Heart desired

//Chapter 23//

I stared at him. He was looking me dead in the eye. There was no coaxing or softening the blow. He waited till I grasp the news, which took me a lot more time than I liked.

Daniel was married. And he had a son. And he was already one years old.

My mind did the calculations even if I did not want to. I was here for almost two years now. Which meant he got married after a month or two I was taken.

Something unsettling happened to my stomach. Even my throat got tightened. Something like a betrayal filled my heart.

But why? He was not even someone I loved that way. Yes, we were engaged for almost two months. Yes, he was my best friend. Yes, we knew each other since we were little and we were always there for each other. Now that he was married, I should be happy for him. I should be giving them my blessings. I should be doing anything except feeling like this.

I looked down at my broken toenails. All this time, I was worried about him. I was willing to rot in this cell if it meant to keep him alive.

I wondered when he gave up looking for me.

I was aware of the silence around me for the first time in a long time. I was used to stay in silence. Sometimes, the only sound I heared was my own breaths and heart beats. I cleared my throat. "Well, good for him."

Resh rolled his eyes, his face showing pure disgust. That was the most hideous face I saw someone making in a long time. "Yeah. Good for him."

"Now, listen," Savin said, his face emotionless. "You are still bound by the blood oath to help us, and do whatever I say. So I'm ordering you to get the hell up and come with us."

"That's unfair!" I said. As soon as I did, my wrist began to throb in pain. I felt my body getting cold, signalling that my blood was turning ice little by little. I glared at him again. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw that Resh was also glaring at Savin. Ha!

I had taken this oath to protect Daniel.

"Come, Sumi. Naeoh and Kahlee wants to meet you again." Kylan said. "She also wanted to come here, but Naeoh insisted on coming too, if we both went. So she stayed behind."

"Doea Naeoh even remember me?" I asked.

"No," Kylan grinned. "But that is besides the point."

I shook my head. Kylan may have gotten older, but he still did what ever he wanted exactly like before. "If something happened to you because of me-"

"Then I'll promise you, I would kill you on the spot." Savin said. Resh glared at him again.

"Oh." I said. "That's... comforting."

"So it's settled, then. Let's go." Kylan jumped up.

I motioned him to sit down. "Not yet. The girl who brings me food, she will be here any minute now. Let's go after that."

"Why?" Zone asked. "Are you saying goodbye?"

"No." I shook my head. "That way, she would not know about my disappearance till tomorrow. She is blood bound to report to the king if anything is amiss. I don't want him to know about it just yet."

"When will she get here?"

"In an hour or so." I replied to Resh. "I'm going to sleep till then. Do not make a sound. This place is usually so silent, you can hear a single sound from miles away." I sprawled on the floor. "Good night."

"Is that how you always slept?" Resh asked.

"As you can see, there is no bed. Since I can't sleep standing up, this was the best solution." I waved at him. "Don't worry, I'm used to this. I can-"

The next second I was hauled upwards, my head on Savin's lap. I stared at him, wide eyed. What the hell is wrong with him? Didn't I say I was fine?

He was looking at me, daring me to say something. I saw Kylan and Zone grinning at each other. Resh was also minding his own business, even smiling a little. I glared at all of them and closed my eyes. If he wanted a heavy head on his lap, I was not going to complain. It had been so long since I felt anything even a little squishy like this. His thighs were warm and a little hard. I snuggled on to them and closed my eyes.

After a long time, it was a comfortable and a dreamless sleep.

I had no idea how much time passed. Savin tapped my arm softly. I had no trouble waking up now. This was my usual time to wake up. After two years, it had become a routine.

I sat up. My neck was kind of sore from sleeping in a different angle. I stretched it from side to side, listening to the sounds of Revenen's footsteps. The little windown opened. "Sumi, are you okay?"

I was on high alert in a moment. "I am. Why?"

She took my old tray out. "There was an earthquake a little while ago." She said. "I wanted to come down and see if you okay but..." But her blood oath would not let her do that. I knew.

"I'm alright." I said. "I didn't feel a thing. I was sleeping."

"That's good to hear." I could hear her genuine relief as she slid the tray over. "I'll come tomorrow then. Eat."

She commanded.

I waited for her to close the window. "Revenen." I said. "Thank you for everything."

She spoke from behind. "It's nothing. You are my friend."

I listened to het footsteps. I was going to miss her. I knew that.

After her footsteps faded, Savin stood up. "Let's go."

I shared the fruits on my tray and drank the payasam. Everybody ate what I gave them, without a question. It felt like a ritual.

Resh went out to the tunnel first. I followed him. Zone was repairing the hole he made as he came back. Savin was right beside him, guiding him to do it. Kylan followed me, his footsteps light carefree.

"How did you guys find me?" I asked.

"Savin sensed your magic." Resh replied. I stared. Savin can sense my magic? Since when?

Then I remembered how he appeared everytime I used magic. I had forgotten so many things. He had managed to sense my magic even with the insfis. That was truly impressive.

"Don't think about it too much, princess." Savin said, coming behind me. "I can find you without even searching for you."

For some reason, I felt extremely self conscious. I hurried towards Resh. I could swore that Savin was smiling when I left him behind.