Bound by Blood & Parted by Fate

Chapter 09 – Emerald Walls

Chapter 09 – Emerald Walls

The Basharite's decision to release all of the prisoners surprised his advisors, and they questioned his motives. "Why release them? They are war prisoners ! They should be converted, " one of his advisors remarked.

The Basharite simply shook his head. "They are of no use to us." he said. "And I have a bigger plan in mind."

His advisors looked at him with doubt, but they knew better than to question his decisions. Little did they know that the release of the prisoners was just a small part of a bigger plan.

As the prisoners were being released, the Basharite couldn't help but think of the priestess. He knew that her gift of seeing the future would be invaluable to him, but he also knew the risks of speaking of her gift. He decided to keep his plans to himself.

***

Fae was roughly tossed into the room by the guards, causing her to stumble and fall to the ground. She tried to plead with them to let her go, but they ignored her and locked the door behind them. As she got up, she noticed the room was surprisingly beautiful, with walls painted in shades of green and adorned with intricate patterns.

She couldn't help but admire the decor, but her admiration quickly turned to concern as she realized she was trapped. She turned around and examined the room more closely, noticing the only door was locked and the balcony was too high above the ground. Fae felt helpless, but she had to find a way out.

The young woman looked around the room, taking in the details of the emerald green walls decorated with golden floral motifs. The room was spacious, with a large four-poster bed draped in silk and a plush rug covering the marble floor. The windows were covered with sheer curtains that allowed a gentle breeze to flow in. As she looked down at her dress, Fae noticed it was made of a similar emerald green silk, with golden embroidery and a flowing skirt that trailed behind her as she walked.

She sighed while walking towards the door and brutally tried to open it, but with no luck. She knew she had to be patient and wait for an opportunity to escape. She sat down on the bed, staring out of the window, hoping for a chance to be free. The night fell, and the moon cast a pale glow over the city. Fae stood up and approached the balcony once again, peering down at the ground below. “It's too high,” she sighed frustrated.

As Fae was lost in her thoughts, she suddenly heard a voice that made her freeze to her core. "You want to leave already" said the Basharite, interrupting her thoughts. Fae's body tensed up and she turned to see him standing there. The priestess tried to speak, but no words came out of her mouth.

The man advanced towards Fae, his movements deliberate and purposeful. His eyes, a deep shade of crimson, met hers, and he gently lifted her chin, his touch surprisingly tender yet firm. He studied her face with an intensity that sent shivers down her spine, his gaze locked onto hers as if he were trying to decipher her very soul. Fae found herself unable to break free from his scrutiny, her own eyes drawn into the depths of his, a strange mixture of fear and fascination bubbling within her.

In that moment, his eyes, though less intense than before, still bore into her with a penetrating focus that seemed to strip away her defenses. It was as if he could read her thoughts, unravel her secrets, and lay bare her vulnerabilities. The feeling of exposure washed over her, leaving her defenseless and exposed, a sensation both unsettling and strangely enthralling. His scrutiny seemed to penetrate every layer of her being, leaving her feeling like an open book in his hands, her emotions laid bare for him to see.

For a moment, there was silence as they simply gazed at each other. The Basharite's eyes flickered with curiosity as he realized he did not even know her name. “What is your name?” he asked. Fae's heart raced as he awaited her response. Finally, she broke the silence with a soft, trembling voice. "My name is Fae."

The Basharite repeated her name, savoring the sound of it on his lips. As he spoke, his eyes never left hers. It was as if he was trying to read her thoughts, or perhaps searching for something deeper within her soul. Fae felt a shiver run down her spine at the intensity of his gaze.

"It's a beautiful name," he said finally, his voice low and smooth. "Is it short for something else?" Fae nodded, feeling both nervous and exhilarated by the way he was looking at her. "Yes," she replied softly. "It's short for Amefae."

Fae felt her heart pounding in her chest as the Basharite spoke. She had never been this close to someone with such power before. She looked into his eyes, trying to decipher his intentions. There was something about him that made her feel both afraid and curious at the same time.

When he asked if she wanted to know his name, she was surprised by the offer. She nodded hesitantly, not sure if she should trust him. But as he spoke his name “Reza” she found herself drawn to him even more. It was a strong name, one that seemed to match his imposing presence.

As Fae repeated his name back to him, she saw a glimmer of amusement in his eyes. It made her wonder if he was playing some sort of game with her. But then she realized that he was simply enjoying their conversation, and that he was perhaps just as intrigued by her as she was by him.

For a moment, they simply looked at each other, each lost in their own thoughts. Fae wondered what Reza was thinking, if he was planning to keep her locked up forever or if she would ever get to see her sister again.

Reza, on the other hand, was pondering his next move. He had never met anyone like Fae before, and he was intrigued by her resilience and determination. He knew she would be of use to him in his grand plan for the city.

As their eyes met, they both knew that this was only the beginning of their story. There was something between them, a spark of curiosity and maybe something more. Only time would tell where their journey would lead them.

