Aria's POV
I sat in my cell, I had lost all sense of time. Days blended together, and I had given up hope of ever seeing the light of day again.
It seemed Kael hadn't deemed me worthy of his presence as he hasn't returned since our first 'lovely encounter'. Instead, a young lady named Lyra would visit me, bringing me food and water.
I was surprised she associated herself with someone like Kael as she seemed to either be from the nobility or perhaps from a wealthy family. She was kind and gentle, with a warm smile that seemed to light up the dark cell.
I had grown to look forward to her visits, and today was no exception.
The heavy iron door opened with a loud groan revealing Lyra. In her hands laid a tray laden with bread and other covered dishes along with a pitcher of water.
The first time Lyra visited, I had made a run for the door she had carelessly left open.
I was surprised that Lyra made no attempt to stop me but I soon realized why. When I ran through the door, I was met with resistance. Try as I may, I couldn't get through. It was as if there was an invisible fence that stopped me from leaving.
I refused to believe that was possible. The only way this could be was with magic.
Magic didn't exist, at least not anymore. My grandfather made sure of that.
"You can't leave without Kael's permission, you're bound to this cell until he decides to release you." Lyra's soft voice interrupted my feeble attempts to get through the invisible wall.
"Bound as in, with magic" I let out nervously.
She looked at me, her gaze studying me before she finally nodded.
I pushed our first encounter down the depths of my mind. If I thought about it anymore than I have this past few days I'd lose my mind.
I focused on Lyra instead. As she approached, I noticed something was off. She seemed almost.…nervous.
"Kael asked you to join him later for dinner." She said, her voice lacking it's usual cheer.
My heart skipped a beat at the thought of facing him.
"Ok," I nodded. It wasn't like I had a choice. I was his prisoner after all.
Lyra left the tray with promise that she'll be back soon to get me.
I nodded weakly, watching as she disappeared through the large door.
A few hours later Lyra unlocked my cell door and gestured for me to follow her. I had avoided thinking about what this 'dinner' Kael arranged was about. It would have done no good but working me up into a nervous mess.
I hesitated for a moment, unsure of what to expect. But Lyra's kind eyes encouraged me to trust her, and I stepped out of my cell for the first time in days.
As we left the cell, I was led to a set of stairs that wound their way up. The stairs were narrow and steep, with stone walls that seemed to press in from either side. The musty and damp air confirmed that we were underground.
Lyra went first, her shoes sounding softly on the stone steps as she climbed. I followed close behind, my heart pounding in my chest as I pondered my fate.
Maybe Kael had a change of heart and decided to let me go. The thought seemed too farfetched given how our last meeting went.
The stairs seemed to go on forever, twisting and turning through the darkness like a labyrinth.
As we climbed, the air grew warmer and the smell of dampness gave way to the scent of wood smoke and cooking meat. I could hear the sound of voices and clanging pots coming from above, and my stomach growled with hunger.
Finally, we reached the top of the stairs and emerged into a bright, airy corridor. The floor was made of polished wood, and the walls were adorned with tapestries and paintings.
The air was warm and welcoming, and I felt a sense of relief wash over me as I left the darkness of the stairs behind.
I was struck by the beauty of the castle.
But it was the light that really caught my attention. I had been in darkness for so long, and the sudden brightness was almost blinding. I squinted, covering my eyes with my hand as I followed her through the winding corridors.
Finally, we arrived at a door, which Lyra pushed open with a gentle nudge.
As I stepped into the room, I was struck by the abundance of natural light pouring in through the large windows, illuminating the space with a warm, golden glow.
The room was spacious, with a high ceiling and walls covered with beautiful paintings and tapestries. The floor was made of polished wood but a plush carpet in a soft, creamy color covered most of it.
A medium sized bed was placed in the middle of the room, covered in a thick comforter, and few pillows were arranged against the headboard.
A nearby wardrobe was filled with a selection of elegant gowns and dresses, each one more beautiful than the last.
The room was filled with all manner of comforts and luxuries, from the soft, cushioned chairs to the delicate, porcelain vase filled with fresh flowers.
"Do you like it?" Lyra's voice interrupted.
"It's your new room, I helped decorate it." She said excitedly.
"Yes I do" I smiled at her, hoping my smile didn't look strained.
This was probably a tactic to manipulate me. After spending my whole life with my father I was immune to it. They give you something you want, a semblance of comfort and then they take it away or worse, they use it to control you.
