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“I should never have run from you.” I say, my voice thick with regret as Val whimpers softly.
Darian levels me with an assessing gaze, and for a moment I almost can see the knowledge of centuries on his face before he responds, “You had no idea what my brother was doing. Ther’s no way you could have known I wasn’t there to hurt you.”
I let out a wry laugh. “Well, being drugged and tied to a chair certainly doesn’t scream ‘this is for your protection’, I suppose.”
Darian winces, “No, it wasn’t my finest moment.” he admits, scratching the back of his head.
There’s a long moment of silence as I contemplate the events after meeting Darian, “Caspian’s explanation of that night was filled with inconsistencies. In hindsight, I shouldn’t have accepted it at face value,” I confess, my voice laced with a mix of regret and frustration. “I remember hearing Val’s howls in the distance while I was bound tothe bed. That tiny shrivel of hope was what kept me going... even as he...” I pause, my words catching in my throat as it tightens with emotion.
Darian, to his credit, remains attentive as I struggle to find the words.
“When Val attacked him and Caspian freed me from the bed, I didn’t immediately question how I was found, I simply assumed that Val had somehow led Caspian to me. But now that I think about it, it does seem like more than a mere coincidence that Caspian happened to be in the vicinity, doesn’t it?” I nervously meet Darian’s gaze, somehow hoping that my suspicions aren’t true.
Darian remains silent for a long moment, his jaw tense as he grinds his teeth. I search his face, my gaze dropping to his mouth as he finally responds, “I won’t jump to conclusions, assume the worst and accuse my brother of premeditating what happened to you during your captivity,” he says, his words deliberate as he continues, “But considering that the man who held you captive was working for him, it’s highly likely that Caspian was aware of your location at the very least.”
I nod, my gaze fixed on the floor as I absentmindedly stroke Val’s furry head. We sit in silence for a long moment, and I’m grateful for having the time to process it.
“So...” My voice is hesitant as I struggle to find the right words. Being forward and blunt isn’t typically my style, but this situation calls for it considering how much disinformation I’ve been given.
“So,” Darian echoes, a trace of amusement in his voice.
“You don’t want magic back?” I ask, genuinely curious whether Caspian was lying or not.
Darian’s smirk deepens before he responds. “Oh, I want it back more than anything.” My heart drops, until he continues, “But what I don’t want is for my brother to regain his abilities.”
My jaw drops in astonishment. “You would sacrifice your own magic, and essentially your freedom, just to keep him bound?”
Darian nods resolutely. “Yes.”
Is he truly that bad?
I suppose after his recent behavior, I could fathom how Caspian could be that terrible, but there were times he was kind, caring and perceptive. It makes no sense.
“Why?” I ask, cringing at my accusatory tone.
“My brother has committed countless terrible acts in his life, Lara. Some of the most unforgivable things. He was banished for his insatiable quest for power, his relentless pursuit of becoming a god,” Darian explains, “He was banished by the Gods for his misdeeds.”
The Gods? I truly have gone insane.
I remain silent as Darian’s hands flex repeatedly at his sides, a clear sign of the memories and traumas that still haunt him.
“What did he do?” I ask softly, my voice barely audible but his jaw clamps shut, clearly not ready to delve that deep into his past.
I suppose I’m not the only one unable to talk about my traumas.
Silence lingers between us, and I decide to do us both a favor, shifting gears to steer the conversation away from the darker revelations. “So, you mentioned that my parents weren’t really my parents,”
Darian’s eyes snap to mine and relief flickers across his face at the subject change.
“That’s correct. I don’t have all the details, but from what I know, your biological parents were missing, and you were born during the time when magic was bound. Your adoptive parents, the ones you knew as your parents, were actually from our realm, not Earth. They practiced blood magic and performed rituals that involved sacrificing lives to temporarily nourish their own magical abilities. Ibelieve my brother suspected you were to play a role in the restoration of magic but was unable to move forward with it until recently.”
My jaw drops, “So when you came to the cottage that day...”
Darian nods, finishing my sentence for me, “I knew they were planning to make a sacrifice that night.”
I exhale heavily, shaking my head. “This is all so overwhelming, Darian.”
His expression softens, “I know, Lara. It’s a lot to take in, and I’m sorry for burdening you with all of it at once. But you deserve to know the truth.”
