Chapter Eleven - The Night Before

Sarai’s Perspective:

I spent the remainder of my days studying the book I took from Silas’s bedroom. I was learning a lot about this realm and the royal bloodline, and also about my different abilities. Which I tried to access for myself when I knew I wouldn’t be disturbed. Luckily, Silas had been busy these past few days with preparations for the wedding that he hadn’t called on me to join him for dinner. I would take this time to stay in my room and study the royal book. While I remained alone trying to figure all of this out, I could never truly be successful in my endeavor without the help of someone else. Asher had been missing for the past couple of days as well.

I spent hours meditating and concentrating on my abilities. I could now successfully access other people’s minds. Even though Rory and Asher helped me tremendously with this power at first, I had to continue without their aid or guidance. I found out some very useful information this way. Mostly doing it to the guards at my door, since they were the only ones around me, and they never once said a word that they had ‘felt’ someone touching their mind. So I assumed I must have successfully utilized this ability.

However, I grew tiresome and weak, dizzy, and nauseated when it came to figuring out my other abilities. A few times, I almost passed out. I didn’t know how I froze Silas’s soldiers in the forest, but I wanted to understand how. I needed to know. I also needed to realize what combative powers I had, but I didn’t have anyone to test them on.

While all of this posed great difficulty for me; it wasn’t the largest problem I was facing.

Tonight was the last night I would be myself. Tomorrow, I would be known as Lady Sarai, Lord Silas’s wife, and queen over the realm of Shanaledge. This scared me. I was unable to concentrate and my mind and nerves were too frazzled to meditate. Spending most of the day in my own head, I felt like I was in a fog. I was becoming anxious, scared, yet I was somewhat excited, but mostly feared my future.

Because Asher never returned to talk to me about anything that has been going on within the castle or with Silas, this meant I was unable to consult him about what Silas’s specific abilities were. So who else would know? Who else would willingly tell me? My efforts to pick any information regarding Silas’s abilities from the guards proved to be fruitless. Most of them seemed to have never known, while ones that are close enough to him appeared to have someone had erased that part of their memory. This wasn’t surprising in the least, but I was becoming more and more desperate by the hour.

This night, Silas makes an unexpected visit to my bedroom. I was nervous and scared, while he appeared to be ecstatic. His sudden appearance made me lose all of my thoughts about the matter at hand. I needed to place my thoughts elsewhere to protect myself from Silas’s probing.

“Hello, my bride.” He greeted walking in with a smile.

I smiled in response.

The smile faded from his lips. “Aren’t you excited about tomorrow?” His facial expression contorted into confusion and concern.

“Of course,” I responded, smiling back at him. “Why do you ask?”

“You just don’t seem all that thrilled.”

“No, I am…” I started, stammering a bit as I tried to think of a reasonable excuse for my unpleasant appearance. “I just… I guess it hasn’t hit me yet.”

Silas stared at me skeptically, studying me.

“I’m just nervous… I will be a lot more enthusiastic tomorrow, you’ll see.” I continued lying.

“Okay,” Silas replied with a smile. “You are going to love everything I have planned for our special day!”

“I’m sure I will,” I responded, trying to make my voice sound pleasant.

He looked at me curiously. “You don’t want to know anything I have planned?”

I gave him a weak smile. “I’m sure it will be wonderful. Besides, it would be better for everything to be a surprise, wouldn’t it? At least then you would get to see my reaction and amazement firsthand.”

Silas smiled, satisfied with the answer I gave him, and kissed me. “Okay. I just wanted to see you before tomorrow. I wanted to make sure you were fine and that you were as excited as I am.”

I shook my head. “Good night, Lord Silas,” I replied, smiling from ear to ear.

“Good night, Lady Sarai, Queen of Shanaledge.”

After Silas left, I fell to my knees, almost having a panic attack. What was I going to do? The clock was ticking. I would soon have to be wed to a monster and be forced to perform atrocious tasks. Clearing my mind, trying to calm myself, I decided I needed to focus on figuring out what his special abilities were.

Maybe the royal family would know? I thought to myself. But how would I get to them? I doubt I will get lucky sneaking down there again.

It was late. The two moons have already made their round past my window. A new day, my wedding day was threatening to come in only a few hours. I found my guard was standing outside of my door. How can I get past him? I thought to myself. I grasped the amulet around my neck, closing my eyes as I thought of my options, and tried to make myself focus.

Suddenly, I heard a loud crash outside my door followed by hurried footsteps. When the footsteps ran past my door, I slowly and silently opened the door and peeked out. The guard wasn’t standing there anymore. Closing the door behind me, I quickly ran down the hall and hurried down the staircases.

Thankfully, I didn’t run into anyone on my way down to the dungeon again. I knew I was getting close to the dungeon when the vile smell wafted into my face as I descended the stairs. I walked cautiously through the dungeon corridors until I found the cell which housed the royal family.

The princess and prince were asleep while the queen sat beside them watching over them.

“Um… Excuse me?” I began, trying to get the former queen’s attention.

“Yes?” The queen answered, turning towards me. When she noticed it was me, her eyes lit up, and walked closer, knowing we would need to speak quietly.

“I’m sorry to disturb you…” I began, unsure of what to say or how to act. “But you wouldn’t happen to know what Silas’s ability is, do you?”

The queen stared at me curiously.

“I’m only asking because I don’t have anyone else to ask. The one person who would answer any of my questions, I haven’t seen in a while, and I know no one else would give out this information willingly. And everyone else appears to have it all wiped from their memory.”

