going to do is far less complicated.” His gaze lifted from his nails to her eyes, all dark confidence. “I'm going to watch everyone rip each other's throats out one by one.”
Bella launched herself at him, only to be caught by her father, whose arms wrapped around her stomach and yanked her back, and she threw a clawed hand at Malum's face, just barely missing. “You're a monster!”
“Monster? Ha!” His gaze shifted past her. “If you want to see a monster, you need only look behind you.”
“Enough of this,” Kataros said. “He's wasting our time. Let us go and determine how-”
“How what?” Malum asked. “Oh, please, do tell; as I'm sure we're all dying to know. Do you really know what you're going to do? Do you, truly, think that you can defeat a whole army of these wolves; regardless of the fact that they're incomplete Fae?” He sneered. “You're far more delusional than I believed.”
Roaring, Kataros threw himself at the faerie, knocking both Bella and her father aside, and the both of them went tumbling across the floor, knocking chairs from their places, tearing at each other, both snarling teeth and glaring eyes. This simple fight, however, didn't last long.
A loud whistle cut through the air, so sharp it hurt Bella's ears, and even her father dropped to the ground as he covered his own. Kataros froze in his spot, one hand wrapped around Malum's throat, the man pinned under him, and his other hand raised high over his head, claws straining, and skin seeming to squirm.
Thais lowered her hand from her mouth, the other now wielding her sword, and she set that hand on her hip, which she had thrust to the side, and she gave them a tired look. “As entertaining as this all is, I do believe we have other much more important matters to look after.” When Kataros's lips twisted and he opened his mouth to speak, she shook her head. “Not a word from you, Sire... But, I think I make a fairly good point when I mention how your control seems to slip when you become the beast, and you're, basically, playing into this bastard's hands.” Her head tilted and her brows raised, as if challeng
ing him to continue arguing.
After a moment's hesitation, Kataros growled at Malum and released his hold on him, slowly climbing to his feet and backing up a few steps, seeming to gather himself as he did so. He glanced over at Bella, who studied him discreetly out of the corners of her eyes as she kept herself turned towards Malum, who pushed himself off of the ground and brushed himself off.
“That's better,” Thais mused, though she didn't put her sword away. “Now, can we discuss, exactly, what the plans are?”
“Simple,” Kataros said, smug expression on Malum. “We find the leader and kill him.”
Bella nodded. Though, it sounded much easier said than done. There had to be a catch to it.
Unfortunately, the young girl's thoughts were correct.
“Alright,” Thais said with a small nod. “And how, exactly, are we supposed to find this leader; considering that there's no particular order to their battle plan?” When the demon merely blinked at her, she sighed. “They're all just swarming the entire wall. It's not like they made a camp with their leader’s symbol planted on a flag that marks his tent. They're just sitting and waiting.”
“Waiting?” He frowned. “What could they be waiting for? It's not like we're just going to open the gates for them and let them waltz on in.”
Bella pondered over this as they continued discussing, blocking out their strategies and ideas. It seemed that all hope was lost. Though, how could it be if the wolves were merely waiting instead of trying to get inside? But then, Bella didn't want to be stuck inside that castle for the rest of her life, and she definitely didn't want her father to suffer with her.
She wondered, right then, if, perhaps, the wolves had some trick up their sleeve; that was, not considering the fact that they didn't have sleeves. Did they plan on some sort of sneak attack? Did they want to attack when they were all least expecting it? If so, how would they be able to accomplish such a thing? Obviously, there was no way in or out aside from those gates, which were plenty sturdy enough to keep them out.
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