Emily crouched by the door of the small, dimly lit room, her body trembling with pain. The room was a neglected mess, filled with dirt, ashes, sand, brooms, and scattered cloths and rags. A small, grimy window was fixed on the wall, providing the only light source in the room, and casting a weak glow across the floor.
Emily clutched her stomach, her face showing misery, with puffy eyes and smudged makeup streaking down her cheeks. She wiped away the remnants of her dried tears, her quiet whimpers barely audible as she tried to steady herself in the dark and isolated room.
A knock sounded at the door, sharp and sudden, making Emily flinch as though the noise had struck her. She pulled her knees closer to her chest, trying to shrink away from the world.
"Are you alright, Emily?" Trevon's voice filtered through the door, low and laced with a deep sadness.
Emily remained still, her body too tired to respond, her spirit too crushed to find words. The sound of his voice, so familiar, now only deepened her despair. Her eyes brimmed with fresh tears, the pain of her isolation coming up from a place so deep. She tried to stifle her sobs, but they escaped her lips in quiet, broken gasps.
Trevon stood on the other side of the door, his ears straining to hear the sound coming from the door. The faint cries finally reached his ears, causing his face to contort with regret and guilt.
Trevon stood outside the door, his hands trembling as he held a key and a bag. With a deep breath, he slowly unlocked the door, pushing it open gently before stepping inside. The door clicked shut behind him.
His eyes immediately found Emily, crouched close to the door, her gaze fixed on the floor as quiet sobs shook her frail frame. The sight of her like this, broken and defeated, twisted the guilt in his chest even tighter.
He walked over to her and knelt down, carefully placing the tray in front of her.
"Emily," he murmured softly, pushing the tray toward her. "You haven't eaten for days."
She glanced at the tray, her eyes dull and uninterested, before turning her gaze back to the ground. The plea in his voice went unanswered as she remained still, refusing even to acknowledge the food.
"Please," Trevon continued, his voice strained with desperation. "Just take a bite, at least."
Trevon sighed; his gaze heavy with the weight of her silence. He opened the bag in his hand, gently pulling out a letter. The thought that this might make a difference crossed his mind.
"I have a letter for you... from Lucas," Trevon said, his voice tight as he struggled with the mention of the name. There was a hint of annoyance in his tone, a reflection of his own frustration and guilt.
Emily's eyes flicked up to meet Trevon's, a spark of curiosity breaking through her desolation. Her gaze shifted to the letter in his hand, and slowly, she extended her hand toward it. She took the letter from him, her fingers brushing against his as she grasped it.
Trevon watched as she carefully unfolded the letter, a glimmer of hope mingling with his guilt.
Trevon observed the transformation in Emily as she read the letter, her expression softening and a gentle smile appearing on her lips. The quiet chuckle she gave was a stark contrast to her earlier despair. Trevon's eyes widened in surprise at the effect Lucas's letter had on her. His brow furrowed in annoyance at Lucas but he let out a breath of relief, grateful to see Emily's spirits lifted.
"He said he has something for me," Emily said, her voice low and strained but tinged with a newfound hope. "A gift."
Trevon's gaze lingered on Emily, caught between frustration and relief. He nodded slowly, recognizing the small comfort the letter had provided. "I see," he said, his tone softening as he opened the bag and pulled out a flower pot with a small note attached. "This must be it."
He handed her the pot, and Emily took it carefully, her eyes focused on the dirt within. As she read the note, her smile widened, a flicker of genuine happiness lighting up her face.
Curious, Trevon cleared his throat awkwardly. "What's the pot for?" he asked, his tone tentative.
Emily looked up; her eyes soft with a hint of warmth. "He planted a sunflower seed in it," she said, her voice gentle.
"For you to grow?" Trevon asked, trying to lighten the mood.
"Yes," Emily replied, her gaze fixed on the seed, not meeting his eyes.
"You should eat," Trevon suggested, his tone concerned.
