Love Lock

Chapter 4 of Love Lock

Damnit! She is my weakness. Today is supposed to be a day of jubilation. Today would have marked a year in the dungeon that is if I had stayed a little bit longer. I am supposed to be happy, but she is hindering my joy with worthless memories.

“For heaven's sake, why are you standing here all by yourself? It is time for breakfast. You haven't been eating. I am feeding you for once, and here you are. You make me look bad," Mother said, starting to walk towards me. I quickly wiped my tears before she noticed. No one should see my weakness. Princesses don't cry. Tears are a weakness.

“Don't let me drag you to the dining hall. Go have breakfast," she continued when she realized I hadn't moved.

“Don't talk to me."

“If it's about last night, then I am s..."

There is no way my mother would apologize, especially not to me. “I am so disappointed in you. How dare you say that to me? You fueled my temper."

Now that was my mother—too pride-filled to apologize. I looked at her bluntly.

“Stop talking to me like we are close. We are nothing."

“I know, but I need your help."

“No."

“Hear me out."

“There is nothing you can say to convince me."

“Yoselin..."

“This conversation is over."

I walked away from her without even looking back. A part of me wanted to hear her out, but I can't—not after what she did to me and Khalil.

I entered the dining hall only to find it empty. Where is this breakfast Mother kept going on about? “What is...." Before I could finish my statement, a cloth flew over my mouth and nose. It was a hilix gas, a gas guaranteed to make you unconscious for days, and only the strong could conquer it. One sniff, and I was out cold. I heard faint voices around me.

“She's out."

“Get her to the room."

“It’s urgent."

“Are you sure it's strong?"

“Yes, she will be out for a long time."

“But is this the right way?"

“Look, do you want money or not? This doesn't concern us. Where is she?"

“I am coming." I recognized that delicate voice. No, it couldn't be... was it... Nayiri?

Nayiri's Point of View

Watching Yoselin being dragged into my room sent chills down my spine. I know we aren't the closest friends, but she always tolerated me, and she was like Mom's second daughter. Doing this to her feels like betraying my mom. It's almost like I am killing her once more, but this one isn't out of rage; it's out of shame.

“It’s time," Queen Kayani's happy voice echoed through the room. Yoselin was right; she is the devil. How could you be excited as your daughter is about to lose a part of herself? She will lose her identity, her emotion, her cause. She will be a mindless puppet. The queen will fill her brain with everything she wants.

I can't let that happen.

Nayiri, think.

Nayiri, my people need me.

Nayiri, it's time.

Nayiri, where did he go?

Nayiri, don't get close to me.

Nayiri, is it.....

JUST SHUT UP!!

I am sick of all these voices messing with my mind. “Blasted urchins!" Queen Kayani's voice rang louder than my thoughts. I peeked through the space in the door to see Kayani's guard on the floor, smoke rising from his lifeless body as he decayed. Oh, Queen Kayani, this was the 257th time this week, and it's always for the same reason... the kazi. Instead of reducing the kazi clan, she was reducing her own.

She burst the door open and walked into the room. Black shadows, like clouds, followed her every step, anger emanating from her body. The smell of death followed closely. She stood in front of me with a deep breath.

“Nayiri, you know how bad my temper is." Her heavy hand rested on my shoulders. “This shouldn't fail. The kazi have increased by 87%. I am giving you 20 minutes. When I come back, Yoselin should be ready to go to Mezuli," the queen said her final words and casually waltzed out of the room. It was obvious she was still angry.

The queen is not anyone you would learn from, but if there is something I admire about her, it will be her composure. The first time I saw her, I wondered how someone as kind as her could be the daughter of death, but now it is obvious. I turned towards Yoselin to see her stirring. I went closer to examine her; there is no way she could overcome it—at least not this easily.

“I am up!" Yoselin screamed as if she had just woken up from a nightmare. She was frantically catching her breath while examining the room. The gas was taking a toll on her, but she was trying to fight it. Finally, our eyes met. I looked at her bluntly, not knowing how to explain. I mean, what could I say to stop her? I have her tied up, I have her chained like some animal; I had her kidn*pped. There is nothing for me to say but look at her.

“You!" Yoselin screamed at me, her usually cold and arrogant tone sounding hoarse and soft. I could see the hurt in her eyes. I felt the tiny ounce of love she had for me fade away.

“Yoselin, please listen to me," I said to calm her down, but I didn't even know what to say to her. If she screams, Kayani will come, and it's over.

I looked at her once more with teary eyes and heavy breaths. “Please... please listen to me."

“Listen to you? You want me to listen to you?! You have me tied up like an animal, and you want me to listen to you?!"

“Calm down, please. Please calm down. If you activate your powers, who knows the damage you will cause? You haven't used it for a while. Listen to me."

“Traitor!"

“Yoselin."

“Traitor!"

“Calm down. You are overreacting."

“Overreacting? Overreacting?! I trusted you, and this is what you do? I started to see you as a sister. Do you know what that means to me? You don't deserve my trust." With this, she broke the chains and dashed toward me, her dark whips surrounding my body. The whips were heavy with irufi gas, the decaying gas that all royals possessed—the most powerful substance in the lands.

It is guaranteed to kill in seconds. She was crushing my bones with each passing moment. She had lost herself in her anger. This isn't Yoselin; it's her rage. Yoselin, as cold as she may seem, wouldn't do this. She is a sweet girl. In what seemed like my final moments, I saw Mom's image form in her eyes, the clip adding to the image. She only comes when I need hope. Her mere image means I have hope in the hopeless.

It might be foolish, but it was the only way I could think of. To get her to snap out of this, I have to mention a name she hates and loves.

“Khalil is at the gates!" I screamed with what could be my last breath.

“What?" she asked weakly, releasing her grip on me and letting me hit the hard stone floor. I groaned as I felt my rib shift. I was trying to gasp for air, but my body was burning from the irufi. I rolled on the floor in pain, trying to bear the pain of the power. I turned and saw Yoselin frozen in place. The pain in her eyes was indescribable.