This is kinda what I imagine the light realm to look like ^^. Anyway, enjoy the new chapter!

Bash

"Sebastian," the word fell from Enyos mouth like honey and poison. Her eyes trailed down his body and made their way back up to his eyes.

He didn't like the look in them.

Enyo had always been devious. Even for a Devara she was the most cunning clever person he knew. She was one of the only people who could outwit him.

Someone that terrified him.

Her dark hair flowed like an empty void down her back and her yellow eyes, like that of a lion meeting its prey, tracked his every movement.

They had never come right out and said it but they both despised each other. Perhaps it was the battle of thrones, maybe it was the fact they were way too similar for both their likings. For Bash, it was the bargain they had struck many years ago. The thing she had made him promise and for that he hated her.

"Hello, Enyo," he kept his voice as steady and firm as he could. Though it was the opposite of his true emotions. Internally he was a mess. He was an absolute mess.

Between his brother almost dying and Avaryn ...

... Avaryn.

Her name hurt to think. It was a reminder of his failure. He had failed her. And now ... Gods, now who knew what was happening to her. What that wretched demon king was doing to her.

And that was precisely why he was here. He was here to fix his wrongs. He and The rest of the royal Devaras had discussed that only he should tell Enyo about the situation. He had agreed, he didn't think they would be able to control themselves around her and Bash had always been good at containing her anger and staying calm.

Enyo sat in the drawing-room before him, not on a throne like the last couple of times he'd seen her. She wore not a gown but a simple blouse and trousers. She looked normal. The most normal he had seen her since they were kids.

Her yellow eyes flicked across his face. Her eyes would seem strange to some but he knew where they truly came from. He knew what she truly was. The same as what Kaida was. It was a secret among their family that had been kept for generations until the massacre a hundred years ago.

Bash's heart squeezed. He could not think of that right now.

Enyo didn't have that familiar look of wickedness or annoyance in her gaze. Though he could see the far away challenge in them. But he supposed that was always there.

He told Enyo everything that had happened, he told her what had become of Avaryn.

Enyo listened tilting her head at certain parts like a cat. And then she smiled. And it was feral. "And what would you like me to do Sebastian?"

Sebastian.

Nobody ever called him that.

"I want you to help," he said. "She is one of our own. We could do anything. Send an army or-"

"No."

"No?"

Anger blurred through him like a flame but he pushed it away like he always did, he buried deep down where it could never resurface.

"I do not have enough reason to send my people into a battle that they may or may not come back from. And you have given me far less logic too," she said her chin tipped up, a way to look down on him even though he was quite literally a foot taller than her.

She was right, of course. He knew that. But ... "they are my people too. And so is Avaryn. I will not leave her to that horrid king-"

"Do you even know if she is alive?" Enyo pressed a deep look in her yellow eyes.

"If the king wanted her dead, why not kill her on the spot?" Bash challenged her logic.

"Perhaps, or he may have wanted to kill her himself. Absorb her power or whatever those demons believe."

"She's not dead."

A smile, a cruel mischievous smile graced her face. "I see. You care for the half-breed. This is personal, isn't it? You want me to send my people into a battle with demons because your half-human-lover is-?"

"Dammit, Enyo!" He snapped, his frustrated voice cutting hers off.

Her eyebrows raised, though if she was surprised he couldn't tell.

He was shocked at his outburst. He had always been one to hold in anger. He never got irritated easily.

He let out a soothing breath but before he could speak she cut him off.

"Do not forget the bargain, Sebastian. Do not forget that I command you. Do not forget that I am the reason you and your little family are even alive," she said, her voice never wavered, it always stayed strong and steady. Bash hated to even think it but she was an amazing leader. Power-hungry or not, he could not deny it.

She and he had never mentioned the bargain once since they struck it all those years ago. This was the first time in nearly a hundred years.

