Aria's POV
After Elara left the room, I was left wondering if Kael would allow me to leave the room.
I hated being in this situation. It felt too familiar, the wait, the uncertainty. Having to wait on what a man said, the control they wield over you.
I was so sure that Kael would disagree. So, imagine my shock when Elara returned a few moments later.
"Kael said you may take a walk outside, but under the condition that a guard must accompany you."
My heart sank, but I tried to hide my disappointment. I nodded trying to hide how rattled I was. "Very well. Who is the guard?"
Elara gestured to her side, where a tall, imposing figure stepped forward.
"This is Ryker, my lady. He will be your escort."
My eyes widen as I took in Ryker's appearance. It was a miracle that I hadn't spotted him before Elara gestured to him. He was a large, muscular man with a stern expression. I felt a shiver run down my spine as he bowed, his voice deep and rough. "Shall we, My lady."
As I walk out of the room with Ryker, I felt uncomfortable. The castle's corridors seem to stretch on forever, and the silence was oppressive.
I glanced at Ryker, who was walking beside me, his eyes fixed on me.
I was getting uncomfortable and tried to break the silence. "So, where are we headed".
"The gardens". He grunted out.
I walked through the gardens, Ryker trailing behind me. His face was closed off, he didn't seem to be in the mood for conversation.
But that didn't stop me. I was determined to get him to talk to me, to see if I could fish for any information about Kael or how I could escape.
As we strolled through the gardens, I tried to make small talk, asking him about the weather and the flowers. But I was really trying to get him to open up about Kael, to see if he would let anything slip.
"So, what's it like working for Kael?" I asked, trying to sound casual.
Ryker grunted, but didn't say anything else.
"I bet it's really interesting," I said, trying to prompt him. "I mean, he's a pretty powerful guy, right?"
Ryker nodded, but still didn't say anything.
I was desperately trying to keep the conversation going. "I mean, he's always one step ahead of everyone else, isn't he?"
Ryker raised an eyebrow, but still didn't say anything.
I sighed, feeling a little frustrated. I was trying to get him to talk, to see if he would let anything slip about Kael's plans. But Ryker was being stubborn, refusing to say anything.
As we walked, I tried to think of new ways to get him to talk. I asked him about his favorite foods, his hobbies, anything I could think of. But no matter what I asked, he just grunted or flat out ignored me, refusing to say anything.
Frustrated, I decided to let him be for now.
Despite my failure at fishing for information, I had been allowed to take a walk in the gardens, and I was determined to make the most of it.
The deeper we walked into the garden, the more I felt a sense of peace washing over me. It felt like I could finally breathe properly.
The warm sun on my skin, the gentle breeze rustling the leaves of the trees, and the sweet scent of the flowers all combined to create a sense of serenity that I hadn't felt in a long time. The last time I could remember feeling like this was back at the waterfall. At least before everything went downhill.
Ryker walked beside me, his eyes scanning the surroundings. He was tense, as if danger would spring up out if the corner at any moment.
As we strolled along the winding paths, my eyes caught the beautiful flowers that surrounded us.
There were exotic blooms of every color, shape, and size, and they seemed to be thriving in the warm sunlight. I saw a patch of flowers that were a deep purple color, with delicate petals that seemed to shimmer in the sunlight. I had never laid eyes on flowers like that before, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of wonder at their beauty.
I also saw a patch of flowers that were colored black, with petals that seemed to be shaped like stars. And another patch of flowers that were a dark red color, with petals that seemed to be shaped like tiny bells.
The flowers were so different from what I was used to. I was fascinated by their unique shapes and colors and I wondered what part of Everia I was in.
While we walked, I noticed a few wooden benches scattered throughout the gardens.
They were old and worn, but they seemed to be placed in strategic locations to take in the beauty of the surroundings. I sat down on the one closest to me, taking a moment to rest and enjoy the peace.
Ryker stood behind me, his gaze burning through my skull. I felt a sense of unease under his gaze, but I tried to ignore it and focus on the beauty of the gardens.
As I sat there, I heard the sound of birds chirping and the gentle rustle of leaves in the breeze. It was peaceful, serene. And for a moment, I forgot that I was a prisoner. I forgot that I was trapped in this place, with no way out.
As the sun began to set, Ryker nodded, indicating that it was time for me to return to my room. I sighed, feeling a little disappointed.
I had been hoping to get more information out of him, but it seemed like that wasn't going to happen.
Although I had enjoyed my time in the gardens, the fact that it was only a temporary reprieve from my prison weighed me down.
Ryker shut the door after I walked into the room, followed by a resounding click of the lock sliding into place.
It was a harsh, bitter reminder of my captivity.