Chapter 57

Back at the village Arriana ordered her guards to put Henry into the prison. She still hadn't decided what to do with him. Trying to ignore the fact that she had been betrayed once again, she ran into the house to find Victoria and James. She saw them sitting at the table sipping on something, she grabbed them both and hugged them. Barwick walked in after her, tears streaming down his cheeks when he saw his daughter. Victoria ran to him crying.

"Daddy? What happened to you? Your eyes, they're almost completely shut and so purple."

"Victoria, don't worry yourself with it. Are you okay? I missed you so much my little pumpkin." Barwick cried as he held his daughter.

"I missed you to daddy." She said clinging tightly to the bruised, bloody man.

"Where's Caleb?" Arriana looked around the room not seeing him.

"It took a lot of his energy to heal them," Danni told her, almost afraid to meet her gaze.

"Okay. So where is he?" Arriana repeated raising her voice, fearing the worst.

"Arriana, he's not doing well," John said quietly.

"He has to be fine!" she shouted. "Where is he? I want to see him right now!"

She ran out of the room opening all the doors in the house until she reached the big, oak door at the end of the hallway. She pushed it open slowly and saw a body lying under the covers in the big, four poster bed. She crept slowly to it and looked into the paler than usual face of Caleb. Tears welled in her eyes and she tried to stifle a cry. Caleb slowly opened his eyes, smiling at her. She sat on the edge of the bed and took her friends hand. Tears flowing down her cheeks, Arriana pushed the hair out of his eyes.

"Oh, Caleb. I'm so sorry. I, I didn't want this to happen to you!" she sobbed, letting her head fall onto his hands.

"It's alright Arriana. I could have spared myself and let the children die but I just, I could not let such precious, innocent children die because of Lucas. Did you save Barwick?"

Arriana nodded her head and whispered. "Yes. He's safe."

Caleb just nodded his head, swallowing hard.

"Is there anything we can do? You're going to be okay, aren't you?" she cried.

"There is nothing anyone can do. I'm not sure if I'll be alright or not. I've never used that much energy before," he said.

"I'll find a way! I promise I will not let you die. Now, rest. You need to sleep." She smiled at him as he closed his eyes.

"Barwick!" Arriana shouted as she ran down the stairs.

"What? What's the matter?"

"I need to make a potion or find a spell. I need something to make Caleb better," she told him.

"Nothing like that exists," Beau told her.

"Are you sure?"

They nodded their heads.

"Is there anything we can do?" she pleaded.

"I don't think so, Arriana," Barwick said sympathetically.

"I'm not going to let him die!" She turned and headed toward the library.

"Arriana? Arriana what are you going to do?" Mary called after her daughter.

"I'm going to find some way to help Caleb. He is dying because of me. I can't let him suffer," she cried while walking to the small library.

"Arriana there is nothing you can do." Mary chased after her.

"I'll find a way, mom. I'm going to do something, even if I have to make it up myself."

Arriana turned on her heels and continued to the building, leaving her mother standing in the snow, watching after her. She headed directly to the jail. There was no way she was letting Henry off the hook tonight. She had to know the truth.

Arriana took a deep breath as she was entering the prison but was startled when someone grabbed her arm. She whirled around and saw Deacon standing there.

"Don't go in there."

"Why not, Deacon?"

"Do you really want to talk to him?"

"Yes, I want to know why he did what he did."

"He's guilty of treason. Either kill him or let him rot in there." Deacon's grip on her arm tightened as he pulled her out of the doorway.

"Let me go, Deacon. You have no control over what I do and Henry will not die. I'm going to find out why he did what he did."

"No, you're not. You're going to leave him there," Deacon snarled.

"I don't know who the hell you think you are but I am the queen. I am the one who decides what happens to people, not you. Now let me go or I'll make you."

He pulled her into his body, wrapping his arms around her waist. He held tight as she struggled against his grip. He jerked his head down and kissed her. Arriana managed to get an arm free and slapped him across his face. She saw the red handprint left on his cheek. He winced away and sulked to the darkness on the side of the prison. She continued into the jail. Once inside she took the stairs to the tower which held the solitary confinement cell. Henry's cell. The walk up the narrow staircase was silent and cold. The stone walls and clicking of her shoes against the steps echoed loudly along the passage. At the top she saw the one lonely cell sitting in the middle of the hallway.

"You are a filthy liar. Your name is not Henry Prion, it's Henry Sardasai," Arriana snapped as she approached the iron bars that held the beautiful Henry in his small cell.

As she looked at him, his pale skin seemed to glow in the soft moonlight that shone in through the small window. At that moment she was not surprised to see the sullen expression on his face. His sad eyes drifted up to meet hers.

"No. My name is Henry Prion." He turned his sad eyes to her.

"You're his son!"

"Yes, I know."

"Why didn't you tell me? Did he send you to spy on us or to kill us? Did you ever care for me? Were you ever my friend? Or just using me to get in your father's favor?"

"I meant everything I've said to you, Arriana. I'm only his son in the biological sense," he explained.

"So that story about your parents being killed, it was all a lie. What happened to your mother, who was she?" she continued to question.

"It wasn't a lie. The man who was raising me, he is who I consider my father. Not Lucas."

"You lie!" Deacon stepped through the doorway shouting at Henry. "You're a spy for Lucas."

"Deacon, leave. This is between Henry and me. It has nothing to do with you." Arriana glared at him, frustrated at his intrusion.

"But he's been lying to you! He's used you!"

"As if you haven't? I don't want to see you right now. I am talking with Henry alone. Do you understand?"

"Fine." He snapped. Deacon turned and stormed out of the small corridor. His footsteps could be heard echoing as he stomped down. The sound of the creaking front door ensured their privacy.

"I'm not lying, Arriana. I never considered Lucas my father and you're right, I never saw you as a friend."

The shocked and hurt look on her face caused a slight smile to play at his lips.

"I've wanted you to be more than a friend. Arriana, I'm in love with you. Head over heels, madly in love with you. Are you that dense and clueless that you had no idea?"

The hurt look was replaced with a flush of rouge as her face changed colors with her embarrassment. All she could do was shake her head. Her mouth had suddenly gone as dry as cotton.

"You feel the same way?"

"Yes, I mean no. I don't know." Her voice was so hoarse she had no idea if he even heard her. "Henry, how can I trust you? You've been lying to me since you got here. You're Lucas' son. How am I supposed to know if you are going to remain at my side or go to his?"

"I'll never abandon you. I'll be at your side until death takes me."

His voice was like honey on her ears. She knew she had every right to be mad at him. She should be mad at him. In fact he should stay locked behind those prison doors for all time. Yet, she knew with how powerful he was if he really wanted out, he could escape but he didn't even try. He was standing with his body pressed against the cold iron bars, caressing her arm with his lovely, warm hand. She lifted her gaze to meet his yet again. Her cheeks flushed red again, he had such a strange affect over her. His sullen eyes were full of remorse and something else. What was it? He startled her as he reached his hand up and stroked the side of her cheek, pushing back the few stray hairs that were in her face. Love. That was the other look in his eyes. She placed her own hand on his cheek and let it slide down to his shoulder.

What do I do? I don't want to leave him here. I won't.