over by a semi-truck. My body ached, and my arms felt like they were being pulled from my body. I opened my eyes slowly, terrified of what I’d see.
I was chained up by my wrists to a high ceiling. My toes barely skimmed the floor beneath me. The room was made entirely of stone with no windows. A damp, musty basement smell filled my nostrils. I shifted, struggling weakly against my bindings. The sounds I made as I struggled to free myself echoed around the room.
“There’s no sense in struggling,” Zaros’s deep voice chilled me as he came into view from the darkness. “Your abilities don’t work here either. Well, not the ones that really matter. I’m talking about your elemental powers. This room has been nullified, and even you, the great and powerful Oracle, cannot whip a fireball here.
“Why do you want me?” I cried out, stilling against my restraints. “Calix is gone. He’s dead. I’m no use to you. Please. Let me go.”
“Ah, precious girl,” he murmured, stepping up to me and running a cold finger across my cheek. “So beautiful. So… perfect.”
His finger traced down to my heaving chest, and he easily flicked away a button and then another, nearly exposing me. I let out a terrified cry and struggled hard against the chains that held me.
“Please,” I begged, my face wet with my tears. “Please.”
“Please what?” he asked, his fingers going back to my face and brushing my tears away. He licked his fingers, making me want to gag.
“Let me go.”
He laughed maniacally, the sound echoing around us.
“You know I cannot do that, sweet girl,” he cooed. “I’ve been waiting so long for you. I need you, my dear. Just like you need me.”
“I don’t need you,” I cried.
“No? I thought you missed Calixto? Or was I mistaken?”
“Calix is dead. He sacrificed himself for me months ago. He’s gone.”
“True.” Zaros nodded, circling me like a vulture. “But, you are the Oracle, are you not? That sacrifice only made you who you are. Calixto really did do wonderful work on you, Princess. It’s the first time I’ve ever been proud of him.”
“You’re sick,” I whispered.
“Perhaps,” he mused, stopping in front of me. “But I think we’re all a little sick on the inside, wouldn’t you agree? Aren’t you deeply in love with a man who ran his blade through the innocent—children included? Wouldn’t you call that a little sick? That you love him?”
“He didn’t have a choice. You were controlling him,” I shouted.
“Was I or is that what he told you?” Zaros asked, his dark eyes dead. “Because my son can be quite the trickster, you see. I mean, he did manage to get you, did he not?”
“You’re a liar! Calix would never intentionally hurt anyone. You made him do it.”
“I suppose there’s really only one way to find out, isn’t there?” he asked thoughtfully. “My dear, you control the elements. My son sacrificed himself for you. With his sacrifice, he gifted you. You can control Void. And you will. You will bring back Calixto Shadowmoore, and we’ll take over Winterset with you beside us.”
“I will not!” I screamed, my voice hoarse and my heart thudding painfully in my chest.
“My dear sweet girl, you don’t have a choice.”
Chapter 48
Zaros left me after that. I hung there for hours, which turned into days. Sometimes a man with black hair and dark eyes came in to give me water, but never food. I was becoming weaker and weaker, wishing for death. My arms had lost all feeling.
I’d run out of tears to cry even though my body went through the motions. It was sometime during this point that I remembered what Tarek had said to me about focusing on my visions. On being able to control them. I remembered how I’d helped Soran when Calix had attacked him. My heart pounded excitedly in my chest. Maybe I could get a message to someone. Zaros said my elemental powers didn’t work here. He didn’t say anything about my Sight.
I closed my eyes and breathed in and out slowly, focusing all I had on my desire to see someone, anyone.
And then through the darkness, I saw him. Tarek.
He sat in the gardens at the palace, his head in his hands, his body shaking slightly as he emitted soft sobs.
He was crying.
Why?
I moved closer to him, trying to reach out and touch him, but he didn’t seem to notice. He straightened up suddenly, wiping his eyes, as Kellin approached. His face was