Of course, her wicked smile made an appearance. "Do they even know why they have not been slaughtered by the Greer king? Do they know that you bargained off their titles for my protection? Oh, I'm sure my darling sister would love to hear that the only reason she's alive is because I allow her to be. It would be a shame if-"

"Enough." He spoke the word, not as a demand but a plea. He could not hear anymore. Of course, they didn't know the real reason they had not been hunted and killed by the shadow king. They could never know. If they did they would hate him. And they would never go along with it and they would all end up killed. They could not take knowing that it was Enyos magic that kept the Greer away. Not the school like he had told them all these years ago about witches and their burial ground.

It was Enyo.

He had come begging her like a fool all those years ago. He had been a fool to think there wouldn't be a price with her. Especially since their falling out years before that.

"So you will not help?"

"And what do I get out of it?"

"Anything," he said the word before he had time to process it. He had always been like that around her. She made him question himself and he hated it. In return it made him tend not to think about his actions as much because he was too focused on hers.

She beamed and he could have sworn her eyes glowed.

He prepared himself for whatever she was going to ask. Something like hope flared in his chest. Maybe Enyo was not as bad as he thought she be. Maybe there was hope for her after all. Maybe she wasn't just a power-hungry vicious person.

Maybe she could be the Enyo he knew as a kid.

"No," she said her grin vanishing and turning into something worse. "I will not help you."

That hope in his chest was immediately crushed.

He sat up from his seat, a fit of newfound anger in him as he glared at her.

She glared back.

He looked her up and down and tried to seem disgusted. "I suppose I was wrong. There is no hope for you Enyo."

***

Avaryn

For the next three nights, Raiden told me about Chaska, her journeys, her power, her might. I was beginning to look up to her, even if she were fictional or not. I liked that she wasn't a hero but she wasn't quite a villain. Those were my favorite types of people in stories. I had begun to look forward tonight, so I could hear her story. I found myself strangely relating to her. She might be the only other of my kind.

Raiden had been gone for at least an hour getting food. Which meant he was hunting. An animal. Shivers of disgust went through me at the thought of eating a deer, or a rabbit. I had endured three days of eating ... that. It was awful and I could not wait to be in civilization again.

While he was away I practiced my fire. Apparently, it did not matter how far he was from me, I could still take it. It was strange. I held out my hands in front of me and commanded the flame. It came to me as easy as breathing. As easy as walking and talking. It was natural.

Tingles spread across my arms, warmth spread through my veins. I was learning my tolerance for it, I could only keep a flame in my palm for about ten minutes before it started to burn. But I could use the power much longer, as long as I dropped it and resummoned it was fine. I practiced for about thirty minutes this time before I sat down next to the campfire.

My foot tapped aimlessly on the ground. My eyes scanned the trees for the fiftieth time. He was nowhere. Raiden was not in sight. What if something had happened to him? He'd been gone for so long. What would I do without him?

I would die.

There's no question about it. I stood up from the ground. My heart hammered in my chest. I should go look for him. Without him, there was no way I could survive out here.

I strode, determined, in the direction he had gone. The ground was hard and absolutely horrifying to walk on in these stupid flat decorative shoes I was wearing. The dress I was wearing was all dirty and cut up, I definitely needed a shower.

I felt the cold wind dance across my face, I heard it flow through the trees and the sound of the leaves falling. I got a prickling sensation on the back of my neck, almost like someone was watching me. I fought down the paranoia, it was nothing but my brain playing tricks.

I scolded myself for leaving Raidens cloak behind. My shoulder and arms were bare. 
After walking for at least ten minutes I heard the sound of running water. I felt my lips twitch into a small, joyful, smile. A waterfall? Or a creek? I had to see it.

I turned in the direction of the noise and after a couple of minutes, I was standing in front of a small quarry, with an even smaller waterfall. It was beautiful. The water was crystal clear and the scent coming off it was fresh and free. I felt mist spring up and brush my face swiftly.

My breath stalled.

