Foresaken Lovers

Chapter One

Staying in the shadows I carefully search every cell I come across. Most of them are empty save for the occasional skeleton here and there. I click my teeth. She had to be alive, I know it. If either of us were to be executed the other would be made to watch before joining them. The Court is full of sick bastards like that.

Finally, after what felt like hours of searching, I see a hunched figure in the corner of a cell that was nearly identical to mine, apart from the fact that the window and the door had iron bars. The only metal that could resist magic. I dropped my sword and practically ran up to the bars loudly whispering, “Bri!” The person's head turns in my direction and my eyes meet the ones that I hadn’t seen in months. At the sight of me, she runs up and slams against the bars, sticking her arms through them to touch me as if she didn't believe her eyes. “Bri,” I whisper again.

“Tris,” she whispers back. Slowly sticking my hands through the bars I cup her face. She had a black eye and a small gash on her forehead but was otherwise unharmed. A smile makes its way onto my face as her eyes flash in happiness. “I’m so happy you're still alive. I had assumed the worst.” I let out a bitter laugh.

“Those sick f***s would have made sure that we watched each other die trust me.” Bri laughs softly. “But come on, we need to get out of here.” I reluctantly pull away from her and grab the keys. Trying the one that had gotten me out, I put it in the keyhole and turn it. Or at least try to. The key stays put. Looking up at Bri, I see her staring at the key in shock. Frantically I try every key on that ring, but none of them work, some don't even fit.

Growling I go to where I dropped my sword and hack away at the bars. A dull yet loud ring resonates through the small space and Bri covers her ears. Suddenly I hear a voice from down the hallway. Both our heads turn sharply at the sound. Muttering curses under my breath I steady my stance, ready to launch into a fight if need be. Bri puts a hand on my shoulder and I turn to look at her, confused.

“Tris we don't have time for this,” she says quietly. I shake my head.

“No. don’t you dare. I am NOT leaving this place without you,” I tell her. My tone conveys that there would be no room for argument.

“I hate it when you get like this,” she sighs. I don’t bother replying, I just try and get the lock open. Stopping for a moment I listen. Further down the hall from where I assume my cell was, someone was shouting orders. I guess they found the bodies.

Scowling I jam the tip of the sword into the lock in an attempt to pick it. I honestly wasn't expecting it to work at all but to my surprise, and undoubtedly Bri’s, when I jammed the sword into the lock a dull cracking sound met our ears. Looking up at Bri in hope, I rush for the door. It opened. Bri leaps into my arms and I hug her tightly. Our reunion is cut short by the sound of boots thumping on the packed dirt. Grabbing Bri’s hand I ran down the hall with her in tow.

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Though I hadn't expected that getting out of the Court dungeons was going to be easy, I certainly didn't think it was going to be this hard. The dungeons were just like a labyrinth, a mind-boggling series of twists and turns and seemingly endless hallways. What surprised me was the fact that there weren't any other prisoners but Bri and I. All the cells that we came across were empty, which bothered me more than the skeletons.

I stop abruptly and Bri slams into my back, she’s about to ask what was wrong before she hears what I do. Voices. They weren’t the voices of prisoners, but they also didn't sound like soldiers as they were whispering, and very loudly I might add.

Suddenly I hear the gentle squealing of a cell door and Bri yanks me in with her, closing the door behind her. She pushes me into the shadows. An almost comforting warmth surrounds us and I look down. Bri’s hands are pressed against my chest and her eyes are shut tightly in concentration. The softest halo of green outlines her body as she uses her magic to shield us. I look at her in regret, usually, her magic was composed of her own beautiful green fire that she wielded, but I let us get captured. I was careless and now her flame was reduced to nothing but cinders.

“Don’t you dare look at me like that Tristen,” she says without looking at me. I continue to look down at her, catching a small bead of sweat roll down from her temple. “We’ve been through too much s**t for you to place the blame on yourself. So don’t look at me like that.” In light of her words, I take a deep breath and look beyond her at the door. I let out a silent gasp at the forms that I see.

