Bound by Blood & Parted by Fate

Chapter 13 : A game of minds

Chapter 13 : A game of minds

"Now, the Basharite is waiting for you," Sade said gently, as she was done with the last braid.

Fae's voice wavered as she replied, "I do not wish to see him."

Sade placed a reassuring hand on Fae's shoulder and said, "You don't have to go in with fear; go in with the knowledge that you're in control of your own destiny."

Sade's words were like a soothing balm, infusing Fae with a newfound sense of confidence and determination.

Reza sat at the head of the dining table impatient, waiting for Fae. He was about to go find her himself when the door opened.

He watched as Fae entered the room, her eyes filled with a determination that seemed to defy the weight of recent events. It was as if all that had transpired, all his schemes to break her down, had failed to dim the fierce resolve burning within her.

As she sat down, he leaned forward and said with a smirk, "Look at you, as stunning as the day you attempted and failed to murder me.” he leaned forwards, his smirk disappearing to be replaced with a frown “I hope you have learned your lesson."

Fae ignored his taunting and immediately began eating like a starving animal which was completely understandable. She hadn’t had a proper meal in so long.

Meanwhile, Reza was still staring at her with a smirk once more. He found her behavior amusing, considering the circumstances she was in. When she finally noticed him looking he said “Aren’t you afraid that the food is poisoned this time?” she rolled her eyes and continued eating at a slower pace, savoring each bite as if it were her last. She was too focused on filling her stomach and gaining her strength back.

“I double you will try to kill me now, though I wouldn’t mind death”

Reza watched her for a moment longer, intrigued by her resilience. Most people in her position would be cowering in fear or begging for mercy, but not Fae. She had a fire in her eyes that he couldn't help but respect.

Finally, Reza spoke up again, "I must say, you are quite a mystery, Fae. Most people would be trembling in fear at the sight of me, but you seem almost...unimpressed."

Fae looked up from her plate, narrowing her eyes. "Why should I be afraid of you? You may have power, but that doesn't make you invincible."

Reza chuckled, "I like you, Fae. You have a spunk that I haven't seen in a long time. But make no mistake, I am not to be underestimated."

Fae shrugged and continued eating, "Of course"

As she ate, Fae's mind wandered to the depths of her resentment towards Reza. She had once thought there was some good in him, but now she could see nothing but a heartless oppressor. The way he had left her in that cave for weeks on end had been unbearable. She longed to hurt him like he had hurt her, to make him feel the pain that she had experienced. She vowed to find a way to get her revenge, no matter what it took.

Reza's expression softened, and he let out a heavy sigh. "I am sorry for what happened to you," he said sincerely. "But sometimes, harsh measures are necessary to get through to someone. You tried to run away and I couldn't allow that. I needed to teach you a lesson." Fae’s expression softened as he listened to Reza’s words.

"And you enjoyed it, didn't you?" she spat out. "Locking me up in that cave like some sort of an animal. That's the kind of person you are: a man with no values, no morals, only debauchery."

Reza's face grew dark, his eyes flashing with anger. This was the worst insult he could have received. Fae felt a chill run down her spine as he leaned in closer. "You have no idea what kind of person I am," he said in a low, dangerous voice. "You should be careful with your words."

Fae swallowed nervously, feeling a sudden sense of fear. She wondered what other depths of cruelty he was capable of. But she also knew to be careful, she couldn't show any weakness in front of him.

"My vision," she said to change the subject, changing the subject. "A man with grey hair, a woman in a shimmering gold and white dress, and a sense of danger that made me shiver. They seemed to be discussing something, but I couldn't make out their words."

Reza's expression softened slightly as he listened to her. "Go on," he said, his voice back to its usual tone.

Fae continued, reciting the poem she had seen in her vision. Reza listened intently, his eyes flickering with interest. When she finished, he leaned back in his chair and stroked his beard thoughtfully.

"That's quite a vision," he said with a smirk. "I'm intrigued."

Reza leaned forward, his eyes intense, his elbow on the table. "Tell me more about this vision," he said. "What did this man and woman look like? Did you recognize them?"

Fae frowned, trying to recall the details. " The man was aged, his hair grey and his appearance gave off a threatening aura," she said. " The woman, on the other hand, was young with flowing hair that seemed to shine in the light. It was clear that the man had a firm grip on her, as if she was merely a pawn in his game."

Fae hesitated, unsure if she wanted to share the meaning with him. But she decided to take a chance. "You have enemies who are jealous of your power, but you'll never fall as long as you have at least one ally," she said.

Reza raised an eyebrow. "On ally?"

Fae took a deep breath and stared at Reza, knowing that this was yet another trap to further ensnare her. But she refused to back down. Without a moment of hesitation, she replied firmly, "Me."

Reza's smirk deepened, sending shivers down Fae's spine. "You, my dear, are but a pawn in this game," he said. "But don't worry, I'll make sure to take good care of you as long as you don't try to run away, again."

Fae clenched her fists, resisting the urge to lash out. She knew she had to play along for now if she wanted to survive.

Reza continued, "Together, we can accomplish great things. And who knows, perhaps you'll even come to enjoy being on the winning side." Reza looked at Fae intently and asked, "How did you make the vision happen? Did you meditate or use some kind of magic?"

Fae shifted uncomfortably in her seat and replied, "It just happened. I don't know how or why." It was a lie, of course. Fae knew that the one way to purposely have a vision was to be in pain : it was a gift and a curse. One thing was sure, Reza must never find out this.

Reza raised an eyebrow skeptically. "It just happened? I find that hard to believe. There must be some kind of explanation."

Fae shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant. "I don't have one. It just happens."

Reza leaned back in his chair, studying Fae carefully. "Well, if you ever figure out the reason behind it, I'd like to know. It could be a valuable asset for us."

Fae nodded, not wanting to reveal her true feelings about the visions. She knew they were a curse, not a gift, and