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“I presume you want to survive?” I ask.
She nods, her body still tense as her grip on the wall tightens.
“I can help you with that,” I tell her as reassuringly as I can. “But it is vital that you get a better handle on your emotions and magic. You cannot afford to stand out amongst the others, especially now that you’re about to be put to work.”
“Work?” she queries. “What type of work?”
I begin walking back and forth across the doorway.
“You, alongside the rest of the prisoners, are to be cleared for work. You’ll each be assigned duties around the palace. They vary greatly, so it’s difficult to say just what you’ll get. One thing is for certain across all duties, though.”
“What is it?” she asks, stepping away from the wall. There’s a strained look in her eyes, a sight that fills me with sadness.
I brush it off and return to the topic at hand. “You’ll have eyes on you the whole time, watching your every move.”
The worry in her face grows, her shoulders shrugging up as she turns away. Even from here, I can feel the tension in her muscles. Part of me wishes to go to her side, to offer words of comfort and a promise of protection.
Despite wanting to ensure her survival, I cannot get her hopes up too much. After all, her fate lies in the palms of Vippera. Only the gods know what dastardly deeds she’d do with Aurora should her magical abilities be discovered.
“I know this is frightening news. I’m sorry.”
“That’s putting it lightly,” she sighs, turning back to face me. She peers down at her outstretched palms. “How exactly am I going to learn how to control my magic and emotions in this hellhole? I’ve spent my whole life trying to hide what I can do, but if what you’re saying about my magic rising to the surface at times like these are true, then I’m done for.”
“There is still hope yet, Aurora.”
She looks up. Her gaze is full of longing, looking for a shred of hope. I don’t want to let her down.
“For now, I advise that you focus on your duties and act as you normally do. Try not to think about the fact you’re part of a dowry, just try to imagine you’re simply going to work.”
“You make it sound so simple.” She sighs.
“I wish it was, but you have to try. As far as learning how to control yourself, I’ll have my servant Slyth train you on that. I’ll help out, too, when I can.”
Aurora’s face is blank, her expressionless gaze making it hard to tell how she feels. No doubt, she’s going through an internal war like never before.
“I don’t suppose I have a choice,” she says.
“It’s your only shot at surviving.”
“Okay… I’ll do it.”
I turn around and fumble for the keys. As I do, I’m hit with an overwhelming flurry of feelings all at once, some of which I’ve never experienced before.
What to do with them, I do not know. I certainly want her physically, but my attraction to her goes far beyond the surface level. To be drawn to someone in every single way is scary, in turn making me angry and frustrated.
I mumble to myself as I unlock the door just as Aurora’s voice pipes up from behind me.
“Zalith?”
I glance over my shoulder. “Yes, Aurora?”
She steps forward, clutching each arm tight and rubbing her skin in circles.
“Why are you helping me?”
“Because I –”
The truth edges on the tip of my forked tongue, clawing desperately at my lips to escape and make itself known. Pausing, I gulp it down.
