Chapter 69

Elika never expected to have a civil conversation with her uncle, especially one that didn’t even end with blood and fighting, but that’s all he did, he just talked to her.

He explained a lot of things, like what her father was going to the other realms and the mystic people who lived there.

He used them as slaves, and those who didn’t want to learn, were murdered, even as children.

It was sick, and it was monstrous. But it didn’t surprise her.

Her father had always been a monster, and for as long as she can remember he hated other mystic creatures. He wanted to use them.

He didn’t even see most of them as individuals. He just saw them as weapons he could use. He saw his own daughter the same way.

He just wanted to use her, like he uses his sons.

She thought Darkous was the same, although much to her surprise he wants to free the other creatures, and he wants to give them shelter in his realms.

But he says he can’t do it alone, and that’s where the princess comes in, but first he needs to test her power, he needs to make sure that she can do it.

She watched as they all discussed possible plans together, wondering if they knew she’d just accept what they said and help.

Though they’d be right.

She wants to help.

The dark lord has to make sure that she won’t betray him to her own father, he still doesn’t understand her hatred for the man who brought her into the world, and she doubted he ever will.

He knew his own hatred well enough, but it was like he was blind to the feelings of everyone else.

It was like he couldn’t see what was staring him right in the face, and Elika decided that she would help him.

She hates Darkous too, but right now, he was the lessor of two evils and she had to do what was right.

She couldn’t just hide anymore, not when people were suffering and afraid.

She had been that way once, alone and scared, too afraid to stand up for herself. She would never go back to the person she was.

She won’t cower anymore, or pretend her problems don’t exist.

Perhaps, if she helps her uncle do this, save the mystics, he will let her go, and when he does she will be able to choose her own path. Whatever that may be.

She was tired of other people choosing for her, no more.

No more cowering in the dark waiting for her demons to find her.

“I will do it.” she says softly, all four of them turning to look at her. “I’ll help you free the other mystics, but then I want you to let me go.” She says. “I no longer want to be a prisoner.”

Darkous stares at her, but it’s Michael who speaks, “we can discuss that when the time comes.” He says, “for now we need to talk about your abilities.”

“Yes.” Darkous nods, “Have you used them recently?”

Elika shakes her head, “I thought that if I didn’t use them it would take you longer to find me.”

“Do you have good control over them?” Joey asks, cutting a chocolate cake into six pieces and beginning to hand them out, “or are they linked to your emotions.”

Elika considers his question.

“They are linked to my emotions.” She says with a shrug, “but as long as my emotions are calm, so are my abilities.”

“You haven’t practiced at all?” Asks Darren, disappointed.

“No, I haven’t.” She laughs a little, “it isn’t like I know a place where I can practice freely amongst humans.”

“She has a point Darren.” Says Michael, “she was better to keep them under control than risk exposure.”

She smiles, that may be the first time Michael had ever agreed with her over something.

She wanted to laugh at the way it made her feel.

“This house is far enough away from people, you can begin training here with Michael.” Darkous says, rubbing his chin. “It shouldn’t take long to train you enough for the first fight, but I want to make sure you know what you are getting yourself into.” He says with a sigh, “if your father finds out you are working against him, he’ll send everything he can your way and try to destroy you.”

“You’ll protect me though.” She murmurs, “won’t you?”

Darkous nods, sipping his coffee. “Yes, I will.” He says. “I will destroy him before I let him lay a hand on you.”

That’s new.

Darkous will protect her, not hurt her.

Had the world gone mad?

“This is all so new.” She murmurs, eyes distant, “It’s nothing like what I expected.”

Darkous leans forward in his seat, “if you obey my every order, you will have no problems, I can be reasonable, but only to the right people.” He pours himself another coffee, “You can start training today, once the sedative has completely gone out of your system.”

She stares up at him, “I might catch another couple of hours whilst it’s still in my blood, I feel exhausted.”

Darkous nods, standing, “I’ll walk you back to your room.”

Elika clears her throat and nods, knowing that she can’t refuse, even if she wanted to, one wrong move and he’ll go back to his old ways, she just knew he would, and she couldn’t handle what he would do to her if that happened.

She couldn’t handle the thought of the pain that she knew he could inflict.

She follows him down the corridor as the others clear the table, her legs heavy like lead weights. Her body was starting to shut back down, and she wasn’t sure that she could fight the sedative.

She just wanted to sleep.

“Get as much sleep as you can.” He tells her, opening the door to her room, “We won’t go easy on you when you wake up, you have to be ready for war in a matter of weeks.”

She looks up at him, “and you’ll keep your word?” She asks, “you won’t hurt me?”

“Not unless you give me a reason to.” He says with a shrug, “I won’t tolerate any disobedience from you, but then again, you already know that.”

She knows it more than others, she still felt the ghost of his slaps against her skin.

She walks into the room. “Goodnight then.”

“Goodnight pup.” He said, shutting the door and clicking the lock.

A lock. A sharp reminder of her situation, Darkous was not her friend, she was his prisoner.

He will never forget who she is, and neither will she, but for now she had to work with him, until she could come up with a better idea for the future.

Until she could escape, again.