Shackled Serenity

by Leon Logos

  Sixto said he’d come to check on her in two hours. She’d wait for him here. But after that, around midnight, she decided she would sneak out. On her own. If she was to be caught—so be it. There was no room to be circumspect. There were only seven days before the execution.

  Two hours drifted by like it was three years. She hadn’t moved from her spot on the bed, reposed and staring up at the ceiling in semi-darkness. Minutes dragged on as she realized it was around the time Sixto was supposed to visit. Sure enough, there were three light knocks at the door. She mustered up all the strength she had in her listless body, lethargically crossing over to the door. Sixto was on the other side of it, as expected. He had changed out of his formal attire; now, he wore jeans and a sweatshirt.

  “You look better,” he commented, shutting the door for her.

  “I told you I would,” she said, slumping down onto the recliner. “Is the party over already? I didn’t hear much outside in the hall.”

  “The dinner is over, but some of the guests are still partying,” said Sixto. “It’s Christmas, they’re going to be raving until dawn. Especially after the special announcement. We could join in, you know?”

  “You realize how ridiculous that sounds, right?” she asked flatly.

  “But why?!” Sixto groaned, sitting on her bed. “Did you lie to us about your feelings? Were they really your worst nightmares?”

  “Pretty much, yeah,” she sighed. “It’s hard to explain.”

  “We’ve got all night,” said Sixto bossily, folding his arms.

  “Do we?” “You’re gonna be here in my bedroom all night? Imagine what Lyla’s going to think.”

  The quip had no effect on Sixto. He stared at her assertively and flintily, demanding an explication of her viewpoint.

  “I really don’t get it,” she repeated exasperatedly. “I still spent my whole life with them, even though they treated me like crap. Plus, they risked their lives coming here for me…”

  “So, you feel there’s been a change of heart for them?” Sixto scoffed. “Bullshit. They’re demons, Serenity. You should know that more than us.”

  She gave a noncommittal shrug. To an extent, they were demons. But two of them cared enough about her to pursue her.

  “I need to know where you stand,” said Sixto. “On New Year’s Day, will you be attending the execution with everybody else?”

  “You’re asking me if I want to see two guys get their heads chopped off?” Serenity scowled. “No thanks. I thought the Aurelians were supposed to be civilized. It’s not the sixteenth century anymore. You’re talking about the execution like it’s a concert.”

  “We’re civilized, just not towards our enemies,” Sixto tried to reason.

  “That’s not what I meant,” she refuted. “Again, you guys are treating a public execution as if it’s a celebration. Think of Lily. Are the kids going to be witnessing their heads being chopped off?”

  “If their parents permit it, then sure,” Sixto said nonchalantly. “Also, I’m not even sure it’s going to be decapitation. They might get hanged.”

  “I don’t care what it is, they’re being killed.”

  “And how do you feel about that?”

  She paused, recognizing that this was the question Sixto had been waiting to ask. He could’ve just cut to the chase and presented this question from the start. But she was unsure how to respond.

  “I accept it,” she decided to say. “Yeah, I understand why you guys are doing it. They’ve been a thorn in your backside for years.”

  “Thank you,” said Sixto gratefully, but with a hint of doubt. “Now, I’m definitely going to be there to see them executed. Will you?”

  “No, I won’t,” she affirmed. “Doesn’t matter who they are, I’m sure I don’t want to witness somebody’s murder.”

  “Fair enough,” said Sixto, satisfied. “Look, I’m not going to make things complicated for you anymore. It seems your emotions are already a mess. I just want to advise you to forget about them. You’re with us now.”

  “Yeah, understood,” she nodded, making sure to make eye contact when she did. A downcast face would indicate insincerity.

  “Also, you know the plan that was discussed right?”

  “The baiting plan,” she replied. “Yeah.”

  “Will it work?” he asked her earnestly.

  “I don’t think so,” she shook her head. “Gunther’s not an idiot. He knows it’s suicide to come here. He’ll most likely stay away.”

