Free Web NovelChapter 145: Chapter 145 Moving in Shadows
Amber’s POV
"...how can they be gone? I thought you had someone watch them. And where is Gia? Have you made arrangements to retrieve her from the hallway before they think to search for a hidden door?"
"Would you shut up, woman? I have everything under control." An unfamiliar voice sneers back.
"Under control? You lost those two little tweets after my daughter was hurt by them and that disgusting half breed girl. Don’t tell me to shut up. Remember who has helped you since that good-for-nothing fake Queen of the witches killed your fellow older brothers."
"Shh, she could hear you!"
"Oh, please. Nestor knocked her out, and she will take some time to come too. I made sure they locked that ring around her neck immediately. She will be weak as a kitten."
"Don’t underestimate her, Gloria. She’s not as weak as you want her to be."
"She’s weak, ugly, and irksome."
"Think what you want Gloria, the fact of the matter is; she came back from Keres’s world without harm and with two girls who have not escaped us despite our efforts with the rings. So, underestimate her all you want, I don’t care. All I want with her is to have her as leverage, so her murderous mother has no other choice than to restore the council."
I keep my head hanging, but my hearing strains to keep listening to their conversation. Gloria and the unfamiliar man have been talking just in front of me, but as the last part about the council reaches my ears, they start moving and I’m having a hard time making out the words. Only single things reach me, such as; "We will have to report back soon.", "she’s getting impatient." and "allowed to kill her in due time, Gloria."
They moved out of my hearing’s reach, and I turned my attention inside instead.
’Ignis, are you there?’
’I’m here, Amber. Don’t worry, this ring is just a minor hindrance for now.’
’Can you break the magic?’
’Give me an hour or so. Keep pretending to be out, so they’ll leave you alone.’ I agree silently and let her do whatever she needs to do. I follow my bond with my mother instead, and I get lost in myself for a while. I picture myself in my mother’s office, just like she taught me. Moving in the shadows of the world. It’s not direct magic, and therefore it does not get affected by the ring around my neck.
"Mother?" She is sitting at her table, her face scrunched in a concerned mask of worry and anger. I see the sun outside of her window, meaning I’ve been here since last night or more than that.
With my weak call, she looks up and around. I take a deep breath, and keep a firmer hold on our connection. Suddenly the thread in my heart glows with purple and silver, mixing with my own powers.
"Amber, I’m here honey. Try again." Mother says into the room, searching with her eyes into the shadows.
"I’m here, mom," I say, standing beside her office table. A sigh of relief courses through her entire body as she calls for my father. He comes running in with Maze in tow.
"AMBER!" They both shout, and I smile as much as I can muster. My strength is vanishing quickly.
"I came to warn you. The council is not gone, they have taken me prisoner. They want to pressure you into restoring them back to their former glory. Gloria and Callus are also behind this, and their motives are more sinister than the councils. At least for now. They were talking about a war and a she, but I don’t know when or who." I ramble it all out in a hurry, feeling how my body tires and is beginning to force me back to my prison.
"Amber, do you know where you are? Maze felt the kidnapping happen, as if it happened on his own body. He says you are weak, but overall okay?" Mom seems so worried, it tugs at my heart after our stand off earlier and then I teleported away without a goodbye.
"I don’t know. There are echoes here, and water nearby but I don’t know where. And I am alright. I’m worried about the girls. They escaped, but I have no idea where they are either. They must be so scared."
"We’ll find them, darling. Them and you! No one touches my daughter and grandbabies without consequence." Mom says fiercely, and I feel my heart burst.
"You accept them?" My question is weak, as I’m forced back to my body. Mom and dad nod, tears in their eyes.
I feel myself flow back into my own body, which is aching from the strain of my efforts. I open one eye, and I swear my heart leaps into my throat. There in the corner of my prison cell stands... freewёbn૦νeɭ.com
"Melody, Elina. Are you okay my sweethearts?" I whisper as low as I can, hoping no one other than them hears me.
"We are fine, mommy. We got away." Melody says, and I relieve sigh and feel my heart slow down in gratitude.
"Can you find the way back to the castle?" They both nod, but Elina looks so scared it hurts me deeply. "Find daddy and papa, tell them where I am. They will help us! I’m so sorry my angels, I promised you wouldn’t be hurt and I failed you." The girls run to me, their figures darker than normal, and I realize something. They ran through the bars. How did they do that?
"We won’t leave you, mommy," Elina says, sounding so broken, and I close my eyes tightly.
"Find daddy and papa, they will help. You need to be brave my darlings. I love you, both of you! You have been so brave until now, you can be brave a little longer."
"You didn’t fail us, mom," Melody says. "And we love you too." With that, she drags her sister with her. I keep telling myself they will be fine, even though my heart and soul ache seeing them disappear down the hall.
’Someone’s coming.’ Ignis warns, and I manage to slack my chains and hang my head in time to hear the shoes on the rocky ground outside my cell.
"She is still out then." The voice is undoubtedly Callu’s and he is not alone.
"She will be out for quite some time. Nestor got her good in the head after she blasted you."
"So, this is the Princess of Abigail and Matthew, hm. She doesn’t look like much." I don’t recognize this new female voice, but it’s cold and calculated, sending chills down my spine.
"Easy Narine. Remember Abigail and her pack of mutts didn’t look like much either, and they tricked you and killed my brothers all those years ago. We need to be patient for a little while yet." Narine? I remember that name coming up in my lessons about the battle 18 years ago. So she was a part of this as well. This was much bigger than just some scorn vixen trying to take my mate(s) from me.
"We need to move forward, Ezekiel. We need to..."
"I know what is at stake, Narine, but you are not in charge here."
I block out their bickering.
’Ignis, are you ready?’
’Almost, just a little more. A little more. GOT IT!’ I feel the magic from the ring break, but keep my posture. I don’t want to alarm them, if they don’t feel the change around me.
"... sure that thing will keep her contained?"
"Of course I’m sure! My mother made that thing herself, angry that she took the brats with her. My mom holds a grudge."
"Well, it’s time then," Callus says with an impatient voice, and I hear footsteps, then a door unlocking and something being picked up by the corner. Then a splash, and I jerk up and my eyes fly open.
"What the hell"
"Shut up and listen carefully, Amber." Callus sneers, and I growl back. Ignis is pushing to the surface and putting this smug asshole in his place, but this is not the time to be hasty.
"My daughter is missing from your little stunt, and I need you to help me get her back."
"Don’t forget she needs to make her mother give us our power back," Ezekiel says in a high pitched eager voice from outside the cell. frёewebηovel.cѳm
I sweep my eyes over all three of them. Callus’s face is in an ugly mask of anger, while Ezekiel would have been kind of handsome, if his eyes had not been the coldest I’ve ever seen! He has bluish black hair and beard, dark tinted skin, and stormy gray eyes. They stare at me, but I don’t even blink.
Then my eyes land on the woman. Her hair is gray, as is her skin and one eye is blind. Her body, her aura, and her stare with the good eye is powerful, and she is gorgeous in her own right.
"I wouldn’t help you, even if it costs my life." Then I spit on the floor, and Callus smacks me across the face. It stings, but I keep the tears at bay. I know I can get loose in a heartbeat, but I have to bide my time and get them talking before taking them out. I keep picturing what I will do to him when my time comes.
"Where is Gia?!" He yells, and this time I spit on his face. But I refuse to answer any more questions, as he hits me over and over again.
