Page 143 of Taming the Kraken

“What is with that scowl, princess?”

“I agreed to stay willingly. Is this necessary?” Alexa moved her hands and feet, making the chains jingle loudly.

Erebus chuckled. “More than necessary. I don’t exactly want an ice shard in my back. You agreed to stay, not that you wouldn’t try to kill me.” His smile spread as he looked at her. “You didn’t think I was clever enough to know what you were thinking, did you?”

“Well, thinking hasn’t been your strong suit.” Alexa sighed and listened as he chuckled.

“That will just make sure you behave yourself. Those anti-magic cuffs will keep that icy bite of yours at bay.” Erebus could see the scowl on her face. “Come now. You’re going to be with me for a while. You might as well eat. Don’t worry. I didn’t lace your food like I did with your cousin.”

“How sweet.” Alexa clicked her tongue as she stared down at her plate. She needed to find out his whole plan and wondered if he would speak freely about it if she behaved. More information was needed, but she wasn’t expecting the anti-magic and anti-shifting cuffs … though she should have. Her only chance now would be to summon Ken. But she wanted to see if she could get more information out of Erebus first. Then she would break her necklace and summon Ken. Just thinking of him made her heart hurt. How was he? How was her father? And what about Mikah? She knew Mikah was alive, and that he was her guardian again.

“So why don’t you tell me what all of this is about? What’s the plan? You want to keep me here and put the glass back in my eye?” Alexa quirked her brow as she looked at Erebus. She watched as he brought the fork to his mouth and took a big bite, chewing slowly as he looked at her. “All of this just to hurt Ken because he dyed your hair white?”

Erebus slammed his fork down on the table. He shot her a lethal glare and snarled. “Is that what that bastard thinks?” He chuckled dangerously and shook his head. “Of course …” He let out a loud airy laugh. “Of course! That’s all it is. I was just a bad sport who couldn’t take his prank.” His face suddenly became solemn, and he looked up at Alexa. “Do you think it’s all about my hair?”

Alexa watched as his eyes bore into her. The man with normally dark, wild eyes hid a deep pain behind them. She couldn’t see his grudge only being about his hair color. It must have been because of the dryad woman, Ivory. Maybe he did really love her, and her betrayal destroyed him.

“I can’t imagine it’s only about your hair. It seems like you have suffered a deep emotional wound.” Alexa saw what almost looked like relief in his eyes. He opened his mouth to say something, but then black smoke formed in the room and Meryl appeared on the other side of the table.

“Hello, sugar. Did you miss me?” Meryl cackled as Erebus growled at her. “I’m here to collect. I’ve held up my end. Now …” She held out the purple vial.

“Disgusting creature. How dare you just come into my place as you please! Don’t you dare disrespect me!” Erebus watched as Meryl’s smile spread over her face.

“Now now now … I just want what I’ve come here for. And then I’ll leave.” Meryl could see his eye twitching as he glared at her.

Erebus held up his hand. “Give me the container.”

Meryl held it out and he snatched it out of her hands. He concentrated on the violet jar. It began to glow as a dark substance filled it. As it came out of Erebus, they heard a shrill scream of agony.

Alexa watched as Meryl’s face twisted in pain, and for once she saw emotions on her face. He black eyes watered, and her bottom lip trembled slightly. She reached out and grabbed the bottle, putting a little purple cork on the top.

“Don’t worry. Everything is alright now.” Meryl pulled the jar up against her chest and let out a quiet sigh of relief. She looked over at Alexa, and a wicked smile spread over her lips. “I’ll be seeing you soon.”

Alexa watched Meryl disappear in a puff of black smoke. She looked over at Erebus, who shrugged slightly and began eating again.

“I need to tighten things up here. I don’t need disgusting corpses dropping pieces of themselves in my home.” Erebus took another bite of food while he concentrated on his plate.

“What did you put in the bottle?” Alexa asked as she poked at her food, trying to be casual.

“It is her granddaughter’s soul. It was useless to me anyway.” Erebus continued to bring the fork to his mouth, not bothering to look at her.

Alexa winced at how casually he spoke about using and discarding someone’s soul. But she stayed quiet and continued poking at her food. They ate the rest of their dinner in silence, with only the sound of metal forks scraping against glass plates echoing off the walls. She wondered if she was playing with fire … if she should just summon Ken. But Erebus knew what was going on with the demons. He knew about the pool of power. Alexa wanted to know how much time they had—if it was already too late or if there was still a chance to stop it.

This was their one chance to get answers. She had to seize it. She looked down at the cuffs, which prevented her from shifting and using her ice magic. But she wondered … would they prevent her from using her fairy magic?

Erebus stood up from the table and walked over to her. “It’s time for you to rest. I have a guest coming to speak with me.” He looked at her as one eyebrow lifted in question. “It isn’t a request, and I don’t owe you an explanation.”

Alexa smiled up at him innocently as she stood up. “Is it a lady friend?”

Erebus grabbed her shoulder and roughly escorted her down the hall. “Don’t be jealous. You’re the only lady friend I will accept for eternity.” He squeezed her shoulder as he smiled down at her. Then, with gentle pressure, he pushed her into the room and shut the door. She heard a strange popping noise, and the door glowed red. Whoever he was meeting, he really didn’t want her to know about it.

Erebus walked down the hall and entered another room. A shadow moved across the floor, and Erebus bowed his head slightly. “My lord. I was surprised that you came here, and so suddenly.”

“Have you finished the preparations on your end?” the shadow whispered eerily.

“Yes,” Erebus answered with a slight nod as his eyes followed the shadow on the ground.

“What about the woman?” it hissed.