BENEATH THE ASHES

hera

kind of he'll unfolded in the depths of the castle, one that had been simmering for days. The sten

Cuts and bruises marred her delicate complexion, like dark petals scattered across a fragile flower. Burns, inflicted with cruel precision, left angry

knotted, its thickness and luster remained, a testament to its former glory. Sweat-drenched strands clung to her face,

e small window. She had lost count of the days, the endless cycle of darkness and light blurring to

r stomach growled, protesting the emptiness that had gnawed at her for what felt like an eternity.

her gaze dropping to the floor as she tried to shield her eyes from the glare. When she finally opened them,

ake had been distilled into their crystalline depths. The stone beneath h

erself countless times, but the rope had held fast, cutting deeper into her skin with each fail

r. Her heart sank, her body tensing in anticipation of the pain to come. She kne

imposing, his broad shoulders and chiseled chest straining against the fabric of his black tunic. His

something that the years had cultivated rather than diminished. His e

t, trying to keep her voice steady de

h amusement. "Darling," he said, his voice dripping

. "Why haven't you just ended me, then?"

th an unsettling intensity. "Why would I do that?" he asked, hi

h fear as his gaze lingered on the curves of her body. She k

. "This isn't what I want," he said, his voice low and sincere. F

sent shivers down her spine. "Not yet, dear," he whi

er blood run cold. It was a glimmer of sinister intent, a spark of malevolence that

ssessed. She focused all her energy on the ropes binding her wrists, willing the

he cracks. With a subtle twist, the ropes shattered, releasing her from their grasp. But she di

lanthea's gaze drifted to the floor, where a shard of thick glass lay.

ly above a whisper. Her captor's eyes narrowed, his gaze dr

expression neutral. She knew she had to play this care

r cheek. "I don't want this either," he whispered, his voice l

der his touch, but she forc

ed the man she once knew. "I know you," she whispered, her voice tremblin

k of recognition, perhaps, or a glimmer of the man he once was. He stared at her, his gaze

d, his voice low and husky, his eyes glea

the man before her, she doubted his sincerity. The man she saw now was a

ted to spend her life with, was just a lie, a delusion conjured from her own mind. Had she

ns, but one thing was certain: she didn'

k even herself, she leaned forward, her

otion, she plunged the shard of glass into his arm

ft away from him, the glass shard still lodged in his

rlier, likely intended for some twisted purpose. She grabbed it

ge of the reprieve to focus on the rope binding her legs. She summoned

attered, releasing her from its grasp. She tried to stand, but

she refused to give up. With a Herculean effort, she pushed

heart pounding in her chest. But her captor recov

the air, her body crashing to the ground with a bone-jarring

r, his eyes blazing with a malevolent intensity. Calthera knew she had to thi

nged a lot, Calthera," he whispered, his voice dripping w

ut he was too strong. He pinned he

raising to slap her across the face. "Ap

back down. "I'll never apologize to you,"

s voice dripping with venom. "You should have let me in, let me protect you.

mention of Kaiden's name. She tried t

against her ear. " I've taken care of him, Kaiden shou

in horror. "What do yo

s just a smokescreen, my dear. A distraction. And

t of Kaiden, of his bright smile and his brave heart. She

his eyes glinting with malice. "The man is dead, and

lling down her cheek like a tiny, glistening

t a reaction like that from

hers. "Not anymore," he whispered, his h

r away, where Kaiden's arms were around her, holding her close. She was in a

ho mattered and treated her like she mattered and not just like a chess piece was gone now. What was

e ice crystals danced across her skin, shimmering like a thousand tiny diamonds in the dim light. The air around her se

ding like a slow-moving tide. Frosty tendrils wrapped around the stone, etchi

perature drop, his breath misting in the chill air. "Calthera, stop t

o an almost translucent sheen, as if the very life force was being drained from her. Her voice, when sh

her words dripping with malevolent intent. "Now, you'll watch a

new heights. Ice began to creep up his legs, freezing him to the spot

lice. "No amount of furry is going to bring him back. And soon, y

t. She raised a hand, her fingers extended like claws, and the captor's laught

seemed to shimmer like frost in the dim light. The fur was longest around its neck and shoulders, forming a distinctive ruff that framed its regal face. Its ears, tall and tufted wi

ce low and melodious, with a hint of ancient mystery. "And I bid you, Cal

you when the world burned?" she spat, her voice venomous. "We needed the gua

lazing anew. "So many lives lost, and now it's onl

this your justice, Calthera?" he asked, his voice low and measured. "Or is it yo

g of justice or the cruelty of the world," she hisse

vengeance only begets more suffering," he said, his words dripping with ancient wisd

u what justice is, what power is. I'll freeze you, an

u cannot freeze that which is already frozen, c

ation, "Aethon'kar, shayn'kara..." The words echoed through the

ad been plunged into her heart. She stumbled, her legs buckling beneath her. The icy ene

She collapsed to the floor, exhausted, her body trembling with the aftermath of her fury

almost lifeless, a statue of ice and malice. Calthera's eyes narrowed, her mind still reeling

above a whisper. The weight of her emotions, the turmoil that

dered the desires of the

nodded. "Aye, he who has brought you to this pass.

narrowed. "What

nd, Calthera, to stop you from fulfilling your destiny. 'Tis a curious thing,

hing. "He's not worth forgiveness," she

forgiveness, Calthera," he said. "That's what separates you from the rest.

lling like rain. Erebus's words cut d

with an otherworldly mystery. "The threads of fate converge upon

. "Not anymore...Kaiden..." she asked, her vo

are not driven by malice alone, Calthera," he said, his voice low and measure

Calthera," he said, his voice filled with conviction. "Though the path ahead

" She said silently,

ak of a place where shadows were born, where the bloodshed and hatred began. It

to divert you from your path, to soil your heart with hatred and revenge. But know this, Calthe

er captor's face, and for the first time, she saw someth

ever being there. "Remember, the whispers of the ancients will guide yo

that, he

to herself, "W

en's sake, and for the sake of the realm, she had to le

eleased him from the ice. C