Suddenly they were corralled off to the side into a very hidden away stone bunker built into the mountainside. I’m sure the lovely and hospitable—insert sarcasm here—Maleina is informing all her guests that we are being led out of town like I originally yet foolishly hoped. Horrified that they were further from the town in the opposite direction, that they were indeed prisoners, and that she had no idea what to do about it, her panic started to attack. Two of the guards walked in ahead of them while two others stood on either side of the door. Daegan, along with another guard, brought up the rear.
The bunker was deceptively large, leading back into the mountain. This could be bad, very bad. The only window was in the main door, which Kaeleigh guessed was the only exit. It got darker the further back they went. Torches were already lit on the walls. I wonder if there are other prisoners here... how long have they been here? What could they have done—or maybe not done as was our case—to deserve to be in here? Individual cells lined both sides of the bunker—or cave seemed to be more appropriate; the walls, ceiling, and floor were mostly dirt stabilized by stones and thick wooden beams. It was a very old cave.
A root sticking out of the ground tripped Kaeleigh, but she caught herself on Finn while also reaching out to the cave wall at the same time as Daegan grabbed her outside arm from behind her to help steady her. Too many things happened at the same to take her breath away. A shock of electricity shot up her arm from where Daegan touched her.
Unfortunately, Finn must have felt it too as he gasped when she could feel it travel through her and shock him when the wave reached where his hand was on her. Simultaneously, images flashed at the speed of light before Kaeleigh’s mind’s eye of prisoners long ago held in this very prison. Things she wished she would never have witnessed and now would never forget. There were many evil beings kept in here for evil deeds that they committed, but there were also innocents. The pain and torture inflicted upon them was vivid before her mind. There was something else among the images she was seeing that was trying to get her attention, but she couldn’t quite grasp it. She was paralyzed, trapped as a silent witness to the madness this cave held.
Hearing the screaming outside her body and knowing it was her own voice, she couldn’t pull back from the horror on her own. She felt like she couldn’t breathe. Finally, release came when she felt her fingers wrenched away from the wall. Daegan gripped her hand, shooting the tiniest bit of comfort into her so she could stand. Getting her breath back, she was at least grateful for that little mercy. He released his grip all too soon and whispered so only she could hear, “Get up. You have to keep going.” Then he growled out, still so quiet that no one else could possibly hear him, “I can’t protect you here.”
That was it, but oddly it infused her with the strength she needed to keep going. She couldn’t decipher her own emotions, whether she was hurt or angry at the moment, but it accomplished what she needed now as the other guards were starting to head back toward her and those weren’t smiles upon their faces.
“Can’t? Or won’t?” Kaeleigh barely had enough energy in her to whisper back let alone start walking on her own two feet that were slowly getting the feeling back into them. She felt a brief note of smug satisfaction at Daegan’s flinch, whether from surprise at her words or the venomous undertone she had used, she really didn’t care... except that she did. It was enough to get her moving for now. She let her anger give her strength even if only for the time being.
“Keep her moving!” one of the guards shouted with annoyance, nodding at Finn and Chel. Quickly, each of them flanked her sides and gripped her arms to ensure she was stable but Kaeleigh fought them off lightly, stubborn to prove she could recover on her own but failing as she staggered within her first few steps. Without hesitance, her friends were there trying to steady her. She was about to shake them off again, but stilled as she heard—at least she thought she heard—the faintest whisper of his voice laced with veiled emotion, “Please.”
Eyes to the ground, drawing a deep breath, Kaeleigh softened her shoulders and allowed her friends to help her. She could feel their fear for themselves and for her. Concerned that they were tormented at her state of being instead of worrying about how they were going to get out of here, she put as much steel into her back as she could, raised her head regally, and followed the guards impatiently leading the way to their intended demise.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
The guards stopped abruptly in front of a dark cell that looked like a large hole that had literally been dug out of the mountain, which obviously it was, but this one looked more “dirty” than the other cells they had passed closer to the front. As the barred door opened, dirt fell from the ceiling onto Finn, who stood closest.
Laughing, the guards shoved them all through the door and slammed it shut, forcing more dirt to fall onto all their faces. “Don’t even think of trying to dig out, you’ll just create your own grave,” the big burly guard said out of a deep belly chuckle, slapping the other guard on the back. The other guard laughed along with him.
Furious, Finn started shouting and pressing himself into the bars, desperation suddenly taking over. “You can’t leave us in here! We did nothing wrong!”
Nothing but more laughter as the guards headed back out the way they came in. All but Daegan—immobile, hardened, living stone. Jaw clenched, nostrils flared, fists tightened; there was a flicker of indecision that crossed his eyes only to be glossed over.
Chel tried to reach out to him with her hand, pleading, “Daegan, please don’t leave us in here. We’ll run, you’d never hear from us again. Please,” she said, tears staining her dirty face.
Silently and hopelessly, Kaeleigh watched, knowing he wouldn’t help them. He had given his word to protect her, but only as far as getting them here, and he would do no more, or could do no more than that. Her heart broke for her friends. Another flicker of emotion flashed in Daegan’s eyes that she would have missed if she had blinked. Desperation. His eyes betrayed their own silent plea... for help? Perhaps he was in an even worse cave, trapped within himself. She understood. Her heart broke for him too and he saw it.
