Page 45 of Crown of Flame
“I walked away from her. Why did I do that?”
Two days ago, I returned from clearing the third tower, offering plenty of food to the captive prisoners.
TWO DAYS AGO
“Eventually, we’ll get you out of here,” I tell one of the men, a dark, tall human whose hair is both less tame and much less bright than Serena’s. He hunches over like me and smiles less often than Serena does. “We just need to make sure you’re going to be safe first.”
The humans are huddled together on the first floor of this tower, their eyes faint and dizzy. Buckets of fresh water decorate the gray rock floors, the cells covered in their blood.
“I get it. I figured I was gonna die in these cells. Feels strange that I’m not.”
He rasps, producing a loud cough. I always worry when Serena makes that noise.
“Thanks for looking out,” the man adds, before taking a bite of the bread I brought him.
I singed it on my way here, and he nearly burns his mouth as he bites into it. But I know he’s grateful all the same.
As I watch him though, I can’t help but see the taint within his soul. I can see the bright white light coalescing inside him, not as powerful or delectable as an elf’s. But it’s diseased and rotting.
I’d love to pry him open and just get a little taste of the darkness he’s accrued over a lifetime. How long has it been since I’ve had a good meal?
“You’ve done terrible things,” I observe.
He nods.
“I don’t make a secret of it anymore. Part of getting clean is putting everything out in the open.”
I crack a fiery smile, a new trick I’ve learned from my time with Serena.
“Who’d you talk to,” he asks. “Was it Jemma? She’s always gossiping about things she doesn’t understand.”
I shake my head
“I can see it.”
His brows furrow, his mouth cocking to the side.
“Well, anyway, thanks for saving me from that monster,”
I nod indifferently, realizing that my hunger is too large to be ignored.
“I need to double-check something upstairs,” I urge him.
“What is it?” he asks. “You didn’t miss anything, did you?”
I note the panic in his eyes. “You’re fine. It’s a small detail.”
Insisting that nobody accompany me for their own safety, I return to the top floors of the tower, gazing over my shoulder.
The room is as bloody as I left it. I didn’t leave much opportunity for them to react, cutting through them before they found the opportunity to unmake me, but the lack of resistance was surprising.
While the humans wait downstairs, I pry open a few of the deceased dark elves, devouring their essences. I’ve denied myself far too long, and I’m hungrier than I ever remember being.
“Delicious, but a little too rich,” I note, letting the lights of their souls fill me up.
Lately, it feels like they’ve been putting up even less of a fight than usual. Almost as though they’ve given up, or like they want us to evacuate the towers.
Once I’ve had my fill of energy, I return to the bottom floors of the tower, with newfound motivation and clarity of mind.