“Bitch!” I scream at her retreating back, frustration tearing at me. “Fuck!” I kick out at the cage and try it, even though I know it won’t work. “Remiel! Please, I need you!”
Nothing. As expected.
I prowl around the small, round cage getting more and more worried about my fate. CK and Devon were adamant that, even though Gustav was a mistake that I had no control over, the mere fact that it is me, means I will be found guilty of creating of Rogue. Worse than a Rogue.
I choke back the sob. I may never see my daughters again at this rate. I am doomed. There is no way the Hunters will let me out of their sight once I am theirs to do with as they please. I am a prize, as Clementine said. What I don’t get is what is keeping me in this infernal cage. It was meant to trap me, that much I know. But how much do these people know about me? That I am no longer a Dragon? They have to do, because that isn’t what’s keeping me in here. It must be a Fae thing.
My blood runs cold when I remember about the Fae thing.
My blood.
The Vampires want it. Desperately enough that they would orchestrate this…this trial to get to me and it. I suddenly become very unsure about my future and within whose hands it lies.
“Aefre!”
I jump a mile and then glance around in anticipation and relief. He came.
“CK!” I yell, spinning around, but I don’t see him. “Where are you?”
“Sadly,
merely a projection in your head, my sweet. I am unable to locate you any other way.” He grunts, as if even this is taking its toll on him. I close my eyes in disappointment.
“Find me,” I whisper back, not caring how it makes me sound. I am scared and rightly so.
“We are trying; you have been taken somewhere we can’t get to you.” His frustration and worry is evident. “Remiel won’t answer us, Aefre. You need to call him.”
Now I know I am in big shit. Constantine wouldn’t suggest that unless he absolutely had to. “I tried,” I say closing my eyes. “He can’t hear me.” I pause, as does he. “I am scared, CK.”
“I know,” he says back quietly. “Where are you? Do you know anything?”
I look around. “A dank cell. Clementine is responsible, but she plans to give me to the Hunters once my trial is over and I have been found guilty of creating a Rogue. Amongst other crimes.”
He growls loudly. “I will get to you, Aefre, I promise you.”
It’s an empty promise. If he hasn’t been able to find me by now, he probably won’t.
“Aefre?” he presses when I go silent. “Don’t be scared. They cannot kill you.”
It makes the silent tears that were falling down my cheeks, worse. I sob openly, brushing the tears away with the back of my hand. “I know,” I say with a tremble in my voice. “By they can make me wish that they could.”
CK goes deathly quiet. Clearly the thought that, while his invincibility will prevent me from actually dying, torture is a whole other ball game, and one that I am sure will delight my captors even more.
“Don’t think like that, Aefre. They don’t know that my life is bound to yours yet. Keep it that way.”
“It will become apparent soon enough,” I groan in fear. “You know, when I don’t die when they set me on fire!” My panic is making me hysterical now. I know CK hates hysteria, but right now I don’t care.
“Aefre, stay calm. It won’t come to that, I promise you.”
“You can’t! You can’t promise me that!” My wails are now audible, bouncing off the walls and disturbing Cade, who thankfully seems to be rousing himself after a very solid coma.
“Stall them, my sweet. At the trial. Do everything you can to draw it out. I am coming for you.” And with that vehement declaration, he is gone.
“CK?” I scream. “Constantine, come back!” I need his presence in my head to keep me sane. I can’t be alone now. I am terrified and helpless.
“Uhng,” Cade mutters as he shakes his head. His eyes go wide and then he spots me, caged and looking like a mess. “You…” he snarls. “You have been the bane of my existence since the day I laid eyes on you!” He pulls on his chains like a maniac, but to no avail.
“I know. Sorry,” I mumble, looking sheepish. “To be fair though, this wasn’t my fault.”