Chapter twenty-seven: Deception and Betrayal

Chapter twenty-seven: Deception and Betrayal


Seraphina POV

After the breakfast, ciaran did keep his world about taking me to meet Ronan, he held my hands as he escorted me through the dark hallways that led to the dungeons.

We didn’t stop moving till we got to the edge of the dungeon, Ciaran was holding on to a flashlight to help us see through the dark,

But it was so dark that the flashlight did little to help with our sight,

He brought me in front of a dark cage. I could barely make out anything.

“Is he in there?”

“Yes. He is probably too weak to make a sound, he hasn’t been fed, or had water.”

My eyes widened. “You’re treating him like an animal!”

“No. I’m merely trying to curb the dangers.”

I glared at him, I moved closer to the cage, holding it. “Ronan.”

“Don’t go too close, he’ll—“

Growl. Loud growl. That had me flinching back.

I wasn’t sure if this was Ronan. He wasn’t in his human form or wolf form, instead, he was very large, with snarky monster skin, his eyes red, his fangs long.

He pushed the cage hard, as though he was trying to break it open.

“Ronan?” He pushed it even harder.

And I looked across to see his clothes lying on the floor, along with his favorite wristwatch.

It was him.

My heart squeezed out painfully.

Ciaran held me back and closer to him.

“He’s been like that since. I don’t think he remembers who he is.”

“But. How did this happen? He was fine the last time I saw him.” My voice broke.

I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. He must be suffering. Wherever his subconscious was. It must be suffering badly.

“I don’t know. I have my healers looking into it, but it’ll take a long while.”

Oh Ronan. All he wanted to do was save me, and now he’s become this. I failed him.

The tears fell uncontrollably. He was caged up, all alone in the dark. Cause of me.

Ciaran caressed my back.

“I’m sorry. But you have to accept that he’s gone. For good.”

No. No. 

I couldn’t give up on him, there has to be some cure.

He became this way after being with kyros, I knew in me that he had everything to do with this.

If I can talk to him.

“Kyros can help.”

“No no no no.”

“He was the one who did this to him, if we find kyros, we’ll save him.”

“And do you think Kyros would just kindly agree to it! Have you lost your mind!”

“I know. I’ll pay whatever price Kyros demands of me.”

“Even if it costs thousands of people to die?”

I swallowed hard. I wasn’t sure I had the answer to give him.

No. I wasn’t sure I dared to voice out the answer that’s really in my mind.

“He needs to be saved.” I said as I stormed out of there, I was well enough know. All I had to do was go back to the academy. And talk with kyros.

Ciaran followed me, and we got out of the dungeon and into the palace gardens.

“You need to think this through.” He shouted, I increased my pace, but he caught up to me in long strides, stopping me from moving any further.

“You’re making a big mistake.”

I tried to release my hands. His hold was stiff.

“Let go,” I said through gritted teeth.

He didn’t. His face was contorted in anger.

“I don’t get it. Why him? You know he’s a monster. You know he will bring destruction upon people, and yet you’re still willing to help him. What’s so special about him?”

“Are you asking out of sheer concern or is this just your feelings speaking?”

His scowl deepened. I had hit a nail on its head.

“You’re treading on the wrong paths.”

“No, you’re the one treading dangerously. I told you from the outset that we’ll forever just be friends. But you’ve refused to be just that, now you’re trying to get rid of Ronan just so you can finally have me to yourself.”

His jaw clenched. “You flatter yourself too much.”

“Then you shouldn’t have a problem with me trying to save him.” I turned to leave, not minding if he was following me or not.

And maybe that was my mistake, cause he was storming up behind me and placing a piece of cloth over my nostril and mouth.

I struggled to push him off. But his hold was firm, and soon my legs felt weak, my eyes weaker.

Everything became blank.

The last thing I heard was the sound of his raspy breath.

The feel of harsh light on my eyes, irritated me, causing me to open them.

The first thing I noticed was that my entire body was sore, like it had been broken and molded. 

I recognized the beautiful-looking room, 
Only that this time the aesthetic felt like walls crushing down on me.

Along with my memories, Ciaran had drugged me, to stop me from leaving, my blood spiked up with an insane amount of rage.

I wanted to hurt him, badly.

First I need to be out of this place. I rushed towards the door, but it was locked.

I wasn’t surprised. If he had drugged me. He would as well lock me in so I wouldn’t escape.

Well jokes on him. Nobody traps me. No one.

My eyes went to the windows. I tried them. Locked too.

My anger only increased and so did my hunger to leave. 

I was a fool to trust him, I should have left from the first onset that I opened my eyes and discovered that Ronan wasn’t next to me.

My gaze went to the windows again. Maybe if I can break it open.

I looked around, but there was nothing large enough to break it open. 

He’d purposely emptied the room, to trap me. 

What if I couldn’t get out? He could hurt Ronan. And I’ll be stuck in here. Unable to do anything.

The panic had begun to settle in, and I rushed back to the door and hit it harder.

Someone has to answer, and when they do, I’ll hurt them. And escape.

Except no one came, and my hands had begun to hurt from the knocking, eventually my knees gave out and I fell to the floor next to the door.

I didn’t realize when the tear had slipped. All I knew was that my heart was squeezing tightly, and my mind was running wild with possibilities . Things that could have happened to Ronan.

But like a light bushel in the dark. The door knob twisted. I stood up to my feet, ready to harm whoever was at the door.

So imagine my greatest shock when I saw Ronan. In his full original form.

His legs were hurt, and he limped inside. His head was also bleeding with blood.

He locked the door behind him. While I stood frozen.

I wasn’t sure if it was him. Or if it was a ploy done by Ciaran.

“Are you okay?” His voice was convincing enough. I didn’t hold back, I rushed into his arms.

And the tears did spill freely.

“Oh heavens. You’re alive. You’re alive.”

I chanted. Cause it was the only way to reassure me that I wasn’t dreaming it up.

He winced, and I had to pull back, he was quite injured.

“We’ll save the reunion party for later, but right now we have to leave.”

“But. How did you? I thought I saw you.”

“I’ll explain everything. Just trust me.” He stretched his hands forward.

And I took it without a second doubts.

We sneaked past the guards and maids, by passing through the dungeons, and out from a secret entrance.

Once we were out. I noticed it was the woods, Ronan didn’t stop however, he held my hands. As he directed me farther and farther from the castle, and into the woods.

My legs were weak. I wanted to stop. My throat felt so dry, I just wanted to close my eyes. And just stop.

“Can we stop?”

“No.” 

I froze up. 

The voice. It wasn’t Ronan. And like a spell had been lifted off my face. I looked closely.

And Ronan’s face had morphed into something else. Someone else.

Kyros.

His grin was wild and full of malicious intent.

“Y-You.” I couldn’t find my voice. I couldn’t wrap my head around what just happened.

Was I going crazy? Had I just imagined Kyros as Ronan and followed him out?

“Yes, darling me.”

“How. Why?”

I had my questions.

“Simple. Illusion magic. It’s pretty easy, you just gotta focus your mind intently, We’ll have time to learn more about that.”

“I don’t understand.”

“Don’t trouble your sweet mind, all you have to know is that you’re right where you belong.”

Like hell I was. I looked back. I could still run. Still running away from him. Away from everyone who wanted to hurt me.

My legs took on the actions, but before I could even get a mile away from him, he’d caught up to me.

“Wrong move.” And then he flung his arms to my face, causing stars to dance around my vision, and soon immediately my legs gave out.