Chapter 122 I will not break
IRIS
The darkness presses in from all sides. I’m curled against the cold floor, my arms wrapped around my knees, trying to hold onto whatever strength I have left.
My body aches in ways I didn’t think possible. Every breath feels heavy, every blink a small victory. I wonder if this is how it ends: alone, in a dark room, waiting for some inevitable fate that I cannot change.
My mind drifts to Darian.
I can almost feel his presence beside me, the way he always did when I needed reassurance. His voice, calm and steady, always knew how to anchor me. I remember the moments we’ve shared, quiet walks under the moon, the brief laughter we’ve stolen from a world that seems intent on tearing us apart.
I imagine him now, and a pang of longing twists my chest. If only he knew where I was, if only he could get to me in time.
A creak in the door snaps me back to reality. My pulse spikes, and I struggle to rise to my feet. I’m too weak, though, my limbs trembling beneath me. The shadows shift, and I catch movement at the edge of my vision. A figure steps into the doorway.
“Ah,” the voice draws out the sound, sharp and amused. “So alive, after all.”
I recognize her immediately. Adira. She moves with a grace that belies the malice in her eyes. The way she stands in the doorway, hands on her hips, makes me want to shrink back into the shadows, disappear entirely.
“You thought you were so clever, didn’t you?” she says, circling me like a predator. “High and mighty. Messing with forces you can’t understand. And for what? For him?” Her gaze flicks to me, sharp and cruel. “You should have left Darian alone when you had the chance. Maybe then you wouldn’t be in this… pathetic state.”
I try to say something, anything, but my throat feels dry, tight. Words won’t come. My body aches too much to even lift my arms.
She laughs, a low, mocking sound that fills the room. “I could almost feel sorry for you,” she says, “almost. But really, it’s just… entertaining. Watching you, so weak, so helpless. You thought love would protect you?”
I close my eyes, forcing myself to breathe. I remember Darian’s face, the way he looks at me like I’m the only person in the world. That thought gives me a flicker of strength.
I open my eyes slowly, daring to look at her. “You… won’t get away with this,” I whisper, my voice barely audible.
Adira tilts her head, studying me. “Get away with what? You’re here, aren’t you? And soon, your little adventure with your hero will end. But don’t worry—I’ll make sure you understand the meaning of helplessness first.”
Her words pierce me, but I refuse to let them break me. I grip the edge of the cold stone floor beneath me, trying to push myself upright. My hands shake violently, and my knees buckle, but I force my legs to hold me. Every movement hurts. Every step is an effort.
She steps closer, her eyes glittering with cruel amusement. “Do you even know why you’re here?” she asks. Her voice is mocking, but there’s a calculated edge to it, a lesson she wants me to learn. “You’ve been a thorn in the wrong people’s side. You’ve meddled in ways that will have consequences.”
I force myself to meet her gaze, refusing to look away. “I don’t care,” I say, my voice stronger than I thought possible. “I won’t give up. Not ever.”
Adira laughs again, a sound that echoes off the walls. “Bold words for someone who can barely stand. You really think your determination can change anything? That it will save you?”
I don’t answer. I can feel the heat rising in my face, a mix of fear and defiance. I have to hold on. I can’t let them win. I won’t.
She steps closer, leaning in, her face inches from mine. “You should have listened,” she whispers, almost conspiratorially. “You should have stayed in your place. But no, you had to interfere. And now…” She straightens suddenly, her voice rising. “Now you’re going to see what real consequences feel like.”
She rises to her feet and kicks my side, causing me to fall back face first to the ground and tge kicking continues. She stops, breathing hard as she raises my head by pulling my hair and slaps me across my face. Hard.
“I told you he was mine. I asked you to back off. You didn’t listen. And now, you will pay the price with you life.”
She gestures, and a guard steps forward. “Take her,” she commands.
I stumble back, trying to resist, but my legs betray me. My body doesn’t respond the way I want it to. The guard grabs my arm, and I feel the chill of his grip on my skin. Panic rises in my chest. “No! Stop! Please!” I cry out. My voice is hoarse, cracking.
Adira smiles, as if my fear amuses her. “Oh, don’t worry. This isn’t the end yet. Not for me. But it will be for you, in time.”
I struggle weakly, twisting against the guard, but it’s no use. My body is too exhausted, too battered. Every step toward the door feels like moving through a storm. Every breath is a battle.
The hallway outside the room is dimly lit. Shadows stretch along the walls like reaching hands, and I feel as though the darkness itself is pressing against me. The guard’s grip is unyielding, and I can’t muster the strength to resist.
“Stay calm,” I whisper to myself. “You have to stay calm. Think.”
I close my eyes for a moment, and in my mind, I see Darian’s face. His determination, his strength, the way he never gives up on me. That thought fuels me, a small ember of defiance that refuses to be snuffed out.
Adira’s voice floats behind me, taunting, reminding me of my helplessness. “Do you feel it yet? The weight of your choices? The inevitability of your situation?”
I grit my teeth, pushing against the guards just enough to stumble forward. Every movement sends shocks of pain through my body. My limbs feel like lead, but I keep going. I can’t let her see me break completely.
The guard tightens his grip, and I stumble again, barely catching myself. My body protests, screaming at me to stop, to give in. But I push forward. M
Adira’s voice follows me, cold and amused. “Enjoy your last walk, Iris. The throne room awaits. And so does your reckoning.”
I swallow hard, my throat dry, my legs trembling. But I refuse to let fear control me. I straighten as best I can, lifting my chin. I may be weak, but I am not defeated.
As the throne room doors swing open, I take a deep, shuddering breath. Whatever comes next, I will face it. I will find a way to endure.