Sold to the Night Lord - Chapter 93: Chapter 93
You are reading Sold to the Night Lord, Chapter 93: Chapter 93. Read more chapters of Sold to the Night Lord.
Elara
I don’t know how much time has passed when I regain consciousness.
“It was about time,” says a soft voice.
It takes me quite a while to focus my sight. When I do, what I see leaves me completely stunned. A woman with pink hair and the palest skin I’ve ever seen is lying on the sand of what looks like a beach, near the water. She looks at me over her shoulder with emerald-colored eyes.
It’s not just her beauty that leaves me speechless—a quick glance downward and I see she doesn’t have legs but a tail made of scales that go from different shades of purple to pink.
“Are you... are you...?”
“A mermaid, yes,” she replies as if she’s more than fed up with the question. “All humans react the same way, it’s a bit annoying. I don’t go around going speechless just from seeing toes.”
“Sorry.” I try to sit up, brushing the sand with my fingers. “All this supernatural creature stuff is kind of new to me.”
My words manage to soften her serious expression a bit, and a small mischievous smile draws itself on her lips. I observe her more closely, noticing her breasts are covered with seaweed, shells, and other oceanic objects. Her hands are also covered in some scales, and her fingers are long and end in dangerously sharp nails.
“Did you…?”
“Save you? Yes, I’d say so.”
“Thank you,” I say, my throat sore from the salt.
“Don’t thank me.” She waves her hand. “Now you’re in debt to me. You owe me a favor.”
“A favor?” I raise an eyebrow. “What could I possibly do for you? I’m just a human.”
She shrugs while combing her hair with her fingers.
“You don’t have to do it now. I don’t need anything.” She looks at me, narrowing her eyes. “But someday, when I need something, I hope you remember I saved you from the fury of the sea and took you away from your captor.”
“I still don’t understand what I could do for you.”
“You don’t have to understand it,” she smiles, “you just have to owe me a favor. I love favors.”
Her beauty, just like everything I’ve encountered in recent months, is deceiving. On the outside, she looks like a beautiful and almost adorable young woman, but I know that inside there’s a creature capable of killing me. She reminds me of that with that smile that, despite trying to be kind, is the smile of a predator who knows she’s got me cornered.
“Where are we?” I ask in an attempt to ignore the fear she causes me.
“On the other side, past the Twisted Forest.” When she sees I show no sign of recognition, she adds: “In the Southern Territories.”
It takes me a bit longer than I’d like to put the loose pieces together in my mind. I open my eyes wide in a mix of shock and panic. It’s impossible to hide the slight trembling of my hands. I’m very far from home, from everything I consider familiar. The fist that holds my heart tightens until it hurts—I can taste panic in my mouth.
“Well, girl, I have to go.” The mermaid flicks her tail. “You know, sailors to lead to death.”
She doesn’t seem to be joking.
Her tail, which was partially in the water, disappears completely as she moves into the sea. She never turns her back on me, as if I could ever be a threat to her.
“I don’t know your name,” I say, raising my voice.
“That’s because I haven’t told you.” Her body has almost completely disappeared, only her head remains above the water. “My name is Galene.”
“My name is Elara.”
A sharp little laugh escapes her.
“I know, Elara Voss. The sea told me your name.”
Before I can ask what the hell that means, she disappears completely, leaving only a gentle splash in the water as she leaves.
It takes me a few minutes to process everything. I’m alone in a place I don’t know, and that could make me seem like a traitor. No one comes to the other side of the Twisted Forest—not only because it’s certain death at the hands of the kraugs, but because here there are only rebellious Diluted. Very few are stupid enough to lose the favor of the Pure. They’re brutal, possibly invincible—no one wants an enemy like that.
The beach is empty, there doesn’t seem to be any trace of a living being, and that’s confirmed as I walk farther and farther along the vast shore. It’s the dead of night and I decide to take the risk of walking away, since here the sea breeze is not very friendly with my ragged and ruined dress. I place my hands on a rock formation and carefully pass through it, slowly entering what seems like a jungle.
A chill runs all the way down my spine at the thought of what kind of animals—or worse, creatures—might be lurking in the vegetation.
I hold my breath when I hear something crack. I walk fast, more and more trapped among the vegetation. Another crack, and another—closer. My heart pounds like a drum in my chest. I look around searching for anything that could serve as a hiding place, missing the letter opener I left behind in the ocean. Just when I decide my best option is to climb one of the trees, a pair of large, strong arms wrap around my neck.
I struggle, I thrash, I try to dig my nails into any place that might give me slight relief—the chance to escape. It’s useless. It doesn’t take much intelligence to know that whoever’s behind me is a strong man. I kick backward with my leg and manage to hit his calf. He lets out a growl, and his arms tighten even more. My vision blurs, darkens at the edges as white dots dance before me. I try to take in air—useless.
