Lyra's POV
I was pacing in the dungeons, my nails in my mouth.
GODDDDDD!!!! i can't be here anymore.
No way.
I have to escape this place to plan anything. And Cathy it's been days since I saw her.
The last time I saw her was in that devastating state in the room because of that man named Leviathan.
Crumpled on the floor.
From the past two days I have done so many tricks. But everything failed. Not even the guards believe me now because of that heart pain trick I played. Every time I fake a cough, they just stare at me. Every time I groan, they just walk away from me.
it's been days and the audacity of that pig headed man to lock me here....in this shady dungeons...i said my nose flaring up in anger.
I need to escape. Or I need to do something.
Something real.Something that would take me out of here.
I was pacing around when an idea struck.
I quickly broke a piece of glass from the window. In the process, I hurt myself my hand started bleeding. I didn't cut deep.
Just enough to draw blood. Enough to make it look real.
My lips curved up.
I immediately took the bell...that demonic bell given by the demon guards and started ringing it loudly. The sound echoed through the dungeon walls, sharp and urgent.
Soon the guards came running, their faces dripping with sweat from my continuous ringing.
"Go bring that jer-- Lord Lucian here. There's something important I have to talk to him about," I said.
They looked at me, hesitant.
"If you don't bring him, I will end my life right here," I said, pointing the glass piece I had just broken.
They looked at me, their eyes wide seeing the drip of blood from my hand. I pressed the piece harder against my neck — not enough to cut deep, just enough to draw a thin red line.
One of the guards immediately ran to bring him here.
I turned around, smiling about my plan.
In minutes, he was here in front of me.
I felt his presence before I saw him. The temperature dropped. The air got heavy. Sensing him, I immediately fell to the ground.
He came to me. His eyes turned red. Angry. But not at me. At them.
"Now will you believe me, Lucian? I will not try to leave you. I will rather die than leave you," I said, my voice weak. Convincing enough.
He looked at me. His jaw tightened. His hands hovered over me like he didn't know whether to shake me or hold me.
And I closed my eyes, darkness covering me.
But before everything faded, I heard him mutter something.
"Stupid girl."
I smiled. Victory.
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Lucian's POV
"Martin," I said to him as he entered my study.
"Yes, my lord," he said, looking up.
"How is she?" I asked.
"Her highness is still protesting to let her out from the dungeons" Martin said his voice low.
"I am not asking about the one in the DUNGEONS and let her protest she needs that"
"I am asking about catherine"i said looking at the papers in front of me.
"Martin's ears perked up. A slight smile tugged at his lips.
I sighed and looked out the window. Why did I ask that?
"Sir, Miss Miller has almost recovered. She is cultivating her power daily in the caldera that we have specially prepared for her."
I nodded. A caldera --the heart of a dormant volcano. Perfect for someone like her. Half dragon. Half something else. Waiting to awaken.
"Is there anything else?" I asked, my hands on my chin. But my mind was on that little devil. Wondering what her little brain was planning now.
"My lord..."
...
"My lord..."
...
"MY LORD..."
Martin shouted, making me come out of my thoughts.
"Why did you shout?" I said, irritated.
"My apologies, my lord. But you have to go to the Winter Garden. This is the time of the month you must show your real face because of the curse. And because you gave your power to Miss Catherine, you are depleted. The CENTINEL Curse — where the whole kingdom freezes and no light can be lit ....you take the curse into yourself to stop it. Which reduces your power further."
I raised my hand to stop him.
"I should go to the Winter Garden. I will go," I said.
I stood up and was about to leave when a knock came at the door.
"Come in," I said, my voice harsh.
The guards opened the door and rushed in.
"M-my lord... m-my lord..." they stuttered.
I pinned them with my glare. They gulped and wiped the sweat from their foreheads.
"My lord... her highness wants to talk with you. She wants your presence right now and—"
I cut them off before they could say anything else.
"Let her play her tricks. I don't care," I said, standing up.
"She is bleeding," the guard said.
Silence.
The room stopped.
"WHAT THE FUCK HAPPENED?"
I was shouting before I realized it.
"I TOLD YOU TO DO ONE JOB. PROTECT HER. AND YOU WERE THIS CARELESS?"
I didn't wait for an answer. I opened a portal and went to her.
I arrived to see her falling to the ground. I caught her in my arms before she hit the stone.
"Now will you believe me, Lucian? I will not try to leave you. I will rather die than leave you."
She looked so fragile. So small. Her hand was bleeding. Her neck had a thin red line.
Stupid girl.
I muttered it as her eyes closed.
I took her back to my bedroom and laid her down. The silk sheets contrasted with the blood on her hands. I sat beside her.
Martin entered.
I was about to heal her, but Martin stopped me.
"My lord, please," he said.
"Don't stop me, Martin," I said, taking her hand.
"My lord, if you do this, the curse day ten days from now will require more power than you currently have. Even healing her would take more than you can spare right now."
"I don't give a fuck, Martin."
I don't give a fuck what happens to me.
I was about to do it when he stepped forward.
"But she is mortal. A human," Martin said.
I stopped.
I know. I know that when a demon is in his lowest form and tries to give energy, he loses more than he gives. Because he has no control. And that affects normal humans. It could destroy them.
"She can't take your energy, my lord. She could face a major problem if she takes it now. You don't have control right now."
I froze the floor in anger. Ice spread beneath my feet. Martin stepped back, shocked.
This is the power I get under the disguise of the curse. The only thing keeping me alive when my power is low — this ice. I don't know how I got it. But this is not the time to think about that.
"My lord, calm down. I have already sent a message through telepathy to the physicians. They will be here any minute," Martin said.
I nodded and stood up, moving back.
"Martin, go fetch them. Fast."
He left.
I went to her. My hand moved a strand of hair from her face.
You don't know what awaits when you wake up, princess.
Even to die, you need my permission. And I'm not letting you die. And I'm not letting you leave me like everyone else did.
Wait until you wake up, princess. I will show you what happens when you play tricks on the Demon King.
I smiled. But there was no humor in it.
Just then, the door opened.