Freya

Imprisoned.

After my father was murdered, that was the word that used to float through my mind when I was in Veymaw. I grew up happy there; it was my small, peaceful corner of the world. My father's small, run-down cabin was home, the lake was my escape, and the surrounding forest my friend.

But when Samu was taken, Veymaw became my cell. The monotonous days--wake up, go to school, go home, go to sleep--felt like prison.

The forge was freedom. With its underlying threat of danger, its bustling, shadowed streets filled with slimy people with foreign accents. It awoke something in me. It went deeper than finding Samu. The thrill of danger, of being just on the outskirts of the place that was once my sanctuary, never too far to turn back... it kept me alive when everything felt so hopeless.

And in the Elel Palace, imprisoned by restricting gowns, deceptive smiles, and threatening words, I had Killian and Casimir. Cas, with his security and familiar comfort. And Killian, with his electrifying energy, his intrigue, touch, warmth. There was an inevitable feeling that everything would be okay. That it had to be.

That's the thing about imprisonment. Whatever kind of prison you're in, you need something to keep you going. Something to provide warmth, light, hope.

And despite the wintry sun setting around us and the bunches of wildflowers surrounding my market stall, the world has never felt so dark.

"What beautiful midrangi." A plump man with red marks on his cheeks tells me, leaning over the wooden counter to inspect the bunch of red flowers. "Didn't think they grew 'round this time of year."

"We caught the last of the season, sir."

He tilts his head sideways, staring at me a bit closer. "Are you new to Dadun?" I nod my head. He leans closer. "Have we met before? There's something familiar about you--"

"Travis!" Hana appears behind me, a wide grin on her face as she puts a hand on my shoulder. "Have you met my cousin Alice? She just moved from Portson."

His suspicion softens at Hana's intrusion, the warmth exuding from her settling him slightly. It's the second day I've been allowed out of the cell Hana kept Lei and me in, but not the first time I've witnessed Hana's manipulation of the people in this village.

My eyes scan the marketplace. Smaller than Veymaw, narrow passageways depart from the surrounding streets, escape routes shrouded in shadows. It takes everything inside of me not to bolt.

Wait. A familiar voice murmurs in my mind. Not now.

The man leans back slightly. "You look like someone I know, Alice." He leans back, perplexed. "Can't quite place you."

My shoulders tighten, but I don't say anything. Dadun is the smallest village in Elel, farthest from the Palace, but I don't doubt the King's posters of me reached all this way. My hair, falling to my waist in the King's depiction of me, now rests just beneath my shoulders in a jagged cut -- Hana's attempt to disguise me.

The newly formed dark marks on my right palm are a more notable change. But that wasn't her doing.

Hana distracts the man with something else, talking of the weather and business. Her warm demeanor is almost enough to fool me; but I know the truth. She despises these villagers as much as I despise her.

I tune both of them out, catching eyes with Lei across the marketplace. She offers a curt nod before plastering on a bright smile as she passes a second hand book over to the vendor. I follow the length of her arm, brushing against the burgundy frock. Her thumb points backwards, towards the side street to her left.

I pocket the information.

I'd never thought I'd see Lei wearing a dress. But with everything else she does, she carries herself with an elegance that makes the idea of her wearing anything else seem absurd.

Hana eventually waves the man off.

He doesn't buy any flowers. It's my second day doing this, and still, nobody has. In this village, it's a luxury most can't afford. But it doesn't matter.

Hana doesn't need to sell flowers. She needs a purpose. A business as to not be suspicious. To sell the idea that she, they, are merely immigrants from Ayrith whose home was destroyed by evil Torinnians.

"A smile wouldn't hurt, you know," Hana comments, sidling up beside me. I glance at her from the corner of my eye, forcing a tight smile. She pats my shoulder. "Much better." I bite the inside of my cheek. "Pack up. The sun is going down, it's time to get moving."

I cast her a side glance as I help pack down the stall, relief settling in my stomach at the thought of returning to the cells Lei and I have spent the last week in.

Because despite its icy cold floor and lack of furnishing, there's no mask to put on. There's no fake identity to uphold. There's no reminder of home. There's room to plan.

And when I sleep, the heavy weight of grief in the pit of my stomach subsides.

After I woke up, the days passed by in a blur. Nobody, aside from one of Hana's guards, came down to visit. Our only sense of the changing time came from the slither of light that peeked through the metal grate in the ceiling.

We had no idea where we were or how far from Elel or Torinne we were. And yet, when the guard came down to deliver food, I smiled warmly, thanked him well, and showed no resistance. A stark contrast to Lei's cold demeanour and refusal to acknowledge him.

I wondered briefly if she knew him from the way he stared at her, but I never asked. Though it killed me, my positive attitude paid off. Hana brought me above ground yesterday, a day before Lei.

To say I was surprised when Hana led me out of the cell and I realized we were in a village not so far from Veymaw would be an understatement. But her eyes have not left me since we arrived. I do not mistake the silent men who loiter around the marketplace as villagers.

Every move is watched and monitored. So I play the part, we both do. Alice and Lei -- migrated from Portson to live with Hana, a distant relative, after their homes were destroyed by evil Torinnians.

When we've packed up the stall, the sun has dipped in the sky, concealed by the crumbling building in the center of the marketplace. Lei meets us by the fountain, not bothering to fake a smile.