Someone emerged from the water.

Raiden came from behind the waterfall wearing ... nothing. My first instinct was to be angry with him, he was just going to clean himself and not tell me I could do the same? But then my eyes drifted down from his face to his chest, to his abs.

I mentally cursed at my eyes, they were traitors.

But I couldn't not admit it.

Raiden was truly, frustratingly, beautiful. He wasn't buff but he wasn't scrawny. His hair was snowy white with a touch of silver, I wondered how it got that color. His skin was the smoothest golden brown, in the moonlight he looked unreal. His eyes weren't just one shade of black, they were the color of the night sky, the color of his obsidian blades, maybe even the color of his heart.

Something felt incredibly wrong about watching him and I knew I should look away.

I'd just never seen him like this. His guard down, him being natural, maybe vulnerable. He seemed ... human. It was a strange thing to see on Raiden. He was always so ... cold to the point he seemed like he didn't feel anything. He acted like he saw the world in amusement but I couldn't help but feel that was a lie.

A twig snapped from the right of me, my head instinctively whirled in that direction. My eyes surveyed the area but there was nobody around. It was probably some type of animal. I turned back to the quarry only to see that Raiden was missing from it.

My heart sunk. Where-?

I felt the sensation of someone behind me, everything in me froze. Of course, he was behind me. He was Raiden. He knew everything. He knew I was watching him.

I closed my eyes, preparing for the snide remark that was coming my way.

"Do you enjoy watching people shower?" I heard his voice from behind me, I felt his breath at the back of my neck. He was close. Too close. And his voice was strange. Deeper. Hoarse. It was devoid of his usual blind amusement.

My heart was pounding now, I didn't even know why. I could feel him behind me. I could feel the heat coming off his body. Maybe I had hyperthermia because I found myself leaning slightly towards it.

"Avaryn?" his voice drifted through the air, his smooth whisper like a song in the night.

"Y-yes?"

"Why were you watching me, Love?" Ah. There it was. That familiar humor of his. His voice was filled with it. Was he laughing at me for stuttering?

"Watching you?" I laughed but it was forced. "How cocky of you prince, I was simply admiring the lake and the waterfall."

It happened so lightly I was so sure I was imagining it. I felt a fingertip touch my bare shoulder and slowly glide down my arm leaving goosebumps in its wake. My whole body stiffened at the contact. What was he doing? Why was he touching me like that? Why didn't I stop him?

I could feel the path of his hand, his touch stayed on my skin as if remembering it there, like a burn. The heat coming from him was making me delusional, that had to be it.
Maybe this wasn't even happening? Maybe I was simply just going crazy?

His finger didn't stop until he reached my hand, he paused for a few seconds before he moved his fingers to tangle with mine. My heartbeat fluttered and I could've sworn I sucked in a breath.

Butterflies swarmed my stomach.

I wanted to take those butterflies and stomp on them. Better yet, burn them. They were traitors.

His touch felt like a poison that was killing me and the cure to save me all at the same time. It felt like he was suffocating me all while giving me life. It was dangerous. And I guessed by now I knew how I felt about danger. I was drawn to it.

It was the gentlest of things, the smallest featherlight touch, but my heart was pounding so much I could hear it in my ears.

His breath stirred my hair. My skin was lit, it was burning, he was burning me. But not in a bad way, in a way that made me want more.

My head was spinning and I felt dizzy. 

What was happening? Why did I feel like this? Why did his touch make me feel ... strong? Why did I feel powerful? Almost the exact same feeling I felt when I used his fire rushed through me. Was that it? Could I feel his power through his skin? Running through his veins, so close to me I could just take it?

I tried to come to my senses. This couldn't be happening. This was not happening. "You-you can't," I told him, yet I did not pull away, I did not wish for him to not touch me. Actually, it was the only thing I didn't wish for.