He turned, not looking back, but pausing when Kaeleigh whispered into the air void of wind but carried on a thread of color from deep within her, “I understand.” It carried with a hiccup and a sob.
“Do you?” a whisper floated back to her.
“I can help.” She sent her barely audible plea back toward him.
“I’m sorry. Truly.” Severing the tie then storming out the door leaving them alone and scared.
“Well, bull...oney!” Chel said, sinking onto the hard dirt floor.
Gripping the bars, Finn let out a monstrous roar of agony that tore from a depth within his being and his own helplessness, leaving him emasculated and defeated, open and raw. Kaeleigh had never seen him react like that. He was always so cool and in control. But she knew he felt responsible for them, for her. This is my fault.
Trying to console her friends, she paced the tight confines of their small cell.
“There has to be a way out. We can figure this out, you guys.” Chel suddenly perked up.
A scary, dark laughter bubbled out of Finn. “Well, aren’t you the optimist? How do you propose we do that, Chel?”
She knew he was being sarcastic and cruel, but bless Chel she didn’t let him break her. “I don’t know, but if we stick together we can come up with something. Maybe Daegan will come back or maybe Hal will come and let us out. He didn’t seem like he wanted us locked up.”
“No!” Finn almost yelled at her. “We do not need them and they won’t help us. They are working with that witch!”
“I think you’re wrong, Finn,” was simply all she said.
Both turned to Kaeleigh.
Sighing, Kaeleigh stared at a spot on the ground as if it was the key to all their problems. “I think that we might be on our own for the time being.” She held up her finger in front of Finn before he could say something hurtful to Ch
el. “But I think that Hal and Daegan both don’t want us in here.” At Finn’s outraged face, she went on to explain how she thought Daegan was being manipulated by Maleina.
There was still a pain in her heart when she remembered his expression and tone he used with her and how it hurt deeper than she thought it should have. However, he did try to help her a couple times with the guards. She was afraid to truly put her hope in him but something stirred to life when she thought of him and knowing without a shadow of doubt that she could help him find himself again. Out of a nervous habit, Kaeleigh began worrying her necklace that she wore around her neck. It warmed with an energy of its own. Just holding it offered her some peace.
After a momentary silence between the group, Chel approached Kaeleigh, placing her hand on her shoulder looking concerned into her eyes. “Kaeleigh, what happened back there... at the wall?”
Not wanting to relive the moment and flood her mind again with the images she saw, she hung her head, taking a shuddering breath. Her shoulders sagged and tears began to fill her eyes. The weight of what she was trying to block out of her mind was beginning to crush her. Not to mention thoughts of Hunter and what could’ve happened to him AND her limited time not only with him but also her mother AND she may never find her father. AND she got herself and her friends LOCKED UP!! She couldn’t break down, not here... not now.
After a moment, or several, Kaeleigh took a deep breath, trying to calm the surging emotions within her that went from grief to horror to anger then back to grief and despair. Her friends waited patiently, concern written all over Finn’s face and tears streaming down Chel’s. Composing herself the best she could, she tried to give them answers. “I saw... witnessed faces and bodies of prisoners over the centuries who had been tortured, bled, and died in this very prison.” Her voice rough with anguish. “I could feel their pain and emotions, it was so real. Most deserved to be here, but some did not.” Taking a deep breath, she looked her friends in their eyes. “I don’t understand what it means. Why would I get these horrific images?”
Finn looked somber and yet shook his head, not knowing what to say. Chel held on tighter to Kaeleigh as if she was afraid she might crumble right before her. “Maybe it’s a part of your gift? I’m not sure what the purpose would be, but there’s got to be a reason.” Chel shrugged.
“You shouldn’t have to bear this burden. Too much has been put on you in such a short time already,” Finn said almost angrily. He got up and ran his fingers through his hair, a sign of his frustration, as he started to pace in the confined space. Chel and Kaeleigh watched him, curious to what was going on in his head.
Before he had a chance to continue with his inner rant, Finn was interrupted by a noise across the row and down a cell from theirs. It sounded more like a shuffle than a grunt. All three of their heads whipped towards the noise even though the light was too dim to see much. They were silent, listening intently. There it was again. Their eyes widened.
“I thought we were the only ones in here,” Chel whispered, seconded by Kaeleigh’s nod of confusion.
“Maybe it’s an animal?” Chel shrugged, not really believing what she said.
“A really big animal. Wait, you would know if it was,” Kaeleigh muttered.
“Shhh!” Which got both girls glaring at Finn, but he shrugged them off.
Louder, the noise seemed to be accompanied by a tight groan then a strangled whisper laced with pain: “Who are you?”
Chel and Kaeleigh looked at each other with wide eyes. “Um...” But just as Chel was about to answer, Finn jumped in. “Who are you?” he replied, not too friendly. He received an eye roll for his efforts from Chel.
The rough, unused voice of the man—at least he sounded like a man—answered anyway. “You can call me Aidón of the territory of Lumari.”
