The Reborn

C H A P T E R E I G H T

I've spent the day developing a plan to get inside the castle. I took off my cloak a few times to get information on the castle. I can't use my manipulation with my cloak on but I can when I take it off.

The guards have told me that prisoners or people awaiting a trial are kept beneath the castle in dungeons. According to them, the King created a secret entrance to the castle through a hat shop because some of the guests he had were supposed to be kept a secret.

I'm eating this mouthwatering steak in the middle of a pub as I wait till nightfall to attack. I never saw Adonis, Dimitrios, or any of the other kids which I'm not complaining about.

After paying in the coins that Aunt Melara left me I make my way out of the shop. It's still fairly light out so I make my way to the inn that once turned me down. The same man is working and I slowly take off my cloak before walking in, "I know the sign reads no vacancy but I've been running around all night and haven't the slightest idea where to go!" I plead in a tone that gets me anything I want.

"Oh miss!" the rude man at the front desk says. "I see you've had a terrible night! We don't have any rooms left but if you'd like you can stay in my personal quarters! I can't imagine what you've been through."

His face holds a mischievous smirk that leaves me disgusted, "You're too kind! Thank you so very much."

He leads me to his room which is huge and I use my fake smile before shutting the door on him. I walk over to the dresser and smell his alcohol which is all laid out perfectly. I take a a few gulps of one before accidentally dropping it on the floor, "Oops," I say to myself before letting the other two bottles of alcohol shatter on the floor.

There's a fire going in the corner and I grab the curtains and toss them in. I climb on the huge bed and fall asleep.

I have no idea how much time has passed when I hear the door open and someone yelling. I open my eyes and see the rude man from the front desk yelling at me, "You whore! What did you do!"

"The fire needed some fuel," I tell him and lay my head back down in the bed.

He walks over to me and grabs my arm before yanking me out of bed. Strength was his power. Luckily it held no match for me. I twisted the arm he grab me with and broke it before kicking him in the head knocking him out cold. He lay on the floor as I look at myself in the mirror. I move the dress off my shoulder and notice the hand mark that now sits there from Adonis. The skin is ruby red and I quickly cover it again before analyzing it too much. Normally my wounds would have healed by now, I can't imagine why this one has stayed so long.

I look back at the inn keeper on the floor and before I walk out the door I pour the rest of his alcohol on him. What a sad drunk.

I laugh to myself as I leave. I make my way over to the hat shop that seems very unsuspecting. I walk in and the hat owner tells me, "I'm sorry miss but we are closed."

"Oh of course," I take off my cloak and look at him in the eyes. "Leave the door unlocked tonight."

"I think I'll leave the door unlocked tonight," he tells me. I nod before exiting the building with my cloak on. After about 30 minutes I notice him walk out and I quickly rush in behind him without anyone seeing me.

I walk into the back of the store and it's filled with just hats. This really is a hat store. I rummage through all the shelves when I notice a door behind one of them. I move the heavy shelf out of the way. I push open the door and it's a staircase.

I let the water erupt from my hands, Check ahead if it's safe, I tell the water before I see it move up the stairs. It comes back to be reabsorbed into my hands saying there is no one ahead. I continue up the long staircase. There is a weird glow to the candles in here and it makes my light skin look more golden than normal. I get to the top to reveal an underground tunnel. It's still lit with the odd flame the other lanterns held.

I read a sign in front of me saying that left is the castle and right is the dungeons. I take a right and follow it down to the dungeons. I push open a door to reveal a long hallway of cells. People look like they're clinging onto life and some look like they might not even be living. I will rescue then all after but I need to make sure Xander is okay first. I'm walking fast down the dungeon when a familiar face catches my eye, Xander.

He's asleep and I say his name through the bars. He slowly opens his eyes and when he sees me his face lights up. He doesn't look nearly as bad as the rest of the prisoners but I'm sure he's been through it.

"Xander, it's me! I came back for you!" I feel tears prick at my eyes. I couldn't be happier to see him right now. I've missed him so much.

"Athanasia, I've missed you. Unlock the door," he tells me seemingly out of energy. I use the water in my hands to twist at the lock before opening it. I practically fall into his arms and he embraces me in the hug I've missed so much.

"Life has been terrible without you Xander," I cry into his shoulder. "I can't imagine what you've been through, I'm so sorry I couldn't get here sooner but it's over now!"

He breaks away from my hug and holds my hands, "Don't cry, this isn't over yet. It's only the beginning."

I wipe my face, "Xander what are you talking about?" I ask in a serious tone.

I look down right as he clips a chain around my arm. I feel it instantly drain me of my water leaving not even a drip. I pull at it and I feel powerless. My strength is no match for this metal.

"What did you do?!" I yell at him as he gets up.

He smirks as he closes the door to the cell, "I did what I had to do," he turns his head, "Guards, she's in here."

He walks away as I sit horrified at the fact that my best friend of my entire life just betrayed me and I can only blame myself for walking right into this one.