Prisoner of Darkness

chapter 1 part 2

‘I'll meet you at midnight in the library. I will explain everything then.’ He kissed my cheek and disappeared into the darkness. I became semi aware of someone trying to stir me.

‘Anna, are you alright?’ It was Stephen Fowler.

‘Yes, apologies. I needed some air after the bathroom lost track of time.’

‘Dinner is about to be served. Are you alright to eat?’

‘Yes, eating is just what I need after everything.’ He helped me to my feet, and we made our way back to the dining room.

I pulled myself together to get through dinner when I returned to the dining room. The conversation had turned to the events of this trip. The Fowlers were returning from holiday visiting their mother's home for the first time in many years. Mother went into detail about the reason we were leaving Coralline and glossed over the marriage part, thankfully.

We finished dinner and headed back to our room to get Mother ready for bed. I aided her with dressing, and she fell asleep quickly as she has been doing of late.

I changed into something comfortable. A loose top and blue slacks I kept my soft stockings on to remain quiet while sneaking around the ship. I checked the time. The clock read 1130 close enough; I thought.

I picked up my soft riding boots and made my way to the library, then closing the door, I headed to the dining room and around the corner.

I had to give it to Zavier. We would have fair warning if anyone were approaching this room. A small fireplace illuminated the space. I turned into the room; books lined two of the walls either side of a massive window looking out over the night sky. The full moon hung over the clouds. It was beautiful, so peaceful. I did not know how long I stood there, but somewhere, a clock struck twelve and I turned to check the door, only to find Zavier standing there. I had so many questions, but all I wanted to do was cry. I thought he was dead and to see him now fully grown was heartbreaking again. I crossed my arms, trying to hold the pain in and wiped the tears that had begun shedding.

Before I knew it, I felt arms around me, holding me tight. A sob left my chest as I reached to hold him.

‘I thought you were dead.’ I cried.

‘I know, I know.’ he stroked my hair. ‘I'll explain everything.’

He held me tight before letting me go again. He got to his feet and guided me to the couch, keeping me close. He was so tall it was awkward trying to sit opposite each other. He looked in pain before he spoke again.

'You know I never wanted to leave you Ari, you know this right.’

I pulled my hand away.

‘Then why did you?’

‘You were in danger. I was told I needed to leave so that the danger would pass, and you would be safe, I had every intention of returning once it had passed, but once that time came, I found my way blocked. I could not get within 5km of the islands, and I was forced to stay away. Every solstice I tried to get to you I tried to break that spell so many times, but it wasn’t anything I recognized.

A fortnight ago, I heard about your father's death and hoped maybe I could get to you then, but the barrier was still there; I heard you were coming to the mainland to live with your brother I stowed away on this ship, hoping I could get to you. The barrier was weakened. It didn’t take much to break it after that. So, I just had to wait till you were on board. Why didn’t you come when I first called?’ he asked.

‘I was with mother,’ I said. ‘She isn't well. She needs assistance to get around.’

‘I'm sorry to hear that.’

‘Why are you here now?’ I asked.

‘To bring you home, Ari, why else?’

It hurt to hear those words. I did not know what to say. It is what I have been begging to hear for the last ten years, but now I have given up that dream in hopes of a new one to come along.

‘I cannot,’ I replied, moving away from him. This time he was the one hurt.

‘I thought you were dead, Zavier. I gave up on ever coming home with you many years ago.’ he reached for me, but my anger rose ‘I THOUGHT YOUR W-WERE DEAD.’ I yelled.

His face sunk.

‘Ari, what have you done?’

Footsteps came running down the hall, and Zavier reached for me and dragged me into the moonlight. We were in plain sight, but I knew what he was doing, using both of our magic to hide us when a guard came into the room looking for the source of the noise. He looked around, confused, checking everywhere but where we were. Satisfied that it was somewhere else, he left as Zavier let go of me.

‘Well, it's been a while since I've had to hide both of us,’ he laughed.

‘Your rusty,’ he reached for my hand. I swatted it away.

‘I did what you asked, “don’t do magic, don’t draw attention to yourself, stay safe.”’

Those were the words he told me before he left for the last time.

‘You haven't done magic in ten years?’ He looked at me worriedly.

I nodded.