Gently tapping her shoulder Bri takes it a sign to drop her invisibility shield. Bri lets out a shuddering breath before collapsing into my arms. I can’t help but feel a small pang of regret but in the situation, I don't allow myself to dwell on it.

I put my sword into my belt on my hip and lifted her into my arms bridal-style. The figures in the hall were arguing loudly, making me laugh lightly and Bri gave an exhausted smile.

“Dude, I don't think that we should-” one begins.

“Stop being such a p***y cat. Are you a lion or not?!” the other loudly whispered in response.

“How could you even say that?!” the first one exclaims. “We’re Liánjiē!” I could almost imagine the second one rolling his eyes in annoyance.

“Anyway, we’re not here to argue. We have to find Brisa and Tris before the Court decides to plan their after party.”

“I don't understand,” the first one questions. “Tris could have escaped months ago, Why does he need us to go and save him?”

“I don't know. Maybe they bust his ass or something, or maybe the bastards are blackmailing him or some f****d up s**t like that.” I walk up to the door and lean against its frame before calling out.

“You’re actually wrong both times. I’m hurt, all those years together and you still don't know me.” Both of them turn in response to my voice.

“You b***h!” the second one yells at me. I let out a dry chuckle.

“I missed you too Collins. .”

“It’s great to see you man, but we just want to know why you didn’t escape earlier?” Darien asks. I shrug.

“Just trying to spark a friendly rebellion, nothing special,” I say simply. Collins opens his mouth to reply but loud yelling from down the hall cuts him off.

”Move!” a voice calls. ”Find them or it’ll be your heads spiked on Traitors Bridge!”

”You can curse my ear off later, we gotta go.” I say quickly. Collins doesn't argue but gives me a look promising the scolding of a lifetime.

I let Collins and Darien lead the way as they were the ones who got in here. Collins stopped for a minute to listen while Darien and I keep watch for any guards. Bri lightly taps my chest in a signal to put her down. I hesitate for a minute before letting her stand, but with an arm around her waist to support her.

“Tris tell me,” she begins. “What did they do to you while we were separated?’

“That doesn’t matter. We need to worry about getting out of here first.” She knew that I was avoiding her question but she dropped it. Collins turns back to us.

“The place is crawling with the Courts lap dogs. I can’t get a whiff of wind that isn’t clouded with their scent. Honestly, if they’re trying to ambush you, they might as well quiet their breathing.” Collins clicks his tongue in annoyance. Darien puts a hand on his shoulder.

”It’s ok. We’ll find a way around them.” he says assuringly.

”Or we can go through them, ” I suggest. Darien gives me a glare and I shrug. “What?” I question. Bri takes the opportunity to poke my side and I stick my tongue out at her playfully.

“Well, we won’t have to do either,” Bri says matter-of-factly. I raise an eyebrow in question. “If I use my magic, I can shield us all from the guards’ sight. But only for a few minutes so we have to move fast.” I was about to protest saying that she didn't have the energy to do that, but one look at the determination in her eyes told me to keep my mouth shut. Collins and Darien looked at each other for a moment, communicating in that silent way that they always do. That still irks me. Looking back at us Darien speaks first.

“If you’re sure about it then ok,” he starts.

“But don't count on us to save you when Aeson kicks your ass for it,” Collins finishes. Bri rolls her eyes.

“Yeah, yeah. Now let’s go.” Bri peels my arm from her waist to move away from us slightly. I can hear her breathing slow as she zeros in on her remaining strength to use for her magic. A soft green halo gently wraps around her body at almost a snail's pace. It didn't take a genius to tell that she was struggling. After a few long and tense minutes Bri motions for us to walk.

With her in the lead Collins and Darien direct her from behind, leading us all to the moment of truth. It doesn’t take us very long to reach one of the exits, but Bri was already near collapse. She leaned against the wall, her breath coming in short, labored gasps, but she kept the shield up. I let out a regretful sigh as I watched her knowing that I am unable to do anything but support her from the back.

Collins makes a sound resembling the call of an owl. His go-to signal. I go to support Bri and we move.