“We are Chel, Kaeleigh, and Finn,” Kaeleigh began to say then awkwardly added, “of the mortal realm and now also of Alandria,” which in turn earned an eye roll from Chel and Finn until she added, “Well, Finn is actually from here but he’s been with us in the mortal realm for a while now...” She was abruptly interrupted by Finn grabbing her arm and a serious frown telling her to shut up.
Finn spoke up to divert the foolish comment Kaeleigh made, not wanting an imprisoned criminal to have too much information about them. “Why are you here?”
“I was captured and brought here under the accusation of murder.” His voice sounded stronger but strained as if willing them to believe him.
“Did you kill someone?” Chel squeaked out.
“Yes, child, I did. It was warranted and sanctioned, but used against me by traitors to the...”
Finn interrupted him sarcastically, “Of course it was... What?” he responded, exasperated, to the looks Chel and Kaeleigh gave him. “You believe him?”
But before they could say anything the man across the hall patiently and graciously replied, “You have no reason to believe me, but answer this: have you not yourself done something... anything that you were granted mercy?”
Finn’s composure faltered and his face paled instantly but he quickly recovered, not meeting Kaeleigh’s eyes. Something about the man’s voice sounded distantly familiar to Finn but he couldn’t place it.
A heavy silence fell. Finally, after a resigned look from Kaeleigh to Finn, Chel couldn’t help but keep talking to the only other prisoner that they knew was in there with them. “How long have you been here, in this place?”
“Fifteen years.”
Finn’s head snapped toward the darkness where the voice came from. His eyes squinted as he tried to see their fellow inmate but to no avail. Kaeleigh and Chel both questioned his intense stare with their eyes, but it was Kaeleigh who continued as if nothing weird was going on in their little cell.
“Are you hurt?” she asked.
After a second, he responded, “I’ve been better, but today is a good day.” He sounded a bit stronger than he have even a few minutes ago, albeit a bit cryptic.
“And why is that?” Chel asked.
“I am no longer alone,” he said, voice tinged with sadness but he continued, “and will now regain some of my former strength.”
Kaeleigh and Chel looked at each other, shrugging their shoulders. Again with the cryptic? Ugh.
“I don’t mean to pry, but you sounded almost sad that you were no longer alone. Shouldn’t that make you happy?”
“Indeed it does. Although I am no longer alone, you are no longer free.” There was a long silence.
Chel and Kaeleigh huddled together on the cold and hard dirt floor. Finn remained standing, peering out the bars into nothing other than darkness.
“Finn! Sit down already.” Chel was getting irritated. “We’re going to know if someone comes in. You need to rest.” Shaking her head and rolling her eyes, she leaned on Kaeleigh’s shoulder, trying to get comfortable. “I miss my parents. This floor sucks!”
Finn glared daggers at Chel, which she didn’t see since she closed her eyes. But Kaeleigh simply pleaded with her eyes and he finally sat where she patted the ground next to her. She gave him a small smile, and she could see him relax a little.
“So much more about this situation ‘sucks’ than the floor, Chel,” he said flatly.
But the girls just giggled quietly at hearing the intensely brooding boy with them say something as juvenile as “sucks,” a word that would never normally come out of his mouth. He attempted to hide his smirk at getting them to laugh by trying to seem annoyed. Which he really was, but it made him on edge when he knew there wasn’t anything he could do.
Kaeleigh laid her head on Finn’s shoulder, trying to comfort him as she needed the comfort herself. They had been friends for a long time and it felt good to be close to her two best friends even if they were in a deep dark prison. Finn kissed the top of her head before he leaned against the wall and closed his eyes. If he was going to figure out a way to get them out of there, he needed to get what rest he could.
Time passe
d. It could have been a few hours, twenty minutes, or maybe an entire day. The lighting never really changed this deep in the prison and it was hard to tell. There was some noise from the cell across the hall as their fellow prisoner must have been stirring to wakefulness as well. Chel sat up, quickly realizing she had fallen asleep on Kaeleigh’s lap.
“Eww! You totally drooled on me, Chel!” Kaeleigh teased. “Is that one of your new side effects?”
Taken aback by Kaeleigh’s teasing, she was speechless for only about a millisecond. “You so did not just go there?!”
“I did. And I’ll do you one better... you were growling in your sleep,” Kaeleigh said, somewhat satisfied with herself.
“I did not! I’m not a dog, Kaeleigh. I do not growl,” Chel rebutted with mock outrage.
“Yes, you did,” Kaeleigh said, now trying to contain her laughter.
“Well, maybe it was more of a rumble. It’s pretty common among shifters to take on animal qualities,” Finn said matter-of-factly, which only made both girls erupt in laughter. He was so serious trying to enter their sisterly banter with his dry facts.
“Ah, you are awake. It’s nice to hear laughter. Something I haven’t heard in a very long time. It soothes the soul and makes one stronger in dark situations. Don’t ever lose it.” The older man’s voice came out of the darkness. He sounded stronger than even the last time they talked.
Finn walked toward the door of the cell, confusion on his face. “You sound familiar. I have been gone for quite some time, but might I know you?”
Veiled Shadows (The Age of Alandria: Book Two) Page 21
