Tempting Darkness

It was a little after midnight before I finally plucked up the courage to unlock the door leading into the hall. Surprisingly, they had once again left it unlocked. The key was still in it, but it hadn't been turned, trapping me inside. The majority of the night I spent listening to Kalen argue and fight with them over me.

I tried my best to ignore it and not eavesdrop but hearing the hatred spewing from their lips and listening to them warn Kalen away from me bothered me. Though I was a little shocked overhearing Lycus defend Kalen and me because he was furious about finding his mate in the shower with me.

Something went down in there, and I hoped Kalen was alright. If any of them did get hurt, I prayed it was Darius. The a*****e needed to know what pain felt like. I would love to be the one to deliver every blow he had shown to me. He sure knew how to ruin someone; there was no doubt about it.

Slipping into the hall, I made my way down to the cells. I carefully opened the door, so it wouldn't creak before making my way down the steps. Ryze peeked his little head up excitedly before tilting it from side to side as he looked at me. I could swear Ryze looked right into my soul. As soon as I sat down, he bumped his head against my cheek, making a low cawing sound, and I got the feeling he could sense I was upset.

"I can't stay for long, but I saved you some sandwich," I whispered to him before kissing the top of his beak. I held the sandwich out to him, but he nudged my hand away. I tried again, but he did the same thing.

"You don't want it?" I asked him. He must be missing eating meat. I needed to see if I could catch some field mice. I sighed a breath of relief when he plucked the sandwich triangle from my hand, but instead of eating it, he stood pressing the old stale sandwich and his beak to my mouth. I laughed, watching as he tried to stuff the stale sandwich in my mouth and feed me. I shook my head, and he puffed out his feathers before plopping down in his makeshift nest. His snake-like tongue licked the back of my hand, and I picked up the dropped sandwich and placed it beside him.

"I have to get back in case they notice," I told Ryze, patting his back. Feathers were starting to sprout along his back, and his broken wing still looked terrible. I chewed my lip, thinking of the wards on the doors upstairs.

If I could just siphon a little bit of power, I could at least heal his broken wing. Then we could get out of here sooner, or at the very least, he could. That thought saddened me. He was all I had here, but it would be selfish to keep him down here when I was already a prisoner. I wouldn't do that to Ryze.

Reluctantly, I got up and left, sneaking back into the castle foyer. I started climbing the steps when I paused midway, looking back at the door leading to the cells. My eyes moved to the wards, and I quickly glanced up to the other levels to see if anyone was around. When I saw no one, I moved toward the doors. Darius's energy oozed off them, powerful and dangerous. Placing my hand on the doorknob, I didn't get blown backward or incinerated, so I gripped it. Just enough to heal Ryze, that was it. Maybe Darius wouldn't notice if I was careful not to take too much. Who in their right mind would attack a castle belonging to Darius Wraith that contained over six hundred demons? You would have to be suicidal to try that.

My hand heated up as I felt for his energy, and I was about to absorb it when a hand went across my mouth and nose, stifling the scream of fright that tried to leave me.

I was ripped backward and away from the door. I tried to breathe, but the hand prevented it as I struggled. It only took a few seconds to recognize it was Darius.

"When touched, the wards alert me of intruders and those who try to escape, Aleera. You wouldn't be stupid enough to try, would you?"

I swallowed and shook my head.

"But, then again, if you weren't trying to escape, why were you at the door?" he growled, shoving me away.

I staggered and barely corrected my footing before hitting the floor. My heart was racing so fast I could hear it.

"You better have a good reason to be down here. What were you doing? Trying to leave?"

I wanted to tell him I wasn't trying to leave, but he would probably kill me if I said I was siphoning magic and if I told him why he would kill Ryze.

"So, let's hear it," Darius snapped at me. I chewed my lip.

No matter what I said, it would get me or Ryze killed.

"Answer, or am I right? Were you trying to leave?" Darius asked.

I said nothing. Sometimes silence was better than words. I was doomed either way, so I was surprised at what he said next.

"Get back upstairs!" he snarled, motioning with his hand toward the steps. I hesitated before running up them like my a*s was on fire to get away from him. With a glance over my shoulder, I noticed Darius walking up behind me, so I moved faster, hoping to get to my room so I could lock him out.

Walking down the dimly lit corridor to my room, I gripped the door handle when Darius's voice stopped me.

"Next door," he said, and my brows furrowed. I stepped back, ensuring it was the right door, and it was definitely my room. Twisting the handle, I pushed the door open only to walk directly into Darius. My heart almost leaped out of my chest as he appeared out of thin air. Darius had portalled into my room. My feet automatically took a step back from him and the glare he gave me.

"I said, the next door!" he snarled, stepping out of my room toward me. I glanced back down the corridor where he was before he materialized in my room. I swallowed, turning around to look at the door beside mine. It was their bedroom door.