I don't know if that was what Kael was playing at but for now, I would enjoy any time I had out of that dark cell.
Lyra cleared her throat reminding me of her presence. "Lets get you ready for dinner," she said, smiling.
She led me to the adjoining bathroom, where a tub filled with warm water was waiting for me. I sank into the water, feeling it wash away the dirt and grime of the past few days. I ran my hands through my hair, trying to untangle the knots that filled it.
When my arms began aching, I decided to leave those damned knots alone. I instead, reached for the towel Lyra left for me. Wrapping it around my body, I stepped out of the bathroom.
Lyra waited with a beautiful dark blue dress. It was an off shoulder dress that had a low neckline. The dress seemed to shimmer and glitter with every movement Lyra made coming closer to me.
She helped me into the dress, fastening the buttons and adjusting the fit.
I looked at myself in the mirror, hardly recognizing the person staring back at me.
The fabric was soft and extremely light which surprised me. It made me look elegant and sophisticated, a look I've never managed to pull off. It rivaled anything I've ever worn.
Lyra smiled, satisfied. "You look beautiful," she said.
Lyra smiled and patted my arm "Let's get you to dinner, shall we?"
I followed her out of the room, my heart pounding in my chest. I had no idea what to expect, no idea what Kael planned or wanted from me.
We arrived at the dining room, and I was struck by its grandeur. The room was large and ornate, with a long, wooden table at its center.
I was immediately struck by the sight of Kael. He was seated at the head of the table, his features illuminated by the soft glow of the candles. I had seen him before, of course, but never like this. Never without the covers of darkness that had shrouded him in mystery.
I was mesmerized as I gazed upon him in the light. He was the most beautiful man I had ever seen. And yes, I meant beautiful. His features were too captivating, almost perfect.
His jawline was sharp, chiseled, and strong, giving him a rugged, masculine appearance that was both captivating and intimidating. A slight stubble covered his chin, adding a hint of roughness to his otherwise refined features.
But it was his eyes that truly took my breath away. They were piercing, dark onyx orbs that seemed to bore into my very soul. I had never seen eyes like them before, eyes that seemed to see right through me. They were hypnotic, drawing me in with a promise of dangerous allure that I couldn't resist.
As I stood there, frozen in awe, Kael looked up and caught my gaze. For a moment, we just stared at each other, the air between us thick with tension. And then, slowly, he smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he rose from his seat to greet me.
I felt my heart skip a beat as he approached me, his movements fluid and confident. He was a man who knew his own power, his own beauty, and he wasn't afraid to wield it.
And as he drew closer, I felt myself becoming lost in the depths of his eyes, drowning in the darkness that seemed to surround him like an aura.
"Welcome, princess," he said, his voice low and husky, sending shivers down my spine.
I nodded, still feeling a little dazed and lightheaded.
Kael pulled out the chair by his side for me, and I sat down, trying to compose myself. Kael smiled, his eyes glinting with amusement. "I'm glad you could join me." He said, his voice low and smooth.
It felt as if his words doused me with cold water, reminding me of exactly who he was.
I raised an eyebrow, my tone snide. "I wasn't aware I had a choice," I replied, all the butterflies in my stomach disappearing in an instant.
Kael chuckled, a low, husky sound that sent a shiver down my spine.
The dinner was a strained affair, filled with loud silence and unspoken words. The only sound was the clinking of silverware against fine china. Lyra had disappeared, I couldn't help but feel as if she pushed me into the wolf's den and then left me to fend for myself.
I gulped at the way Kael was looking at me…..like I was a prey, one he couldn't wait to devour.
I ignored him focusing on the lavish spread of food in my front.
As appetizing as it all looked, I could only manage a few bites. I was too nervous to eat.
I dropped my cutlery while the silence between us grew thicker and more oppressive, until it seemed to be a living, breathing thing that pulsed with its own rhythm and energy.
I could feel Kael's eyes on me, boring into my skin like cold, dark drills but I refused to look up or acknowledge him.
As the silence grew, so did the tension. I realized we were alone. The servants had long departed, slipping from the room after they served our food.
I grew tired of it all, I wanted answers not whatever games Kael was playing.
"Why am I here Kael?" I finally asked, looking up at him.
Kael lips tugged into a small, wry smile.
"I shall answer your question. But be warned, you may not like what you hear"