I collapse and feel my attacker put something over my head that turns everything black. He throws me over his shoulder, and my body sways from side to side with the movement of his steps. I want to hit him, complain, say something—but I’m dancing with unconsciousness, fighting not to fall again.
I don’t know how long it takes until they drop my body like a simple sack. I hear the sound of boots and then the light comes back in front of me. The brightness provided by the fire is too strong—I have to blink several times to adjust. When I do, once again, I’m left breathless. This can’t all be happening to me.
“Eleazar?”
He crouches to my level on the ground, his golden hair brushing his shoulders. His hands hang between his knees, full of scars that make him look even more terrifying than his size already does.
“Elara.” His fingers stroke my cheek, and by the look in his eyes I’m almost sure he didn’t know it was me hiding under that hood. “What are you doing here, little creature?”
There’s a hint of compassion in his voice.
“I don’t know.” I shrug. “Running away, I guess.”
“From Cassian?” I nod. “I’m sorry my soldier hurt you.”
His hand lowers to my neck, which must be red—though that’s the least of it. His golden eyes darken when he sees the claw marks on my skin. He sighs and straightens up again in front of me.
“I think we should talk somewhere better than this.”
He offers me a hand, and I hesitate a little before sliding my palm into his. I feel the calluses from effort and the roughness of old scars as his hand wraps around mine, making me feel painfully small in comparison.
I look around and realize we’re in a place most likely meant for prisoner interrogation. There’s a chair in the middle of the room and what look like torture instruments. He pulls my hand, inviting me to walk with him.
“Eleazar?”
“Yes?”
“I’m not going to be your prisoner,” I say with a confidence I didn’t know I had. “I’m not here to trade one cage for another.”
“I’m pretty sure you’re not here by choice.” He leans over to my ear. “Not when you know I’d be delighted to break something Cassian wants.”
I pull my hand to free myself, but he holds it tighter.
“Relax, Elara. I won’t hurt you. You’re not my prisoner—you’re my guest.”
“Sorry if I don’t trust you.”
“You’re right not to.” He smiles, revealing his fangs. “Now, follow me. I think you need to change clothes. Then, when you’re no longer a distraction to the eyes, we’ll talk.”
I glance at my dress, torn more than halfway up my skirt. My bare thigh is exposed, and some marks that shouldn’t be visible are fully in the light. I blush and let him lead me wherever he wants. It’s not like I have any chance against him.
I thought I was going to find freedom—
I see now that I wasn’t.
I don’t know how much time has passed when I regain consciousness.
“It was about time,” says a soft voice.
It takes me quite a while to focus my sight. When I do, what I see leaves me completely stunned. A woman with pink hair and the palest skin I’ve ever seen is lying on the sand of what looks like a beach, near the water. She looks at me over her shoulder with emerald-colored eyes.
It’s not just her beauty that leaves me speechless—a quick glance downward and I see she doesn’t have legs but a tail made of scales that go from different shades of purple to pink.
“Are you... are you...?”
“A mermaid, yes,” she replies as if she’s more than fed up with the question. “All humans react the same way, it’s a bit annoying. I don’t go around going speechless just from seeing toes.”
“Sorry.” I try to sit up, brushing the sand with my fingers. “All this supernatural creature stuff is kind of new to me.”
My words manage to soften her serious expression a bit, and a small mischievous smile draws itself on her lips. I observe her more closely, noticing her breasts are covered with seaweed, shells, and other oceanic objects. Her hands are also covered in some scales, and her fingers are long and end in dangerously sharp nails.
“Did you…?”
“Save you? Yes, I’d say so.”
“Thank you,” I say, my throat sore from the salt.
“Don’t thank me.” She waves her hand. “Now you’re in debt to me. You owe me a favor.”
“A favor?” I raise an eyebrow. “What could I possibly do for you? I’m just a human.”
She shrugs while combing her hair with her fingers.
“You don’t have to do it now. I don’t need anything.” She looks at me, narrowing her eyes. “But someday, when I need something, I hope you remember I saved you from the fury of the sea and took you away from your captor.”
“I still don’t understand what I could do for you.”
“You don’t have to understand it,” she smiles, “you just have to owe me a favor. I love favors.”
Her beauty, just like everything I’ve encountered in recent months, is deceiving. On the outside, she looks like a beautiful and almost adorable young woman, but I know that inside there’s a creature capable of killing me. She reminds me of that with that smile that, despite trying to be kind, is the smile of a predator who knows she’s got me cornered.
“Where are we?” I ask in an attempt to ignore the fear she causes me.
“On the other side, past the Twisted Forest.” When she sees I show no sign of recognition, she adds: “In the Southern Territories.”
It takes me a bit longer than I’d like to put the loose pieces together in my mind. I open my eyes wide in a mix of shock and panic. It’s impossible to hide the slight trembling of my hands. I’m very far from home, from everything I consider familiar. The fist that holds my heart tightens until it hurts—I can taste panic in my mouth.