Hana nods over her shoulder, gesturing for us to follow. I exchange a frown with Lei.

"We're not going back?" I ask.

"Not yet," Hana responds. "It's time for you to meet someone."

Lei follows despite my hesitation.

"Who?"

She continues forward, away from the marketplace, from the path that leads to our cell. "Where are we going?" I ask instead.

Hana waits till we're at the forest edge to respond. "You said you would train, right?"

My heart drops to the pit of my stomach. My hand, marred with black marks that have not left my skin since I touched the hyacerite, seems to tingle. "Right."

She does not say anything else as she leads us into the forest. My heart picks up as the lights from the village fade away, leaving us only with the light of the rising moon. Adrenaline bolts through me as the wind rustles around us.

Lei's movements, elegant and careful, seem more motivated, quicker as we venture farther into the forest. Because for the first time since we got here, there are two of us and one of them. For the first time, a tiny seed of hope spurs in my stomach.

Wait, the voice murmurs, firm but warm.

We walk for several more minutes before Hana pauses in a clearing, glancing around. Lei takes a few steps forward, ahead of Hana. She turns her head, eyes scanning the area.

"There's nobody here," Lei says. I hear the hidden message in her words.

"They'll be here soon."

But we won't be.

Lei catches my eye, hers darting down for a fraction of a second. I follow her gaze. By her side, almost concealed by her dress, she holds up five fingers.

Hana turns to face Lei.

"Who exactly are we waiting for?" I blurt, capturing her attention.

Lei puts a finger down. Four left.

Hana glances at me with a raised brow. "I always knew Lei to be impatient, but you're just as bad."

Another finger down.

"I was thinking about what you said and..." I hold up my hand, the one marked with dark lines. "...And I want to know how to control it."

One finger left.

"Is that so?" Hana muses. I don't know whether or not she believes me.

My statement is half true. If whatever powers the cloud now lies with me, I do want to know how to control it. But not for the reason that Hana wants. I don't want to hurt anybody, not like I did in the Torinnian mountains. The memory burns, raising something ugly inside of me. I shove it down.

I can't lose focus.

Lei's final finger drops, but I barely register it. She moves at the speed of light, lurching forward towards Hana and kicking her legs out from beneath her.

I turn on my heel and run.

Feet pound behind me, urging me faster, before Lei appears beside me, a widening grin on her face as the wind rushes through her hair. We dip in and out of trees, our hearts thumping louder than our footsteps.

Adrenaline pushes me further, faster than I've ever run before as the dark forest engulfs us. No voices shout from behind, no calls or footsteps or followers.

The seed of hope surges within me, festering into something greater as we fly through the forest, for the first time since we woke up in that dingy cell feeling limitless.

Lei surges ahead of me, leading the way. She ducks seamlessly under low hanging branches and over raised roots. I follow, resisting the urge to let out a scream of triumph as we escape Hana and Dadun.

But our growing hope comes to an abrupt halt.

Lei hits it before I do.

Her agonizing scream is not enough warning before a crushing pain hits my chest, sending me hurtling into the forest backwards. Every bone in my body screams as I lie panting on the floor, Lei just beside me groaning in pain.

I try to move but my body protests.

The crunching of leaves underfoot alert us of a presence, but neither of us have gathered enough sense to move. Hana hovers above us, a raised eyebrow as she holds a hand to her back.

I force myself to sit up, grunting as I lean against the trunk behind me. It feels as though we ran straight into a concrete wall, and yet, the forest stretches on before us.

"What--"

"If you'd waited," Hana says, "we could've prevented this. Alaric?"

At the mention of another, Lei pushes herself to her feet, using the trunk behind her for support.

Behind Hana, a figure emerges, covered in a thick, black cloak. He stands taller than her, staring at us as he removes his hood. Thick, blonde curls spill over his forehead, his face defined by a strong, square jaw. He stares at me, expression unreadable, before offering me a hand.

I don't take it, managing to push myself up the same way Lei did.

"This is Alaric," Hana says, nodding towards him. "He'll help you, Alice."

I flinch at the name. She has refused to call me anything else since allowing me out of the cell.

Alaric says nothing, watching me carefully. He stands just above Hana, his shoulders broad and limbs long and slim.

"What... what did you do to us?" I choke.

Lei narrows her eyes, hobbling forward to where we were thrown backwards.

"A forcefield," she murmurs, reaching a finger tentatively forward. It pulses blue around her finger as it touches an invisible wall, preventing her from moving farther. She turns to look at Alaric. "Kinjri."

"You really thought I'd trust the two of you out here?" Hana laughs. "You really are a terrible actress. I had Alaric create this forcefield specifically for you. You should feel special, really. He doesn't do it for just anybody."

"You're trapping us here," I say, eyes burning. "And you want us to thank you?"

"Well, it wouldn't hurt."

I clench my teeth but don't allow myself to respond.

"Alaric will train you," she continues. "He will show you how to control the cloud inside of you. And then you will use it to help us."

"And if I don't?" I ask. "You can't trap us here forever."

"I won't need to." She smiles, confidence radiating through her. She turns on her heel, starting to head back the way we came. "Have a good evening, ladies."

Alaric follows after her, the two of them disappearing into the darkness of the forest. My heart drops to the pit of my stomach as they wander away, leaving us in the forest with nowhere to go.

I can't help but feel, as they wander away, that this is the worst kind of imprisonment of all.