Emily rolled her eyes. "Did Ronan send you here?" she asked, her voice edged with skepticism.
Trevon sighed, his expression shifting to one of genuine concern. "Does it matter?" he asked, his tone sincere.
Emily's gaze hardened. "I guess not. But you know what? You're a coward."
Trevon's brow furrowed, but he remained calm. "Coward? I'm here because I care, not Ronan."
"You keep calling Lucas a coward," Emily said, her voice rising slightly. "But here you are now, just a pawn in Ronan's game. When you're no longer useful, he'll discard you too."
Trevon remained calm, understanding her anger. "Come on, let's leave here," he said, standing up and reaching out his hand to Emily.
Emily hesitated but took his hand as he pulled her up gently.
"I may be a coward to you, Emily, but please, for your safety, just listen to me and don't provoke Ronan. I don't want you to get hurt." Trevon said, his tone sincere.
Emily's gaze softened, and she squeezed his hand. "The only way I won't get hurt is if I leave this castle, Trevon," she said, her gaze serious and honest.
Trevon's eyes widened in shock, the weight of her implication sinking in. His expression softened with understanding and concern. "You want to run away," he said quietly, his voice filled with a mix of sadness and resolve.
Emily nodded at his question, her gaze avoiding his. Trevon's brows furrowed in worry. "Ronan will have your family. That's not smart."
"I know," Emily said, her voice steady despite the turmoil. "When I leave, don't stop me."
Trevon hesitated, the gravity of the situation pressing down on him. He led her out of the room, his mind racing with thoughts of her declaration to leave. The potential repercussions of her departure were daunting, and he wrestled with the dilemma of whether to inform Ronan or not.
As they walked through the dimly lit corridors, Trevon made a decision. Despite his loyalty to Ronan, he chose to keep Emily's plans to himself. The castle's security was formidable, and he doubted she could escape easily. His decision was influenced by a mix of compassion and a grim recognition of the difficulty Emily would face to escape.
✨🌙✨
The next day, Emily sat in the grand dining room, her posture rigid and tense. Trevon sat beside her, casting a concerned glance at her stiff demeanour as she stared blankly at the food on the table.
"Relax, Emily," Trevon said softly, trying to offer some comfort. His voice carried a gentle encouragement, but Emily's anxiety remained.
Emily let out a shaky breath, nodding slowly in response. Her eyes remained fixed on the untouched food.
The heavy oak doors of the dining hall creaked open, and King Ronan entered with an air of authority. He settled into his assigned seat, a wide, seemingly benevolent smile stretching across his face.
"What a lovely day, isn't it, Emily?" Ronan said, his eyes locking onto hers with an unsettling intensity.
Emily's heart pounded as she quickly nodded. "Yes," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper, filled with suppressed anxiety.
Ronan's gaze lingered on her with an amused glint. He seemed to relish her frightened demeanour and averted eyes. "We're all friends here, Emily," he said smoothly. "Just had a little fallout—nothing out of the ordinary."
Emily's forced smile barely masked the sarcasm in her voice. "Yes, just a fallout," she echoed, her tone tinged with unspoken fear.
Ronan leaned back in his chair, shrugging dismissively. "Well, if I were you, I'd be on my best behaviour," he said nonchalantly. "With your family involved and all."
Emily's face drained of colour as she processed his words. "My family?" she murmured, her voice trembling with fear.
Trevon sighed deeply, a mix of frustration and resignation in his eyes. The weight of the situation pressed heavily on him, knowing the delicate balance he must maintain.
Emily's mind raced back to the last letter she sent, clinging to the hope that Lucas and Eric were working tirelessly to find a way off the islands.
"Yes, your family," Ronan said smoothly, his voice carrying a subtle threat. "How's your power coming along?"
Emily remained silent, her gaze averted from Ronan's probing eyes. The tension in the room was palpable, and Trevon, noticing her stubborn silence, leaned closer and whispered urgently.