"You don't feel it?" he asked, his voice was right by my ear now, barely a whisper. Inches away. I realized I could practically feel his chest brushing against my back, the heat from him was driving me insane. His touch was driving me insane. He felt it too? That weird rush of power that made me feel euphoric?

I wasn't thinking clearly, no, I wasn't thinking at all. His gentle fingers played with mine until his full hand was entwined with mine. Shivers ran down my spine. It shouldn't feel like this. Addicting. Like I was getting my first breath of air after suffocating for decades. "You want me to stop?"

"No," the word rushed out of my mouth before I could stop it. Where had my morals gone? Why did they suddenly leave me in the dust the second he touched me?

I felt a rush of wind hit me, my eyes shot open.

"Avaryn." Raiden's voice was different now. "Don't move," Raiden said, his voice was alert and steady and I felt the heat of him leave me as if he had taken a step back.

"W-why?" fear pulsed through me. I pushed the thoughts of his hand on mine away and replaced it with the situation in front of me.

I suddenly heard a rustling in the trees. All around us, circling us. Something was in the trees, watching us. "What is that?" I turned towards him slowly to find him squinting up at the trees. They rustled more once I turned.

"I told you not to move," he snapped without looking at me.

"What is it?" I whispered, assuming he'll know.

He squinted up at the trees for a long while before he answered me. "Faes," he replied in a bland tone.

My eyes widened, so much I thought they would pop from their sockets. "Fairies? Have you gone mad?"

"No. Faes. They are two completely different things. Keep your voice down, they are fickle creatures, they could possibly kill you."

What? Fairies? Was this really happening? Was he being serious? Weren't fairies supposed to be tiny little creatures that spread happiness or something? Why did Raiden look so cautious? How did he even know it was fairies?

Something dropped from one of the trees in front of us. I stammered back, terrified. I didn't understand how this was happening.

We were in the human world!

But then I thought of the words Nyan had said to me. She had said that there were many different creatures wandering the earth that humans had no idea about. Did she mean these?

The figure stepped into the light.

He was not what I imagined a fairy to look like. He wasn't the size of my pinkie and he didn't have magic dust coming off of him. He was actually quite large, probably a foot taller than me, the same height as Raiden.

His skin was so pale, so white, it made him look like a wraith. And his eyes, they were white, the same white as Bash's eyes when he used his gifts. And his ears, they were very large and pointed up like I would imagine elf ears to look like. But that wasn't the thing that made my heart fall into my stomach. Spread out behind him were two black demonic-looking wings. They were ... huge. They were leathery-looking, like the wings of a bat. They were scary yet somehow beautiful. He looked like an angel of death.

How in the hell do they remain hidden from humans? I think I would have noticed a giant person with wings soaring through the sky.

The fairy smiled at me, probably because of the terror in my eyes. It only lasted for a split second before Raiden stepped in front of me, blocking his view.

I moved my head around so I could see the fairy again. He held up his hands defensively.

"I don't mean any trouble, I just smelt you and thought it was different from the average human, now I know why," the fairy said, with some kind of glint in his white gaze. It was a look I didn't like. It made me uneasy and I could tell by the way Raiden stood he sensed it too. 

"That's a lovely excuse, now leave," Raiden demanded, his voice hard, but it was more of a threat than it was a demand. 

"Oh, now come on, I have no issues with Greer, none of us do."

Us?

One by one a half a dozen more fairies dropped down from the trees. They all looked the same as the first guy, pale and lifeless with black wings.

"Allow me to introduce myself, I'm Sorin the high prince of Fae. Can I ask what you are doing on my land?"

"This is your land?"

Sorin smiled and it was arrogant. I wanted to roll my eyes.

Would I ever escape the arrogance of a man?

"Yes."

"I didn't realize we were that far north," Raiden said with kindness in his voice. It was so very fake. Very fake. "We are a bit lost, we didn't realize. We should get going." Before Raiden could walk away and pull me with him The Fae Prince stepped in front of him.