‘Ari, I'm so sorry I should have tried harder, written more.’ He ran his hand through his hair.

‘Here, you can't be too rusty. You were always a natural at it.’ he filled a glass of water.

‘Do you remember this?’ he held a glass of water to me.

I knew what he wanted me to do. It was one of our first lessons. I never liked being what I am cold death. But it was my gift or curse depending on how you looked at it I reached with my pointer finger and touched the glass cup, a ‘c***k’ came from the glass as ice crystals danced across the glass, he sat the glass on the table next to us, he smiled.

‘You still have it.’

He leaned against me as I was waiting for him to ask, but he seemed like it was the last question he wanted to ask.

‘What happened after I left?’ he asked.

‘I-I did what you asked, no magic to be as human as I could be, an act like nothing was wrong. When they left, I waited. I waited for so long for you to return. You never did. I went to mother to ask what happens when friend don’t come back, she told me sometimes there are accidents, and they are killed and can't get back to the people they love, I though what happened to you I waited for two years no sign not a word, another four I had convinced myself that you must have been captured or killed.

Six months ago, father got ill after travelling to Nicosia. when he returned, his conditioned worsened a month ago, he died.’

Tears slipped down my face as I continued.

‘Just after that, Mother started getting sick the same as Father. Charles suggested coming to the mainland to seek medical treatment. But then the council stepped in for my mother to receive treatment on the mainland. They wanted access to Coralline. My brothers agreed and to show they were hiding no secrets; Charles offered my hand in marriage to Lord William Cobalt.’

Zavier rested his head in his hands. ‘And you agreed?’

‘I had already lost you and Father. I didn’t see the point of fighting them any longer. This saves my mother.’

‘It is too dangerous to stay, Ari. You of this ship. You are walking into a trap right into the Cobalt Manor, the council's hands.’

‘What choice do I have? My mother is sick, maybe dying. I need to try to save her.’ wait,’ I thought.

‘Can you heal her?’ I asked him, remembering one of his skills is healing.

‘If I heal her, you will leave with me tonight!’ I nodded.

‘Take me to her.’

We made our way back to mother's room avoiding the guards. I let Zavier in. He looked at her, studying her.

‘What did your father die from?’

‘Tarquin disease,’ I responded.

He bit his lip before settling in next to mother. Holding her hand, he studied her face before closing his eyes. His breath was deep and several minutes passed before he opened his eyes, glowing.

He put her hand down. Since it has been a while since I had seen him heal, I am certain he had done no healing. He nodded to follow him, and we went back to the library before he spoke.

‘I can't heal your mother,’ he said.

‘Why?’ I asked, annoyed.

‘She doesn’t want to live,’

‘What? No, she wants to live. She has grandchildren. She still must live, for she cannot give up yet.’ I went to push past him, but he held me in place.

‘Ari listen to me; your mother's disease is much more advance than you believe it to be. Tarquin disease is fast working and aggressive. Even if she let me treat her, it may not be enough to keep her alive. Your mother wants to be with your father. Keeping her alive at this point is cruel.’

‘No, If I can convince her to live, could you treat her?’ I asked.

‘Ari,’ he shook his head. ‘Could you treat her?’ I asked.

‘To what point and purpose only for her to suffer without your father further, I cannot guarantee that the disease will not return. It is aggressive and destructive. I have healed a few from this disease and fewer still make a recovery.’

I sank against him. 'We can leave your mother with your brothers. She will have a good few months before her death spending it with loved ones.’

But that means I would not be there in the end.

‘If I fail to get off this ship, the council will seek reparations for failing to the agreement.’

He stood pacing the room before resting on the fireplace. I had to follow through with my thoughts. That way I can return the favour maybe after I could find him again, but right now, this is my only option.

‘I can protect you. They have no idea who you are or what you look like.’ His hands froze over the mantle and his feet were encased in ice. ‘I can protect you, Zavier, and I will.’

‘Ari, please don’t do this. Please don’t trust them.’

I don’t think I've ever heard him say please as much as this. This hurt. Maybe I could find a way back to him after I destroyed the council.

‘I'm sorry, Zavier. It's for the best.’

He struggled against the ice. I knew it was useless. He wouldn’t be able to get out until I let him out; I walked patiently back to mine and my mother's rooms before letting the spell go.