  “But his sons are in captivity,” Sixto said logically.

  “He’s not your typical father, it doesn’t matter,” she said, her tone bitter at the thought of him. “He doesn’t really love any of his children.”

  “I hope he does come,” Sixto remarked. “He’s the one we actually need. Cut the head off of the snake. If he does come, he’ll come with your other former brothers. We’ll kill them too!”

  “Sounds strategic,” she said dully. “Is that all?”

  “You’re trying to get rid of me?” he asked pointedly.

  “Yeah,” she said bluntly. “I’d like to sleep.”

  “We should go out into the courtyard for the tree,” he suggested. “A lot of the guests are loitering around there. You need someplace to distract you from tonight. Let’s enjoy the nighttime ambience—”

  “I’ve seen the tree already,” she interjected. “And I said I was tired.”

  Thankfully, Sixto acquiesced. He got to his feet and walked over to the door. Before he left, he stood by the threshold and glanced back at her.

  “Good night,” he said.

  Without a doubt, she detected a scintilla of scorn in these words.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

  The clock above the mantel struck 12:00 AM. Not yet. It was too early. Serenity laid on her bed, counting down the minutes as they went by. She had decided to sneak into the jailhouse on her own. She vacillated intermittently, considering going to Sixto for his help. But she reminded herself that it was no option. In fact, it was the worst option. This was something she had to do herself. And she could do it.

  Through her window, she could hear laughter and voices from outside. Guests were still perambulating the property, most probably the adults. She realized that it was the worst time to embark on a stealth mission, with all these guests roaming around. The residence was more occupied than ever. Making it to the tunnels and back to the main house undetected seemed virtually impossible.

  She debated in her mind whether to leave at 1:00 AM or 2:00 AM. After being unable to arrive at a decision, she decided 3:00 AM. Hopefully, all the residents would be in their chambers by this time. Of course, the guards would be patrolling as usual. Furthermore, since it was the holiday season, and Gunther was expected, the security was tightened tenfold. This meant her chances of succeeding were even lower.

  She hoped they hadn’t moved Kyler out of his cell or beaten him senseless. As for Desmos, she was hoping he was brought back to the cells. This special interrogation room they had spoken of was still unknown, in terms of its whereabouts. Sixto had told her that the location was rumored to be at the bottom of the well, at the farm. Whether it was worth investigating or not, it certainly wasn’t worth the risk tonight. She’d check it out in the morning, when the curfew was lifted.

  She had changed out of her dress and had taken off her jewelry, but she did not remove her makeup. It was too time consuming, and she lacked the energy to even entertain the thought. As for her attire, she dressed in all black, also ensuring that she was well-insulated with a jacket, gloves, and even boots. But no flashlight.

  Serenity swore under her breath, scolding herself for making such a blunder. The flashlight was an absolute essential. The tunnels were darker than black. Where would she find one? Sixto’s chamber was probably teeming with them. But it would be foolish to break into his room and steal one. Impossible, too.

  Thankfully, an idea popped spontaneously into her head. She recalled a storage room at the trai
ning fields. She had observed it quite a few times while with Sixto. It was worth a try. She didn’t have any other ideas. And the storage room, if she remembered correctly, was not locked. It was a gamble, but her only shot.

  Serenity also recalled Kyler’s health. He was a prisoner and was prone to abject treatment. Without a doubt, he was malnourished. They served him only a single meal a day. A “shitty” meal.

  Her plan grew in complexity. Now, she had to sneak into the kitchens as well. Sixto had frequently tried to persuade her into breaking into the kitchens with him on some nights. It sounded like a casual, regular event for him. She could surmise that breaking into the kitchens wouldn’t be so challenging. And since it was the holiday season, there had to be plenty of food stored in there.

  The kitchens could be accessed from the Dining Hall. That way, the staff/waiters could easily bring the food to them and set up the table.