"Normally we wouldn't even try to fight a Greer, no matter how delicious they are, they are still stronger," he started, confusion spread in me, what was he saying? He turned to stare at me, something like desire in his eyes. ... or hunger? "But her? She's different isn't she?"

A low noise came from Raiden, and I recognized it right away. There were only a few times I'd ever seen him truly angry and right now was one of those times. But even though I could tell, I was almost one hundred percent sure they couldn't. Raiden was good at covering how he truly felt. "I'm not sure I follow what you mean?"

"Don't play with me Greer, she's powerful. I can smell it."

"And?" Raiden asked blankly.

"And I want her."

"Well, It's good to want things," Raiden stated, smugly. "We'll be on our way now."

He made a move to turn us but the other Fae stepped around us, circling us. Dread swirled through me. This couldn't be happening. There was no way I was about to be kidnapped. Again!

"Can you fight them?" I whispered up at Raiden.

He looked down at me, that gleam in his eyes, that cockiness that only he could pull off in a situation like this. He grinned at my face, he was truly impeccably, unbelievably, insane. "I could do it with my eyes closed, Darling."

The Fae's moved closer to us and I staggered back, terrified. "Well, could you get on with it then?"

I heard him mumble something like 'so bossy' before he swept his weapons off the ground and began to fight them off. The Fae came at him from every angle. I had almost forgotten that they had wings. That they could fly. It was a magnificent and horrifying thing to see.

Raiden fought them with ease but there was this nagging feeling in me. This pit in my stomach. Something was wrong. I surveyed the fae's only to realize their prince was not of the many Raiden was fighting.

I felt a hand wrap around my throat from behind and fling me backward. My scream was muffled and suffocated. I felt myself being dragged back and back. I broke out. My arms hitting, my legs kicking. I felt my back hit something hard, and aching pain spread through my bones. The scent of honey and lilies engulfed me, was this what Faires smelt like? Like mist and summertime?

"It'll be easier if you don't struggle," that silky voice said from behind me, his voice at my ear, his hands gripping my body in place.

"It'll be easier if you just let me go." I kicked at him but he did not loosen his grip, it was as thick as steel.

"Spark. I like that."

Sorin turned me towards him, so we were face to face. He was horrifying, especially his beady eyes and black wings. 

I heard distant high pitch screams, the screams of pain and agony. And none of them had come from Raiden.

I smiled and had a sudden urge to laugh. "He'll kill you.'' I was more confident in those words than I should be. I believed them more than I should have. When had I begun to rely on Raiden?

The prince smiled. "I don't think he will."

"And why do you think that?"

"I did not sense any power from him, he is just a normal Greer."

This time I did laugh, because his words were hilarious. Raiden? Normal? That was the last thing he was. My laughter died off and I leaned up to the prince. "The thing about Raiden," I said, I did not recognize my own voice. I sounded strong, unwavering, but most of all I sounded cruel. I sounded mocking, "Is that he is so powerful, he can hide his power from everyone."

Sorin's smile dropped. "Impossible."

I didn't reply, I was too busy getting my hand free from his death tight grip, long enough to summon a flame. Tingles of warmth ran down my arm and a blast of green and crimson flames erupted from my hand. Sorin screamed as it touched his skin and released me, falling back.

I dropped my arms to my side, the fire engulfing around me. I'm sure I looked crazy, a girl with fire all around her, a fire that was not burning her.

The prince peered at me in amazement. His mouth hung open, and his crystal white eyes were wide with fear?

Something like satisfaction filled me. I liked that look in his eyes. I liked that I put it there. "You- you are powerful, I knew it."

There was something in me, pulling me, telling me to kill him. I could. It would be easy. Very easy. And then our problem would be gone. And I and Raiden would be free. Kill him, the voice whispered, the voice sounded like my own, but silkier, smoother.

