Forty

Vali

I’m listening. His voice was like a breath of fresh air, and I kept smiling as I realised he was gaining his strength back.

They know you’re coming. His voice once again reached me, but it wasn’t as calming as it had been before. No, there was panic in his faint voice.

We assumed they would after Hell, but it’s okay. We’ve got the pendants distributed. I told him as I pulled his pendant from the inside of my shirt, the opalised wood warm from being against my chest.

Do they work? Of course he was worried about that. We all were if I was honest. That was why the first thing that was done after receiving them was a check, to make sure every single one of them functioned as they should.

Yes. They work. The Bond between us calmed as I let go of the fabricated water droplet, which turned back into it’s original form of oxygen and hydrogen.

There’s vampires in here who want to help you, Anne should know who they are. That was something I also already knew. She had a list ready, and was currently trying to figure out a way to communicate with them. I can give them a message when I’m let out of here again.

Why would they let you out of the cell again? I asked, feeling the string between us stretch once more so I poured every ounce of power I could spare into it. Into him.

For Nari to take the throne, she has to marry into it, even if she carries an heir. Oh. Fuck.

When? I asked, and I felt how uncomfortable he was through the Bond. Could feel his skin crawling with disgust at it all.

In two nights. Then they’ll force me into…

No. They won’t. I couldn’t stomach the thought of him going through that again. We’ll get to you before that happens, before the marriage goes through.

I hope so, Vali. He was beginning to sound tired. This was probably still exhausting for him, talking this much when he was still trying to recover. Even so, I was selfish. I didn’t want to stop talking yet, because while he talked to me I knew he was okay. That he was alive.

How are Marcy and Jackson? I asked, just wanting to continue the conversation. Just wanting to hear his beautiful voice for just a few more minutes.

Getting on mine and each other’s nerves. He answered, and I could feel the smile on his face through the Bond. They’re happy you figured out the telekinesis, little goddess.

I’m happy they’re behaving. I replied, digging my fingers into the earth once more. And how are you, Little Red? My body went tense as I awaited an answer. I could feel how he felt, could sense his emotions and his mental state, so I knew he wasn’t well, but I had to know how bad it was.

Better now I’ve heard your voice.

Mir…

Not good. I’m not good. I’ve barely moved since I was thrown back in here, this is the most I’ve been able to talk, thanks to you, and the nausea has finally begun to ease. An honest answer, good. Not that the answer was good, but knowing he wasn’t trying to push it down was.

I’m going to make them regret everything, you know that right? I asked as I slowly stood up from the ground to begin walking back to the manor. Since night had now fallen it was probably best I got back, to prevent anyone from worrying about me.

It has helped immensely, knowing exactly that. I know you want to rip my father’s throat out with your teeth, but what’s the plan for Nari? Oh, well if that’s what he wants to know…

If I’m honest, I haven’t worked that part out just yet, but it’s going to involve an immense amount of pain. I answered as I walked along the forest floor. The first part of the pain will be me taking you back from her before the wedding can be completed.

I may not know much, but I did know that. Now with a rough idea of what I had to do to manipulate atoms, we could move to storm the castle. We could finalise plans and make our move.

That would be a good first step. I only plan on getting married once, little goddess, and Nari isn’t who I want to be with. He told me, which made me smirk.

You saying you want to marry me, Little Red? I joked, but his answer wasn’t joking.

Marry, spend eternity with, share children with, give my every remaining breath to, worship every second I can…

Thought a lot about our future, have we? I once again asked in a light tone, and once again his response was anything but.

I’ve had a lot of time to think about it, to escape to that future. I know what I want, Vali, and I’m just hoping we’ll survive to see it. There was a fuzzy warmth accompanying his words, at least until he mentioned surviving. There was an image of that future he envisioned for us, us growing old together with our children watching over us.

We’ll see it, Mircea. I told him, committing the image to memory since I knew I didn’t want to forget it. I’ll make sure of it.

I know, my Goddess, I know.