Aria's POV
My heart sped up. It felt as if the damned thing wanted to jump out of my chest.
Kael had magic
Kael had magic
Kael had magic
My mind kept repeating it. I still couldn't come into terms with it. I knew magic was what kept me in the cell but my mind refused to believe or register it. But it seemed I couldn't run away from the fact that magic still existed and Kael had magic. Evil magic.
I bolted. I wasn't aware when I stood up, all I knew was that I had to get away. I ran toward the door trying to pry it open. Just as I finally got it to open, I felt something cold wrapping around my feet.
I looked down, my eyes widening as I saw something slithering up my legs.
I struggled against it, but it was too strong. It pulled me back, pulsing with strange energy that seemed to sear my skin. I felt a surge of fear run through me as my blood ran cold.
The dark mist began to swirl around me, tendrils of it curling around my ankles and wrists like chains. It crawled up my body slowly. I could feel it tightening around my body. It was like it was alive, like it had a mind of its own.
Panic swelled in my chest, I had to get away. But I couldn't move. I was paralyzed with fear, they slithered up faster almost reaching my face.
I let out a scream, but my voice was muffled by the mist. It had reached my face, I could feel it crawling into my open mouth. It seemed to grew thicker, and I felt myself being squeezed tighter and tighter.
I looked to Kael trying to ask him for help. My eyes filled with tears as his dark eyes caught mine.
His eyes were swallowed up by darkness. They seemed like a bottomless pit. I realized this was his doing as I felt his magic coursing through me.
The mist grew so thick that I couldn't see anything, couldn't breathe. I felt myself being pulled down, it felt as if the life was being sucked from my very soul.
"Please," I managed to choke out, my voice hoarse, barely above a whisper.
His voice seemed miles away as I felt myself going under.
"You're not going anywhere princess. Not until you've served your purpose"
Aria's POV
I was suffocating, I couldn't get enough air into my lungs. Just as I felt I was about to die, I woke with a gasp.
I breathed in trying to take in as much air as I could. After I'd calmed down enough, I took in my surroundings.
I was in my room, the room Kael had provided for me. I tried sitting up, feeling a wave of dizziness wash over me, I was forced to lie back down.
Kael had tried to kill me.
I had no idea how I ended up back in my room. The last thing I remember is black mist surrounding me, choking me. I shuddered at the feeling. I've never been more terrified than I was at that moment.
Kael wasn't going to get whatever he wanted from me. I would never help him. His was the evil my father warned about when he spoke about magic. I could feel the darkness in Kael. It consumed him, wrapping around him like a blanket.
So far, I tried ignoring any signs of magic I had seen. Making excuses for it, that it had to have another rational explanation than something as impossible as magic.
But after being in Kael's presence, feeling his magic wash over me. I could no longer deny it.
A faint noise from outside the room distracted as I finally managed to sit up. It sounded like footsteps, light and cautious.
I wondered if it was Lyra.
The door creaked open, and a figure slipped inside. She was dressed in the usual grab of a maid. Her light brown eyes darted nervously around the room. She was young from what I could tell. Maybe a few years older than me at most.
"Princess, I'm sorry to disturb you," she said, curtsying low. "But I brought you some food and water. Kael said you might be hungry."
I looked at the tray she was carrying, and my stomach growled with hunger. It felt like I hadn't eaten in days, and I wondered how long I was unconscious.
"Thank you," I said, taking the tray from her. "That's very kind of him." I said bitterly, forcing a smile.
The maid smiled and nodded, but I could see that she was still nervous.
As she turned to leave, I called out to her. "Wait," I said. "What's your name?"
"My name is Elara," she replied, turning back to me.
"How long was I unconscious," I said.
She turned back to me, a questioning expression on her face. "A little over a day, Princess"
"Please, Elara, call me Aria. The whole princess thing is…. Unnecessary" I said.
As far as I knew I stopped being a princess the moment I left the castle.
Elara smiled and nodded, "Of course prin.. I mean Aria. I'll make sure to address you as you prefer. Now is there anything else I could get for you?"
I thought for a moment, trying to decide what I needed. "Yes, please. I could use some fresh air. Is it possible to open a window or take a walk outside?"
Elara's expression turned hesitant, and she glanced around the room nervously.
"I'm not sure, Aria. I'll have to ask Kael's permission first."
"Of course" I sighed defeatedly.