Chapter 8
Amity POV:
My footsteps echo through the empty room as I pace back and forth, waiting for word from Belos. I’ve been alone here since Serena and two other guards dragged Luz off to the cells. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to forget the look on her face. My mind is a whirlwind of questions that I don’t yet have the answers to. The fate of Luz depends entirely on the Emperor’s decision.
As a member of the Coven, I know it’s my duty not to care this much about her. It’s her own fault; she never should have come back to the Boiling Isles. I tried to warn her, she didn’t listen. Doesn’t she know she doesn’t belong here?
The loud creaking of guard armor makes me lift my head just in time to see the doors swing open. Kikimora stands in the doorway, her eyes glinting with a certain deviance. “This way,” she says, turning back out the door. “Emperor Belos wishes to see you.”
I swallow hard before taking my first step forward, walking quickly to keep up. “Why?” I ask Kikimora as we move through the winding halls. “Is this about Luz- I mean...the human?”
She doesn’t respond.
As we approach the doors to Emperor Belos’ room, I take a deep breath to prepare for what is about to come. The doors creak open, revealing a dark room. Tall stone pillars line the walls, as well as paintings of each coven group. An orb of red light hovers over a chair at the center of the room. Belos sits, tall and proud on his throne as I fall to one knee before him.
“Rise.” he says, his voice low. He turns to Kikimora and the guards that stand by her side, lifting his hand with the order he gives. “Leave us.”
Kikimora looks hesitant to do so, but follows her orders anyway as the doors slam shut behind her. Belos turns his attention back to me as I stand before him. I keep my shoulders back, head high as I try to swallow back my fear.
“You have proven to be very useful to us here.” Belos says, rising from his throne slowly. “I expected nothing less of a Blight. If only your brother hadn’t been so much of a disappointment.”
I feel my fists clench at my sides as he says this, fighting back the words that are trying to claw their way out of my mouth.
“Still, having been with us for so little time, you have certainly proven yourself worthy.”
He takes a step forward, indicating to the chair positioned in the center of the room. I swallow, an unsettling feeling in the pit of my stomach. Following his instructions, I walk quickly towards the chair, lowering myself down onto it.
“Thank you, Emperor Belos.” I say, my voice coming out a little quieter than I intended. I clear my throat and try again. “I’m glad to be useful to you.”
He nods slowly as he steps down from the podium his throne sits on. My eyes widen as he comes closer, my fingers gripping the arms of the chair.
“I wonder, how far do your loyalties go?” he says as he reaches me. I take a sharp breath in and hold it, as though bracing for impact. “You see, I want to promote you.” he explains, moving behind the chair. I stare out ahead of me, scared to move. “But first I must be sure your loyalties lie with me.”
“They do, Emperor Belos.” I protest quickly. “You can trust me. This is all I’ve ever wanted since I was a child.”
A dry chuckle surprises me as he completes his circuit and returns to stand in front of me. “That I’m sure. But, even so, we’re going to run some tests.” His finger moves quickly through the air, forming a perfect red circle. In response, the red glowing orb above my head begins to move down towards me and metal loops clasp around my wrists. I swallow, hard, shuffling in my seat. My fingers grip around the arms of the chair so hard my knuckles turn white. “Oh, don’t worry.” he continues, his voice anything but calming. “You won’t feel a thing.”
The orb is close enough now for me to hear the electrical crackles of the magic stored inside. As it gets closer to my skin, I feel the heat it emits.
“Just think of the power you’ll hold.” Belos tells me as I writhe in pain, letting out a cry as the orb finally touches my skin. “Think of the glory.” My body feels tired, my eyes begin to droop as the burning sensation continues. The last words I hear before everything goes black are from Belos.
“That’s all you’ve ever wanted, right?”