Something hit me then; I wanted to do it. I wanted to kill him. I wanted it more than I needed air. I lifted my hand to him. His eyes widened in terror, then they flicked behind me and something like relief filled them.

Before I could react something hit me over the head and I fell into unconsciousness, hitting the cold hard ground.

***

I dreamt of Nisha. I dreamt of her screaming. I dreamt of the king killing her, over and over. I dreamt of his sword plunging into her chest. I dreamt of her blood sinking into the carpet of the gallery. I dreamt of the look in her eyes when she knew she was about to die, of course, I didn't know if that was how it really went but I imagined it was something like that. I watched her die this time, instead of just discovering it.

I watched her struggle to get away, I watched her agony and fear and knew I could do nothing to ease it. I cried for her, I screamed for her. It was my fault and it would always be my fault.

I felt a hand being placed on my shoulder. I turned to see a pair of black eyes. They belonged to a woman. Her hair was long and deadly black, her skin was golden tan and her eyes were narrowed, a sign of her lineage. She was beautiful. She was all muscles, she was wearing the gear of a warrior and she had two silver swords in her hands. "Come," she said to me. "I must show you the truth."

Confusion hit me. "Who are you?"

The woman smiled, softly. "My name is Chaska."

Chaska.

The name sounded familiar but I could not place it. I did not know her but for some reason, I felt like I could trust her.

I found my feet moving with her in the direction she was pulling me in. Suddenly the castle of Arawyn has blurred away and disappeared from my eyes in misty smoke.

My breath caught, all of a sudden we were on a mountain top. Snow crunched under my feet and trees over twenty feet sprawled around us. Snowflakes fell from the gray sky like magical raindrops. The snow observed any noise and it was perfectly silent around us.

Chaska turned to me, her dark eyes shining with kindness but I could tell they had been through a lot, seen so much death. "I have lost someone too," she said.

"I'm sorry," I whispered and felt guilt run through me. I didn't know why, I didn't even know her but I felt obligated to make her feel better.

"I have a message for you."

I peered up at her through snowflaked lashes. "For what? From who?"

"Do not go back," she whispered. Some sort of gold shimmered around her, like dust, it was ... breathtaking, she looked like an angel. A golden angel. My eyes flicked to her feet. Dark shadows of ash pooled beneath her. They were misty and pure black. Both gold and black shadows were surrounding her. They were shadows of ash and gold.

It was a strange thing to see, but it enthralled me, it captured me. She was like an angel and a demon. "It is your destiny to save them. Just as it was mine."

"Save who? What are you talking-?" but she had disappeared and soon the image of the mountain had too.

I shot up from an unfamiliar bed. I surveyed around me. Where the hell am I? Golden drapes filled the room, everything was gold and maroon. The walls were filled with painting, the wood of them painted a dark crimson. It looked like a castle.

Why was I always waking up in a castle? This would be the third one I've been to.

Everything came back to me in flashes. Images of demonic-looking Fae filled my mind. Shit! Shit! I managed to get kidnapped again! What the hell was wrong with me? Where was Raiden?

The logical answer was not here. There was no way he could get taken. No way. Sorin probably snatched me and flew away before Raiden could reach me. So I was most likely alone. Alone in a random castle with a species, I knew nothing about.

I looked down at myself realizing I was no longer in the dreadful dress. I was wearing normal clothes. Human clothes. Jeans and a t-shirt. I almost broke into a smile before I realized someone must've dressed me in this. I noticed there was no longer dirt beneath my fingernails. My heart dropped. Oh, God. Did someone bathe me?

I looked around the room, looking for something, anything. I saw a vase on one of the decorative side tables. That would work.

I got up from the bed and picked it up, hurriedly smashing it against the wall. Snatching one of the shards carefully; I made my way to the door across from the bed.

Symbols I didn't recognize were etched in the red wood of the door.

I slowly put my hand on the knob and twisted it, I heard the familiar click and the door opened. It wasn't locked. Why wasn't it locked?