“Well, girl, I have to go.” The mermaid flicks her tail. “You know, sailors to lead to death.”
She doesn’t seem to be joking.
Her tail, which was partially in the water, disappears completely as she moves into the sea. She never turns her back on me, as if I could ever be a threat to her.
“I don’t know your name,” I say, raising my voice.
“That’s because I haven’t told you.” Her body has almost completely disappeared, only her head remains above the water. “My name is Galene.”
“My name is Elara.”
A sharp little laugh escapes her.
“I know, Elara Voss. The sea told me your name.”
Before I can ask what the hell that means, she disappears completely, leaving only a gentle splash in the water as she leaves.
It takes me a few minutes to process everything. I’m alone in a place I don’t know, and that could make me seem like a traitor. No one comes to the other side of the Twisted Forest—not only because it’s certain death at the hands of the kraugs, but because here there are only rebellious Diluted. Very few are stupid enough to lose the favor of the Pure. They’re brutal, possibly invincible—no one wants an enemy like that.
The beach is empty, there doesn’t seem to be any trace of a living being, and that’s confirmed as I walk farther and farther along the vast shore. It’s the dead of night and I decide to take the risk of walking away, since here the sea breeze is not very friendly with my ragged and ruined dress. I place my hands on a rock formation and carefully pass through it, slowly entering what seems like a jungle.
A chill runs all the way down my spine at the thought of what kind of animals—or worse, creatures—might be lurking in the vegetation.
I hold my breath when I hear something crack. I walk fast, more and more trapped among the vegetation. Another crack, and another—closer. My heart pounds like a drum in my chest. I look around searching for anything that could serve as a hiding place, missing the letter opener I left behind in the ocean. Just when I decide my best option is to climb one of the trees, a pair of large, strong arms wrap around my neck.
I struggle, I thrash, I try to dig my nails into any place that might give me slight relief—the chance to escape. It’s useless. It doesn’t take much intelligence to know that whoever’s behind me is a strong man. I kick backward with my leg and manage to hit his calf. He lets out a growl, and his arms tighten even more. My vision blurs, darkens at the edges as white dots dance before me. I try to take in air—useless.
I collapse and feel my attacker put something over my head that turns everything black. He throws me over his shoulder, and my body sways from side to side with the movement of his steps. I want to hit him, complain, say something—but I’m dancing with unconsciousness, fighting not to fall again.
I don’t know how long it takes until they drop my body like a simple sack. I hear the sound of boots and then the light comes back in front of me. The brightness provided by the fire is too strong—I have to blink several times to adjust. When I do, once again, I’m left breathless. This can’t all be happening to me.
“Eleazar?”
He crouches to my level on the ground, his golden hair brushing his shoulders. His hands hang between his knees, full of scars that make him look even more terrifying than his size already does.
“Elara.” His fingers stroke my cheek, and by the look in his eyes I’m almost sure he didn’t know it was me hiding under that hood. “What are you doing here, little creature?”
There’s a hint of compassion in his voice.
“I don’t know.” I shrug. “Running away, I guess.”
“From Cassian?” I nod. “I’m sorry my soldier hurt you.”
His hand lowers to my neck, which must be red—though that’s the least of it. His golden eyes darken when he sees the claw marks on my skin. He sighs and straightens up again in front of me.
“I think we should talk somewhere better than this.”
He offers me a hand, and I hesitate a little before sliding my palm into his. I feel the calluses from effort and the roughness of old scars as his hand wraps around mine, making me feel painfully small in comparison.
I look around and realize we’re in a place most likely meant for prisoner interrogation. There’s a chair in the middle of the room and what look like torture instruments. He pulls my hand, inviting me to walk with him.
“Eleazar?”
“Yes?”
“I’m not going to be your prisoner,” I say with a confidence I didn’t know I had. “I’m not here to trade one cage for another.”
“I’m pretty sure you’re not here by choice.” He leans over to my ear. “Not when you know I’d be delighted to break something Cassian wants.”
I pull my hand to free myself, but he holds it tighter.
“Relax, Elara. I won’t hurt you. You’re not my prisoner—you’re my guest.”
“Sorry if I don’t trust you.”
“You’re right not to.” He smiles, revealing his fangs. “Now, follow me. I think you need to change clothes. Then, when you’re no longer a distraction to the eyes, we’ll talk.”
I glance at my dress, torn more than halfway up my skirt. My bare thigh is exposed, and some marks that shouldn’t be visible are fully in the light. I blush and let him lead me wherever he wants. It’s not like I have any chance against him.
I thought I was going to find freedom—
I see now that I wasn’t.
End of Sold to the Night Lord Chapter 93. Continue reading Chapter 94 or return to Sold to the Night Lord book page.