"For your safety, just answer him," Trevon said softly, his eyes conveying a mix of concern and empathy. The earnestness in his voice finally broke Emily's resolve.
Reluctantly, Emily's eyes met Ronan's curious gaze. She could feel her heart racing, but her mind was resolute. This was her chance to learn more about her powers and to gain some leverage in the situation.
Emily took a deep breath, her voice trembling slightly as she spoke. "I keep hearing voices and seeing shadowy figures in my dreams and around me."
Ronan's eyes glinted with intrigue. "The voices could be other spirits trying to reach out to you. Fascinating," he remarked, a note of genuine curiosity in his tone.
Trevon, sensing the gravity of the situation, interjected. "She should find a way to communicate with these voices. It could be crucial, especially with the new moon approaching."
Ronan nodded in agreement, his expression thoughtful. "Yes, you should indeed try to establish communication with them. It might provide valuable insights."
Emily hesitated, her gaze dropping to the floor. "I need some materials to create an altar. I made one before, but it wasn't that good."
Ronan chuckled softly, his mood lightening. "You should have mentioned this sooner. Write down what you need and hand the list to Trevon. One of the staff will bring the items to you."
Emily looked up, her eyes briefly meeting Ronan's before she nodded in acknowledgement. Her gaze then shifted to his gloved hand, her mind recalling the darkened, ashen hand she had seen during their last encounter.
"Your hand," Emily said softly, curiosity laced with a hint of hidden fear.
Ronan tilted his head slightly, a look of mild amusement crossing his face as he understood her implication. "Is something wrong with it?" he asked, his tone casual and deceptively calm.
"N… no," Emily stammered, not wanting to press further. She quickly averted her eyes, focusing on the floor as she struggled to maintain her composure.
"Well, that's all, Emily. You may leave," Ronan said, his tone dismissive.
Emily nodded hurriedly, rising from her seat and making her exit from the room at an urgent pace. The door closed behind her with a soft thud.
Ronan chuckled softly as he watched her leave, turning his attention to Trevon. "Seems like the punishment did its job," he remarked, his voice dripping with a mix of satisfaction and amusement Trevon remained silent, his expression unreadable as he listened to Ronan's comment. "But you know, Trevon, I couldn't help but notice something rather interesting."
Trevon looked up, his expression guarded. "What's that?"
Ronan's smirk widened. "You seem quite... concerned for Emily. I can't say I've seen you quite like this before. Almost like a knight in shining armour."
Trevon shifted uncomfortably, his gaze faltering. "I'm just doing my job."
Ronan's eyes gleamed with amusement. "Is that so? You've been rather attentive lately, especially with Emily. I wonder if there's more to it than just duty. With you begging me to release her from her punishments, it's not quite like you."
Trevon's cheeks flushed slightly, his discomfort evident. He tried to maintain his composure. "I just thought it was unfair," Trevon said honestly.
Ronan chuckled, leaning back in his chair with a knowing look. "Unfair, you say? I suppose it's quite noble of you. Or perhaps you've developed a personal interest in her well-being?"
"Making her scared will not be beneficial to us. I'm just trying to make her feel safe," Trevon said, his voice firm.
Ronan's smirk widens to a grin. "How charming."
Trevon's jaw tightened, his frustration showing. "I'm not here to play games, Ronan. I'm here to do my job, and right now, that involves making sure Emily isn't pushed too far."
Ronan leaned forward, his tone shifting to a more serious note, though his amusement never fully disappeared. "I always thought you were a serious and focused man, but now it seems you've got a softer side. I wonder if Emily sees it too."
Trevon's gaze hardened as he met Ronan's eyes. "Just don't let your feelings influence your judgment," Ronan said, the seriousness of his tone undercut by a subtle hint of teasing.
Trevon's expression tightened, and without another word, he stood up abruptly. "I have something to attend to."
He left the room quickly, leaving Ronan's amused gaze lingering behind him.