I held my hand, which had the glass in it, out towards me. I looked both ways down the corridor before stepping out carefully. The walls were sage green with gold running through them, almost like veins. It reminded me of Crestwood.

The floors were marble with the same gold shimmering throughout them. I found a door at the end of the hall with the same strange markings from the door before on it. I felt propelled towards it. I had no idea why and before I knew it my feet were unintentionally walking towards it.

I knew it was a waste of my time that there was no way this was the way out of here but my legs kept walking.

Once I reached the door I did not hesitate to open it. I did not think rationally as I would've. I did not even think about it at all. Which was not like me, I thought about everything.

I squinted at the inside of it.

Bars were covering the threshold like this was a jail cell. They were black and shiny. Strange.

I lifted my hand to one of the bars.

"Don't touch it," a hard voice snapped from inside the cage-room.

I watched as Raiden stepped into the light from behind the bars. He ... he was wearing human clothes. Dark jeans and a white t-shirt. It was strange to see on him. And he had paint all over them, all over his hands too. "There's Dendarum on them."

The glass of the vase fell from my hand out of surprise. "How did- how did you manage to get captured?" I stared at him confused. I couldn't believe he was here. In front of me. In a cell. How did they get him? There was no way-

"I got captured on purpose." 

"Why?" 

He gave me a look.  "Why do you think?"

I ignored his words. "Why are you in there and I'm out here?" 

He smirked. "Because you are much nicer when you get kidnapped than I am." 

"Because you would kill them?" I guessed and I noted the pettiness in my voice, the accusation I was throwing at him.

"Precisely. And I will kill them, make no mistake, Love," he said it with such ease, with even humor. I didn't know how he did it. I didn't know how he could kill and not even give the slightest damn about it. How he could joke about it. Although right now he was not joking. I saw the truth in his words. I saw the secret anger in his black eyes. He was angry.

"Oh I don't doubt that." the sunlight came through from a window behind him in his cell, it looked like it was about sunset time. The light hit his golden skin and I could see the paint that was all over it more clearly. "How did you manage to get them to give you paint?"

"I threatened one of the guard's wives," he stated with a silky smile. "I didn't even know he had a wife, I just guessed. But I was bored out of my mind so I took the chance."

I shook my head at him. Of course, he found that funny.

"Oh no, am I a great disappointment to you Avaryn? Have I lost all hope of you ever liking me? However, should I live now-?"

"I want to see," I cut him off, in the middle of his rude sentence.

He blinked. His sarcasm was immediately erased. He must've flipped that switch that hides deep within him. "See what?"

"Your painting."

He looked truly taken aback as if that was the last thing he ever expected me to say. I hadn't expected it either, I suppose. I guess I was just curious. I wanted to know if he actually did paint the pictures that were in the gallery of the castle of Arawyn. 

"Hey!" someone shouted from the right of me. Both Raiden and I whipped our heads toward the noise. A guard with black wings and white eyes strode up to me and grabbed me by my arm. "You can't be here."

"Hey Stan," Raiden greeted him through the bars, a sarcastic smile brewing on his face. He was in a pissy mood today. "Or was it Steve?"

The guards' eyes narrowed. "You shut your mouth."

Raiden put up his hands in a mocking gesture, a smile on his face that just made you want to hit him and amusement sparkling in his dark eyes.

Those serpent eyes flicked down to where the guard was gripping my arm rather tightly. I saw a flash in them but it was gone just as quick as it came. "Stephen, do you remember what I said about your wife?"

I watched Stan-Steve-Stephen's throat bob as if he were nervous and his skin started to produce sweat. This poor man. "I- yes."

"Well if you keep on grabbing her like that I'm going to have to do the same to your children," Raiden stated, "you don't want that for them, do you Sam?"

My jaw fell to the floor. Did Raiden just threaten this man's children? his children?

"B-but I don't have any kids."