  Serenity reviewed her plan a thousand times over. The more she did, the more it registered how far-fetched it was. First, she needed to break into the kitchens and steal a considerable amount of food. After that, she needed to head the storage room where she wasn’t even certain a flashlight would await her. Then, she needed to sneak out all the way to the gardens where the manhole cover was situated. Subsequently, she needed to avoid getting lost in the tunnels. If she did manage to succeed in delivering the food to Kyler and conversing with him, then there was the equally daunting part of returning to her chamber, undetected. It frightened her a tad. But not enough to waver her.

  She took a brief nap, succumbing to sleep after a while. After what felt like seconds, she opened her eyes. The first thing she did was glance at the clock: 2:58 AM. Right on time. She got to her feet, put on her boots, grabbed a box the size of a basketball, and walked to the door. She found the box sitting in her closet; it had contained one of her presents. The box was big enough to store enough food. This was as resourceful as she could be.

  It was intimidating stepping out into the hall. The low but discernible droning of air-conditioning. The silence. The darkness. It felt like the whole house—no, the entire residence was asleep. Not a sound.

  She stole slowly through the hall and began the process of descending the steps. She invoked her memories, struggling to remember the exact path Sixto took. Step-by-step. Before heading outside into the courtyard, the kitchen awaited her first.

  She managed to find her way to the Dining Hall, despite the limited vision. The double doors were still open. They always were. She wondered why they were never closed. Perhaps it was negligence. Serenity minced across the Hall, each step reverberating around the spacious room. The kitchen doors were in sight.

  Serenity entered, seeing the kitchens for the first time. It was another spacious room. Everything was silver and glistening, giving off a reflection. The cabinetry, grills, refrigerators, ovens, tables, and silverware. Each workstation was as clean as the next. A hundred chefs could work here comfortably, not occupying too much space. It resembled the kitchens in a lavish or professional establishment. Though, this was a lavish establishment.

  She found a light switch and activated it. In a blinding instant, the entire room lit up. She squinted in discomfort, her eyes not yet adjusted to the light after being in the dark for quite a while. It was risky turning on the lights. She was giving away her position. She had to be quick.

  Serenity wandered around the work stations, opening cabinets and refrigerators. She found frozen fruits and vegetables, some which she took and placed in the box. Other than food, there was standard kitchen equipment, which she found no use for. Her eyes scanned in every direction, looking for anything small, portable, and edible. She stole loaves of bread, chicken breasts, biscuits, and a beef patty. The downside was that all the food was cold; however, they could still be passably consumed.

  Satisfied with her choices, she hastened to switch off the lights again and leave the kitchen. The darkness submerged her once again.

  In a slow and steady pace, she crossed the Hall to the open doors. Each step sent a prickle of fear down her spine, as it produced considerable noise. Her heart jumped out of her chest when she heard voices. Immediately, she jumped to the side, next to the wall, her back against it. She held her breath and immobilized her body, waiting fearfully for them to pass.

  “Why do we always get the night shift?” a glum voice asked.

  “It’s bloody ridiculous, I know,” another replied. “The Council tells us to keep our eyes peeled for more intruders. We should just do that.”

  “Preposterous!” the first voice snarled. “The chances of encountering another intruder is slim-to-none. They wouldn’t even get past the sentries guarding the perimeter. No way they’d make it to us!”

  She waited for the patrols to vanish, their voices fading. When she was certain they were far, she edged out of the Dining Hall and into the hallway. There was nobody. Sighing in relief, she made her way out of the main house and outside into the courtyard.

  She braced herself for the cold. When it hit, she was prepared. Luck was on her side once again. There weren’t any guards in sight roaming the courtyard. Keeping her hood up and head down, she power-walked across the courtyard. The food box was held secure in her arms. The moon above availed her with its light, reinforcing her field of vision. She passed the mammoth Christmas tree, it’s lights still blazing. It really was beautiful. She wished she was granted some capacity to relish in its presence. But tonight, the tree was as trivial as a stray cat. She left it behind, continuing on the path leading to the training grounds. In her head, she devised a contingency plan in case no flashlight blessed her in the storage room. She’d find something as a light source. Something.

