Chapter 115 To the chambers

Chapter 115 To the chambers

Elara's POV

I barely slept that night.

I sat beside the window with my arms folded across my chest, watching the guards move through the courtyard below. Since Caven ordered the kingdom sealed, there had been twice as many of them stationed around the palace, and every entrance was being watched. I had spent hours trying to think of a way out, but every plan ended the same way.

There was no way I could escape alone, not with Joyce in this condition.

I looked back at the bed.

Joyce was asleep, but even in sleep she looked troubled. Her brows remained drawn together, and every few minutes her fingers tightened against the sheets as though she were fighting something inside her. Seeing her like that hurt more than I wanted to admit, especially after everything that had happened between us since I rescued her.

I still remembered the first time her black magic had turned against me.

The force had thrown me across the room before I even understood what was happening, and the look on Joyce's face afterward had stayed with me. She had looked horrified, almost as frightened as I was, but I knew the magic was not something she could simply control because she wanted to. Whatever Caven had done to her was getting worse, and every time I watched her struggle with it, I felt more helpless.

A loud knock suddenly came from the door.

I stood immediately.

Joyce stirred behind me as the door opened, and four guards entered the room. The sight of the chains in the hands of the man leading them made my stomach drop, because I knew exactly what they meant.

"No," I said, stepping in front of the bed.

The guard looked at me without emotion. "Move aside."

"Why are you here?"

"The Dragon Lord ordered us to take Joyce."

My eyes dropped to the chains again.
They were taking her to the ritual chamber.

I had known this moment would come, but knowing it did not make it easier to face. Caven had spent all this time keeping Joyce alive, strengthening the black magic inside her and waiting for the right moment, and now he had decided he had waited long enough.

"You are not taking her," I said.

The guard's expression hardened. "Step aside do not make this difficult."

"Then don't make me."

He stepped toward me.

I moved with him, keeping myself between him and Joyce. "If Caven wants her, he can come and take her himself."

The guard reached for my arm.
I slapped his hand away. "Don't touch me."

He grabbed me anyway.

I fought him immediately, twisting my arm and driving my elbow backward, but another guard caught me from behind before I could break free. I kicked and struggled as they dragged me away from the bed.

"Let go of me!"

Joyce sat upright. "Elara?"

I looked at her. "Stay where you are."

She looked from me to the guards, confusion spreading across her face. "What's happening?"

"They're trying to take you away.." my voice came out in painful sobs. “Please, Joyce, just try to remember something. Fight the dark magic, please.”

Her eyes moved to the chains.
For a moment, she said nothing.
Then she whispered, "Why?"

I swallowed hard.
Because I knew the answer. Because Caven wanted the power inside both of us. Because he had never stopped preparing for this. Because once he took Joyce to that chamber, he would begin the ritual that could destroy her.

"I won't let them take you," I said.

Joyce looked at me strangely. "You can't stop them."

"Watch me." I knew it was the dark magic taking effect again and I turned my face away to avoid breaking down.

One of the guards grabbed Joyce by the arm.

She pulled away immediately. "Don't touch me."

He tightened his grip on joyce while I threw myself toward him, but the guard holding me caught both my arms and forced them behind my back. I struggled so hard that my shoulders burned, but he wouldn't let go.

"Joyce, run!"

Joyce looked at me and for one second, I saw fear in her eyes.

Then the black magic began to move across her skin.

"No," she whispered.

The guards pulled her from the bed.

She fought them, but she was weak, and every time the darkness rose inside her, she doubled over as though it was tearing her apart from within. My heart hammered against my ribs as I watched them drag her toward the door.

"Let her go!"

I twisted violently against the guard holding me.

He tightened his grip. "Stop fighting."

"Get your hands off me!"

Joyce stumbled.
One of the guards caught her before she fell and dragged her upright again. She looked toward me, and something in her expression made my chest ache.

"Elara..."

"I'm here." My voice broke. "I'm here, Joyce."

She opened her mouth, but nothing came out then the door opened.

Caven stood outside and just immediately everything inside me went cold.

He looked at Joyce first, and his expression did not change. He didn't ask whether she was hurt, and he didn't care that she was barely able to stand; his eyes moved over her as though he were looking at something that belonged to him.

Then he looked at me. "Take her."

The guards pulled Joyce forward.

"No!"

I fought harder than I had before, throwing my weight against the men holding me. One of them stumbled, and for half a second I thought I could break free, but another guard grabbed me before I could reach Joyce.

"Joyce!"

She turned her head and our our eyes met.

She looked terrified.

"Elara..."

I couldn't get to her as the guards dragged her through the doorway.

"JOYCE!"

Caven stepped aside and let them pass.

I lunged forward, but the guards slammed me back against the wall. I watched helplessly as Joyce disappeared down the corridor, her footsteps becoming fainter with every second.

Then the door slammed shut.

I stared at it, for several seconds, I couldn't move.

My hands shook as I pushed myself away from the wall. I rushed toward the door and struck it with both fists, ignoring the pain that shot through my fingers.

"Joyce!"

Nothing.

I hit it again. "JOYCE!"

Still nothing.

My breathing became uneven as I pressed my forehead against the cold stone. I could hear faint footsteps somewhere beyond the door, but they were moving farther away, taking her toward the one place I had been trying to keep her from.

The ritual chamber. I closed my eyes trying to fight back the fearful thoughts rushing to my mind.

Caven had been waiting for this.

He had sealed the entire kingdom so I couldn't escape with Joyce, and now that he had her in his hands, he no longer needed to pretend he was protecting her. He was going to finish what he had started.

I wiped the tears from my face and stepped away from the door.

The guards were still watching me.

I looked at them. "Move."

Neither man answered.
I turned toward the window instead.
The kingdom was sealed. The gates were guarded.

There was no army waiting outside to help me, no messenger I could send, and no path I could take that Caven hadn't already blocked. I had spent so much time trying to convince Joyce that she was not alone, but now I was the one standing alone while she was being taken somewhere she might never return from.

My chest tightened.

I pressed a hand against it and forced myself to breathe.

No.
I would not break here.

Joyce might not believe I was her sister. She might hate me, push me away, or even hurt me again, but none of that changed the truth.

She was my twin.
And I would find her.

I walked back to the door and placed my palm against it, staring at the place where she had disappeared. "Hold on, Joyce," I whispered, my voice trembling despite everything I did to control it. "Please hold on."

I had no idea how I was going to get to her or save her, but I was going to try.

Because if Caven wanted to complete his ritual, he would have to get through me first.