“GUARDS!”
I’m barely conscious as my cell door creaks open and I’m lifted off the ground. When the cool breeze hits my face moments later, I open my eyes to find I’m outside of the palace walls. It should feel like freedom, but the arms holding me feel like shackles around my body. I use whatever energy I can muster to release myself from his grip.
My fragile body hits the ground hard. I feel every painful consequence of the impact, but I don’t care. I would do anything to get as far away as possible from the man I used to love. Damien doesn’t bother reaching for me. Instead, he turns around and walks away. For a moment I think he might be letting me go, but that hope quickly dies when King Cimmerian appears beside him.
The two men, or should I say monsters, stare back at me from across the rocky terrain. I glance around the field, recognizing it from the time we spent here during the Festival of Nightfall my first year. The memories of the celebration feel like a lifetime ago as I look back at the man who now feels like a stranger. Tears threaten to fall from my eyes as the images of us dancing replay in my mind.
Before I lose all control over my emotions, I snap myself out of it and try to stand up. My body instantly gives out, and I drop back to the ground.
Maybe this is my way out. Maybe my power will kill me from within, and I can finally be set free from this life that has brought me so much pain.
King Cimmerian’s amplified voice cuts off my thoughts before they have a chance to grow into hope.
“Let’s see what you can do.”
The latch on the power dampener releases, and so does any restraint on my power. Before the collar even hits the ground, a wave of hot flames explodes around me. The gravel field surrounding me caves in, creating a giant crater. My arms, which had been holding me up, shake from the impact and give out.
I roll to my side and watch as the wall of fire circling me reaches for the sky. The blazing cyclone of destruction spins around me like a shield, blocking out the rest of the world. With each passing second, I feel my strength begin to return. I slowly stand up, and the air around me whips my hair in every direction as the sweat evaporates off my skin.
With no restriction of walls or ceilings, the funnel of flames rises higher and higher, becoming a tornado of violent fury. It’s wild and untamed. A storm of inferno ready to ignite anyone who comes too close.
The feeling of power rages inside me. Every part of me wants to take these flames and unleash them on the king, but with his power, I know he would disappear before they even had a chance to touch him.
As the image of the king fills my mind, the fiery tornado bursts outward, exploding into a sea of orange and red flames. I understand now why they brought me out here. If we were anywhere else in the kingdom, nothing would be safe. Anyone and anything in the wake of my flames would be reduced to nothing but ash.
It’s been too long since I’ve felt power like this, and it’s intoxicating. Even though my body is now frail and weak, my power is strong and unyielding. It feels like my soul has finally returned home to my body. Without access to my power, I’m a ghost of myself, but with it I am whole again.
Suddenly, the collar closes around my neck, smothering my magic. As I feel my power cease with the restriction of the power dampener, it feels like a part of me has died again.
Dark shadows cast out over the remaining flames, and when the king pulls them back, it looks as though a bomb went off.
Slow claps sound from behind me.
“Well done, Miss Calloway. You’ve been holding out on us.”
Before I’m able to process what is happening, the king is already tossing me back into my cell. Through the darkness, I can see the prideful grin spread across his menacing face. As he takes a step back, his deep voice rises around me.
“You’re finally ready.”
Chapter 3
Asthe large golden doors swing open, I can feel the pounding of my heart begin to quicken. Sitting around the round table in the middle of the room are five hooded Circle members, Damien, and the king. I’m surprised to find Ryder missing, but he’s probably off doing his father’s bidding elsewhere.
“Please, join us.” King Cimmerian stands and motions to the open seat across from him.
Orien unlocks the shackles from my wrists and exits the room. When the giant doors close behind him, the spacious room suddenly feels smaller. This is the definition of being in enemy territory, and every cell in my body knows it.
“Cylas, do you havean update for me?”
One of the red-cloaked figures next to me tilts their head up, but it’s hard to make out what he looks like beneath the oversized hood.
“There’s a group in Nazrelia who have been meeting weekly.” He turns his head slightly, and I get a glimpse of his white eyes that stick out against his dark complexion. “I’ve been told they’re planning an attack. We’re unsure of when and where, but we do have the location of their meeting place.”
The king doesn’t seem too pleased with the lack of intel, but he doesn’t say anything. He simply nods to Damien as if to tell him it’s his turn.
“Trainees have started to return to the Sector. The overall consensus is that you have won the support of the parents. It won’t be long before they convince the others that the rebels are the true enemy.”
Hearing his voice is almost as hard as hearing what he has to say. I’ve had two months to get used to the idea that the Damien I fell for was nothing more than a lie. That he wasn’t real and nothing he felt for me was. But time hasn’t healed the pain I still feel when I look at the man who once felt like home.