  Her senses were keener than they had ever been, on full alert. She did her best to contain the fear and anxiety boiling noiselessly within her. She wondered how she would be punished if she was caught breaking curfew. She’d be admonished obviously, but would there be a consequence as severe as jailtime? If she was caught speaking with prisoners, this was highly probable; this would incontrovertibly be treachery. Being labeled a traitor not even three months into her arrival wasn’t a pleasant notion. The Council would exile her or execute her. Not even Alistair or Dorian could save her.

  She was so preoccupied in her thoughts that she didn’t realize that she had arrived at the training grounds. Serenity dashed to the storage room just a couple of yards ahead. She became increasingly apprehensive as she closed in on it, dreading the possibility of finding nothing to aid her. Fortunately, the door was not locked. She was beginning to feel that the Aurelians were becoming substantially conceited, blinded by their sense of security. They must’ve believed no enemy would make it past the sentries. And she did not blame them, considering how beefed up security was now.

  Serenity searched the walls and tables, where tools and weapons were sporadically scattered. The room was about the size of a standard fast-food-restaurant, like McDonald’s. A rush of glee hit her like a javelin at the sight of a flashlight. She sprinted towards it, rummaging through a box of other flashlights. Her excitement tripled in intensity; the adjoining box contained flashlights. She grabbed the closest one, testing it out. The light was robust and bright. She grabbed another flashlight just in case and then exited the storage room, closing the door behind her. Both her jacket pockets were full, the flashlights nestled inside them.

  Serenity dove for cover behind a bush, as two guards marched past. It had been quite a long while since she had spotted security. After waiting for them to pass, she proceeded down the trail and away from the training grounds. Now, the gardens were her next destination. It was roughly a twenty-minute walk from her current position. Adding the occasional delay of encountering patrols, thirty-five minutes. It felt like the temperature was dropping gradually, the icy breeze freezing her exposed skin and compounding the experience overall. As if the perpetual disquietude wasn’t enough. It was a miracle nobody spotted her yet; she had been out in the open for a while,
unable to take any alternative discreet routes.

  It didn’t seem like the gardens were getting any closer. Every five minutes that dragged by was comparable to an hour. At the pace she was going, her arrival time might’ve been overestimated. She was beginning to run into more patrols, frustratingly delaying her journey. Fearful that somebody would hear her hurried footsteps, she silenced her steps and slowed her pace. Every few seconds, she glanced behind her out of paranoia; as always, when she was alone in a dangerous situation, the feeling of being watched stalked her at every passing second. Whether it be a squirrel, bird, or stray animal, someone was following her. Better it be an animal than a guard. It would be an unprecedented relief to make it into the tunnels.

  The familiar deftly-trimmed hedges were the first sign that she had arrived. She gladly entered into the haze of green, tracing her steps from the first expedition. She veered off the trail, stumbling downhill under the bridge. Her feet pressed into the wet, soggy dirt, spattering her boots with filth. She welcomed it, as it was another sign that she arrived. She shoveled up all the grass and branches, tossing them to the side. The manhole cover revealed itself, round and stained as it was before.

  She pried open the cover with all her strength, managing to shift it enough for her to fit through. Now was the difficult part. She took out one flashlight and turned it on, shining it straight down. It wasn’t a precarious drop down, but she would rather use the ladder. She pocketed the flashlight again, with the light still on, lowering herself down into the manhole, the box secured in her left hand. It was difficult climbing down with only one free hand. She hastened herself, intimidated by the darkness. When she was certain she was low enough to hop down, she did just that. Immediately, she took out the flashlight and illuminated the path ahead. Thankfully, her irrational fear of a monster dwelling meters away was quelled.