“Silas has many abilities. He can manipulate anyone he comes into contact with.” The queen started slowly. “He is a master manipulator. His ability to completely reshape reality and make people believe in whatever he so chooses is uncanny. Not to mention he is an expert at disturbing dreams, turning a dream into a nightmare. This allows him to access your deepest darkest thoughts and secrets.” Her voice became shaky as she looked towards her children with concern. “The one thing about Silas is that he can do this while taking care of other duties. It’s like he can be in two or three places at once…” She stated, becoming engrossed in her thoughts.

“Is he good at any combat abilities?” I questioned, unsure of what to make of everything the queen had just said. If this was Silas’s true ability, then he would be able to make anyone believe what he is doing is for the greater good. Not to mention he would use his power on me to make me think I was in love with him or worse, that he was my true soulmate.

“I’m not sure. There haven’t been any instances that I have ever heard of or witnessed this. He mostly has the guards and other people fight for him.”

I looked at the queen with disappointment. Everything I had just learned didn’t make me feel any better. It only caused me to have more questions. I let out a sigh. “Thank you.”

“I should be thanking you, Lady Sarai.”

I stared at her curiously. “For what?”

“Ever since you visited the other night, my kids have been in such high spirits. They believe everything will be all right now. My babies are finally starting to rest easy, knowing they will soon be free.” She responded with tears in her eyes.

“I hope I don’t fail them… Or you,” I said before turning to leave.

Across the cell from the royal family, I saw Eleanor, laying on the cold, hard stone floor. “Eleanor?” My voice became hoarse.

“Lady Sarai?” She replied groggily. “What are you doing down here?”

“I needed to seek some advice…” I said, tears filling my eyes. “I’m going to get you out of here… I promise…”

She came to the bars, grabbed my hands, and squeezed them. “I know you will.”

I had one more person I wanted to visit before returning to my room. I snuck across the dungeon to check in on Ruth. But I wasn’t prepared for what I was about to witness.

Ruth was sitting hunched over in the corner of her cell, muttering something.

“Ruth?” My voice broke, trying to get her attention.

She didn’t respond to me. It was like she didn’t even know anyone else was around. Ruth started scratching at the wall. It appeared the poor girl started taking on animalistic qualities. Silas no doubt was driving her mad with his abilities. He has probably been torturing the poor girl since she arrived, and no one would know it. Her hair was a frazzled mess, sticking up every which way and full of extensive knots, which would require a haircut. Ruth’s clothes were more damaged from the previous time I had come to see her.

I tried to keep myself calm, but I was ready to burst into tears. Where the hell is Asher? I choked back sobs as I said, “I’m going to get you out of here, Ruth. And I will make sure you do not remember a single moment in this place.” I became quiet as I studied my friend. “I’m so sorry…” I turned on my heel and started for my room.

When I was nearly at the end of the hall, I heard a familiar voice call my name, “Sarai?”

I stopped in my tracks. It can’t be…

“What are you doing here? Why am I in here? Why are you wearing those clothes? What the hell is happening? Where are we?”

I was bombarded by questions that I couldn’t answer… I couldn’t even bring myself to look at the person who was speaking to me. No… It can’t be… He couldn’t have… I forced myself to look and saw Andrew’s dirty, solemn face staring at me through the bars of his cell.

“Andrew?” My breath caught as I fought against the blistering knot in my throat. “How did you get here?” I questioned, trying not to start crying.

“I was hoping you could answer that for me…” He replied.

“I don’t have time to explain…” I said, stepping away from his cell. “I need to get back before I get in trouble… I promise I’ll get you out of here…” I said before running.

My brother’s voice still shouting my name from behind, demanding I give him answers.

As I quickly walked through the dungeons, I became immobile when I thought I heard someone coming. Quietly listening and waiting for something to happen. When the noises stopped, I fell to the ground, overwhelmed. All of this was too much for me. How could I fix everything? How could I use the information I acquired from the queen to my advantage? Would I be able to act on them? And why the hell did I think Silas even truly cared for me? Why did I allow him to do this to me? Could I really help Ruth? Could I make her forget all about this place? Why is my brother here? Why did Silas feel the need to bring him here? What will Rory think of me once he finds out everything that I have done?

I sat on the floor alone, in the middle of a panic attack. It was hard for me to keep myself cool with everything. Now I really needed Rory or Asher. Just some friend honestly to help me through this, but there wasn’t anyone.

After about forty-five minutes of trying to stay quiet as I tried to pull myself together, I was able to make it back to my feet and shuffle myself lazily through the corridor. Trying to be quiet, but making more noise than I should have been. As I started to climb up the stairs to the first floor, I was met by an angry Silas wearing a disappointed expression. He had two guards standing beside him.

“What do you think you are doing outside of your room?” He questions with irritation painting his voice.

“I just needed to see Ruth…” I started, knowing there was no way out of this. There is no way Silas would believe any excuse or lie I spoke.

Silas grew angry. “I should have known better than to trust you.” He said glaring at me. “We had something good going on between us, and you had to go and ruin it.”

I looked down at my feet in a fog. I didn’t want to say it was all a lie because then he would know I found out about his abilities. “Why do you have my brother here?” I responded with a small voice.

“Insurance.”

“But I already am doing everything you ask…”

“Guards, take her back to her room, now!” Silas ordered as he followed closely behind us. Once I was locked away in my room, Silas began, “You better be glad I’m not willing to kill you! But as for your friend… or maybe your brother…”

“No!” I protested, tears filling my eyes. “Silas, please…” I begged as I began sobbing.

“Then tomorrow better continue without one single problem from you or everyone you know and love will die!” He responded slamming the door behind him.