Reza's curiosity about Fae's gift had been piqued. He asked her to tell him more about her visions. Fae hesitated for a moment, knowing that her gift was valuable and could be used against her. But she decided to be truthful, admitting that she had occasional visions but had no control over them. Reza pressed further, asking if there was anything that could trigger her visions. Fae hesitated once again, knowing that the truth would reveal too much about her and her past. She lied and said no.

Reza could tell that Fae was not being completely honest with him, but he decided to let it go for the time being. He knew that Fae's gift would be of great use to him and his grand plan, and he was determined to find a way to use it to his advantage.

“So, what do you think of your new chamber?” Reza asked confidently. Fae took a glance around the room and said “I am not used to this kind of scenery…I miss Bravadis” she replied. Reza didn’t say a word, he just looked at her. Fae hesitated for a moment before gathering the courage to ask for a favor. "Can I send a message to a friend of mine?" she asked. Reza raised an eyebrow and inquired, "Is this friend like you?" Fae shook her head and said, "No, she's not like me at all."

Reza considered her request for a moment before offering to arrange for a messenger to deliver the message on her behalf. However, Fae insisted on delivering the message herself. Reza's curiosity was piqued by her insistence and he asked, "Why do you want to deliver the message personally? Are you afraid of me knowing about your little friends?" Fae laughed and brushed off his question, not wanting to reveal too much.

“I’ll let you send your message, but first I want you to give me a vision of my future” he proposed

"I can't just conjure up visions on command," she said, trying to sound confident. "It doesn't work that way. Sometimes the visions come to me, and sometimes they don't."

“Find a way”, with that, Reza left the room, leaving Fae alone with her thoughts.

Fae watches as Reza walks away, her heart sinking at his words. She knows that she is now trapped, unable to escape without putting her friends in danger. She thinks back to their conversation and wonders if she had made a mistake in revealing her gift to him.

Suddenly, she remembers his second condition from earlier and stops Reza before he leaves. "Wait," she calls out to him. "What was your second condition again?"

With a small smirk on his face, Reza turns back to face her and replies, "Isn't it obvious?” he smile and with a deeper voice he said “You are mine"

Fae feels a chill run down her spine as she realizes the full extent of her predicament. She had known that Reza was cunning, but she had not expected him to be so manipulative. She wonders how she will be able to fulfill his demand without betraying her own values and risking the lives of those she cares about but there is no way to do so. The one solution was to escape.

She had fashioned a makeshift rope out of sheets and lowered herself down from her window, inching her way to the ground. She had to be careful not to make any noise, and her heart pounded in her chest as she descended.

As Fae descended from the window, her heart raced with fear. Once she landed safely on the balcony, she took a deep breath and glanced around, making sure no one had spotted her.

She tiptoed through the darkened room, trying to avoid any creaky floorboards. Every sound seemed to echo in the stillness of the night, making her nerves even more on edge. She held her breath as she opened the door and slipped into the hallway.

Fae moved as silently as possible, hugging the shadows and avoiding the occasional guards patrolling the area. Her heart was pounding so hard she thought it might burst out of her chest. But as she made her way through the palace, she began to feel a glimmer of hope. She was going to make it out.

Just as she thought she was in the clear, a voice suddenly boomed out behind her. Fae froze, her body tensing up with fear. She slowly turned around to face Reza, who was standing there with a smug look on his face.

"Leaving? " he said, his voice laced with amusement.

Fae spoke no word, looking around, trying to find a solution or an excuse.

Suddenly, his demeanor changed. His once calm and collected expression turned into a twisted scowl. He grabbed Fae by the arm, his grip painfully tight, and dragged her back to the palace.

"You foolish girl," he sneered. "Did you truly believe you could just stroll out of here? I had hoped you would uphold your end of our deal. Alas, it seems my expectations were too high for a wretched pagan from city of debauchery."

Fae struggled against him, but his grip was too strong. As they reached a secluded area of the palace. The young captive woman knew what was coming to her. “I tried to be nice and you betrayed me” he scuffed “I burned an entire city to find you” he screamed at the top of his lungs “You will never escape from me”

Fae stumbled and fell to the ground, the cold realization sinking in. She couldn't believe her ears. How was this possible? How did he know she was a priestess? Panic and disbelief gripped her as the gravity of the situation unfolded before her, leaving her questioning not only her choices but the unforeseen consequences of her actions.

"You will stay here until you have a vision," he growled, his voice filled with anger. Fae tried to protest, but he grabbed her roughly by the arm and dragged her towards a small cave on the outskirts of the palace grounds.

Once they reached the cave, Reza threw Fae inside and slammed the door shut, leaving her in complete darkness. She was still trying to process what she had just heard when the gravity of her situation just hit her.

She was locked in a cave, the air was stale and musty, and the ground was cold and hard beneath her feet. She sat in a corner, trying to make sense of what had just happened. Maybe I should not have tried to escape, maybe I should have thought of another solution, stupid ! I am so stupid.

Minutes turned into hours and hours turned into days, and Fae remained locked inside the cave. She tried to use her gift to see a way out, but her mind was clouded with fear and despair. She had lost all hope of ever leaving this place.