I couldn't help the snort that escaped me. Raiden flashed me a glare, I shot him a grin that said: dumbass. He looked up as if he were thinking. "I think you do."

My gaze flicked down, a sword was strapped against the guard's waist in some sort of holster.

"But I don't-"

"Wow, Steve, you forgot your own children? What kind of parent does that?" the words came from my mouth before I could stop them. I felt a weird sense of joy fill me. Why was I enjoying this?

Anger flashed over the guard's face and annoyance. "All right you two, enough." his grip on my arm tightened and I grimaced as a small sting of pain shot through me.

"Let go of her," Raiden's voice was devoid of humor now. It was calm. Scary calm.

The guard's eyes flashed with fear as he looked at Raiden. I took that as a distraction and reached for the guard's sword. My hand gripped it and before I knew what I was doing I slammed the hilt against the back of the guard's head with as much strength as I could muster.

He stood for a few seconds, frozen, before he flopped down onto the ground, passing out. I stared down at him and felt my lips twitch upwards. "He said to let go," I said in a sing-song voice to his unconscious body.

I looked back at Raiden. He had a weird look on his face as he stared down at the guard. He glanced back up at me, something like amusement mixed with pride shown on his face. "That was unexpected."

I smiled at the startled look on his face, I think I liked surprising him. "I thought you don't underestimate me?"

"I would never, darling, but you are quite unpredictable."

"So are you."

I got on the floor and I checked all of the guard's pockets, all of his pockets, disturbingly, but found nothing. 

"He doesn't have the keys, the prince does."

"So you just watched me check all of his pockets for no reason?"

"You can figure things out on your own."

My fists clenched. He was pushing my buttons extra today, I guess he was pissy about being kidnapped. I almost snickered. Maybe it was good, he can see how I felt. "Where do you think the prince is right now?"

"Mmh, let's see. It's five O'clock? Oh! he should be in the drawing-room having his evening tea," Raiden said and flashed me a grin.

"What crawled up your ass today?" I growled.

He stared at me blankly. "In case you didn't notice, I'm locked in a cage."

"That's not my fault."

"Oh, I think it is."

"In what way is this my fault?" I gasped, my blue eyes shooting wide open at his statement.

"I told you to stay by the fire, you didn't, and now I'm locked in here."

"It's not my fault you came after me!"

"Yes it is, I am suppose to protect you!" he shouted back, his face so close to mine they almost touched the poisonous bars between us. His breath was hard, just as hard as mine.

"Why?" I whispered.

He said nothing, his mouth suddenly being screwed shut.

"Fine," I huffed and turned on my heels.

"Where are you going?"

I looked over my shoulder at him, his eyes gave no sign of emotion, no clue to what his words could have meant. "I'm going to find the prince and steal the key. Don't worry, I'm a good thief."

Something flashed in his eyes, something like ... concern. But no. That couldn't be it. It had to be something else. There was no way he was worried about me. He shook his head. "You can't."

I paused for a few seconds, my head tilting a fraction. "I can," my voice was low, and different. Angry? Maybe. I seemed to always be angry around him.

"He's powerful, Avaryn, and you have no idea what he wants with you-" he didn't get to finish his sentence because I walked away from him. I was tired of arguing, especially when I already knew how it would end anyway. There wasn't exactly anything Raiden could do to stop me. I was going to find that damn key, and I was going to get us out of here.

I was going to be the one to save us.

•••

Hey loves!! How are you all doing today? I hope you enjoyed the new chapter.

The Devaras may or may not be in the next chapter 👀🏃🏻‍♀️.

Someone once again mentioned Raiden and Avaryn being siblings?? 🤢 like why y'all ? WHY? DO THEY GIVE OFF THOSE VIBES OR SOMETHING? I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY YALL KEEP MENTIONING IT. ITS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. I REPEAT. I AM NOT MISS CASSANDRA CLARE.

Anyways love y'all tell me what you think! 🥰