Chapter Eighty-Nine
The next few moments were a blur for Ellie. She couldn’t seem to focus on anything other than the betrayal she felt. Her whole body seemed to both burn with rage and shiver from shock. She couldn’t hear the crowd below her, nor could she feel the cool evening air as it brushed her skin in the air. There was nothing that could distract her from the anger and pain she felt. She closed her eyes and clung to Xyla, losing all sense of time as they traveled.
“This is my home, Miss Ellie,” Xyla whispered as she landed in front of a small tree. “Though I primarily stay in the castle, I like to come here every so often. It’s the home where I was born and raised.” Xyla set Ellie on her feet and opened the door. Ellie took a careful step forward, her legs wobbly from the ride. Xyla had said her home was only a short distance away, but the sky was much darker now and she couldn’t hear or see any part of Willowvayne.
It didn’t matter. She didn’t want to see anything would remind her of Avery at the moment. Instead, she turned and looked at Xyla’s home.
The tree looked small on the outside, but the inside was much larger than she thought it would be. Still, despite its size, it seemed considerably dated and vacant. Cobwebs decorated the ceilings like garland. Dust covered every inch of surface that wasn’t covered by sheets or blankets. Empty plant pots lined the boarded windows, some broken and tipped on their side. It was clear that no one had been here for a very, very long time.
“Xyla, your home,” Ellie slurred. She turned to ask Xyla about its state but cried out in shock when Xyla shoved her roughly through the door, knocking her to the ground. Ellie’s head swam as Xyla began tying her wrists and ankles together. “What –?”
“Don’t worry, darling. I’ll explain everything when our guest arrives,” Xyla sneered. She stood and took a step back from Ellie, watching her struggle feebly against her bindings with disdain. “Don’t bother trying to get free. The drug I gave you will make it impossible for you to do anything but lie there.”
As if on cue, Ellie began to lose control of her muscles. Try as she might to wiggle her way out of the restraints, she found her body unable to respond to her brain. *What the fuck is going on?* Ellie closed her eyes and took a deep breath, trying to calm her pounding heart.
“Honestly, I’m surprised you trusted me so easily. I could tell that you were hesitant at first, and I thought my cover had been blown.” She laughed and stepped over Ellie, heading to one of the windows. She peered through a gap between the boards, her eyes scanning the growing darkness for someone. “It was much easier to convince you to trust me after the two of you grew closer. You were so trusting of everyone in the castle.” She snorted and shook her head. “You made it far too easy for me to manipulate you.” Xyla closed the door, plunging the room into total darkness before resuming her spot by the window.
“Who… the fuck…?” She couldn’t get her mouth to cooperate, but she could tell Xyla knew what she’d meant to ask.
“I would have thought you had figured it out by now,” she said scornfully. “You’re as much of an idiot as Avery, I swear. I don’t know *what* the Master sees in you.”
*The Master? Why is she talking about the Master? Is she…? Oh. Oh, no.* Xyla laughed as realization washed over Ellie’s face.
“Took you long enough to figure out.” She stood and walked to the door, shaking her head condescendingly. “Honestly, how in all the realms is it possible that you’re descended from the other fairy court? You’re not better than a human.” She sighed dramatically and glared down at Ellie. “It doesn’t matter,” she said smugly. “You won’t be my problem for much longer. Xenos will be here to collect you soon enough.”
Xenos? Ellie wracked her brain, unable to recall ever meeting someone with that name. There was no one here she could think of, and though she met several people in the Pale Seas, she knew for a fact that she’d never been introduced to someone named Xenos. But for some reason, the name sent a shudder down her spine.
A deep, primal fear settled into the pit of her stomach. The hair on her arms stood straight and gooseflesh peppered her skin. Every fiber of her being was screaming at her. It was the exact same reaction she’d had when she’d first seen *him*…
A short rap at the door startled her, sending her panic into overdrive. There, standing in the doorway, surrounded by small glowing orbs of magic, was the orange-haired man.
“No, not him…” she whispered weakly.
Xenos responded with a wide, cold smile. He took a menacing step forward but was immediately stopped by Xyla. She clicked her tongue and pressed a hand to his chest.
“Now, now. You’re not to injure her like you did the first time around. The Master said he wants her in top shape for the ceremony.” Xenos scowled but nodded his head gruffly.
*Ceremony? What ceremony?* Ellie tried ask. She found her lips unresponsive and she grunted in frustration. The pair in front of her continued their conversation as if she were nothing more than a piece of furniture.
“Alright, alright. I’ll make sure she gets there in one piece,” he muttered.
“And un-spoiled,” Xyla said pointedly. “No bruises, burns, slices, or stabs.”
“You really know how to take the fun out of things.” Xyla shot him a dirty glare and dug her nails into his chest. “Don’t worry, Madam. You know I’m nothing if not loyal to the Master. I’ll make sure she gets there unharmed. But I do expect something to play with later.”
“Fine, fine," she said, waving her hand dismissively. "I’ll send you the fish-boy when all this is over. It would drive Elvin crazy to know he’s been taken, too.”
“Pleasure doing business with you.” He bowed his head lifted Xyla’s hand to his lips where he placed a soft kiss. “Thank you for your generosity, Mistress.” He turned to Ellie now, his eyes glowing eerily in the dark. “Let’s get going. You’ve got a ceremony to prepare for.”