Word Count: 1504

~Akara

Marek's grip is tight on my shoulders, gaze intense.

"I'm going to make you look like some random girl off the street," Marek explains calmly, as if I'm not about to step back into the hell I've escaped from twice now. I can only hope for a third time, accompanied by Tai. "Vaia doesn't care much for her guards, so as long as you have the uniform, she won't question it."

We stand near an overgrown entrance to the tunnel that leads close to the estate. We can't get close enough that we would be spotted by any of Vaia's guards, who I'm hopefully going to blend into with Marek's powers controlling my appearance.

"You don't need someone to look at to do it?" I ask, looking around. The only thing in sight other than tall trees is the carriage we came here in.

"No. I'll just use memory," Marek affirms, settling back against a tree.

Chewing incessantly on my bottom lip, I narrow my eyes upon him. I'm till getting used to his powers, like nothing I've heard of before. Throughout knowing Marek, I did my own research here and there to learn more about Summoner's, and it seems that most of what they are does not pertain to Marek. It does in that he is the base of what a Summoner should be, but there is so much more to him and his ability.

"How strong are you?" I ask softly, unsure if I actually want to know.

"You kill Vaia the moment you see her, okay? Then you sneak out, with Tai and Evolet," Marek says, instead of referring to my question. Fine, I won't push it, knowing I have far too much on my plate right now. I'm going to see Tai again, and I'm going to save him.

"Got it." I hope he can't tell how terrified I am to be stepping back in there.

"I'll be nearby," he assures me, standing back up straight to run his hands down my arms comfortingly. I shiver, still wary of his touch and all the memories he elicits with it. "I would go in myself, but Tai would never trust me."

"I've got this, Marek. Don't worry." I do have this. I mean...I have to. Tai would do this for me, and I'm going to do this for him, and Evolet. And then I'm going to walk him right back to his estate and demand he tells me what is in that hidden part of his workshop, so we can all continue with our lives.

For a moment Marek is quiet, looking over me with eyes consumed with emotion. "Please make it out."

"I'll see you soon," I assure him quietly, backing away toward the entrance to the tunnel.

Marek doesn't say anymore, watching me open the cold metal door, ducking my head back into the tunnel. A flight of damp steps lead me down to the tunnel itself, puddles littering the ground as I walk.

It doesn't take me long to get to where I believe the estate is right above me. At some point during the walking, I felt something strange come about me. My gait suddenly changed, and I started to feel uncomfortable. Pausing, I looked down to see my clothing had vanished, replaced by that all too familiar guard uniform. When I raised my hands to my face, I felt unfamiliar features on my face.

Trying not to think about it, and who I'm now appearing to be, I climb more stairs until I'm back on the outside near the prisons. Lowering my gaze, I aim straight for the estate, hoping none of the guards recognise that I haven't worked here before.

However as I walk, there are nearly no guards about, only some by the door who hardly pay me any mind as I breeze past.

Thankfully I know my way around the manor, so I instead of going up the stairs, I keep to the ground floor, searching from rooms were Vaia may feel comfortably keeping Tai and Evolet. There will be no way she would trust him in the prisons, so far from here, so he's got to be around here somewhere.

Sure enough, near Tai's office, a locked door gets my interest. There's no way I'm going to find a key, so using the Marek's knife, I take a few attempts to gut the lock from the wooden door.

After a few times it works, and the door cracks open, luring me inside.

The smell of blood strikes me as I walk in, the room dim. Turning the light on, my stomach flips at the sight of Tai slumped against the far wall near the corner, head bowed, hands tied behind his back. He doesn't even look up as I step into the room, likely presuming I'm just another guard.

Tentatively, I approach him, hoping not to startle him. Finally, he raises his head, as I'm so taken aback I stop short of him.

He's clearly been beaten. His face is swollen and littered with bruises of all shades, suggesting he's been going through this torment for a few days now. There are fresh cuts, and dried blood, and his eyes are so withdrawn it's as if his soul has vanished.

However, upon seeing me, his eyes light up, and he sits up a little more to the best of his abilities. Looking down, I realise my façade has vanished. A cold feeling settles over me. Something has happened to Marek for him to no longer be able to keep up his power. Has Vaia got him?

"Tai...Are you okay?" I ask, focusing instead on the fallen King, who looks up at me with a mix of hope and dread. He knows if I'm here, then there's a chance both of us is going to go down.

"Akara?" he asks, his voice hoarse, chains shuffling against the ground as he tries to lean closer.

"I'm going to get you out, okay?" I assure him, leaning down to examining the lock on his wrists and ankles. The chains are solid, not something either of us is going to have the strength to get him out of with our bare hands alone. "I just need to find a way to break these chains."

"You're going to have to find a key," Tai instructs. Looking around, there's nothing in this room, meaning I'm going to have to venture out to find one.

I hope with everything in me there's a guard with a key I can take down, and that I don't have to face Vaia to get it.

"Where's Evolet?" I ask, although Vaia's words from days ago haunt me. She told me she had killed Evolet. I don't believe anything Vaia says, however, I need to concentrate getting Tai out of here first. I can't be looking around the manor for a girl who could very well be dead.

"I don't know. Locked up somewhere, or maybe dead," Tai mutters, wincing as he shifts. Clearly his face isn't the only thing that has taken a beating.

"I'll be back. Hang on a bit longer Tai," I breathe, giving him a tight smile before backing away, closing the door behind me.

Marek might be captured by Vaia, or dead...And now I have to find a key to get Tai out of here. If I see Vaia, I'm going to kill her, however if I don't, I'm going to count myself lucky to just get Tai out of here. Once I am out, I will worry about Marek's wellbeing.

The hallway is empty as I venture out. First I check Tai's old office, however, it's been trashed, all the desk draws yanked out and discarded on the floor.

I continue out into the foyer, and up the stairs, painfully aware that my façade is gone, and I'm going to have to attack when the opportunity arises.

And it might be now.

My senses come alight at the sound of soft footsteps approaching from behind me. Whirling around, I pull clutch my dagger tightly, ready to brandish it. However, it's short lived.

Someone twice my size with nothing more than their first strikes me right in my face, knocking me back. No matter how desperately I cling to consciousness, I'm pulled under and into darkness.

🤍••🤍

For the COMPLETED version of this novel, feel free to head over to Good Novel (app available on App Store and Play Store) where it is finished!!

For more of my work, you can find my novel, HIS SIN on Wattpad, Radish and Good Novel (:

'One day, the Immortal Sin named Cian admitted himself into a mental care facility. Six years before Amolet started working there.

With hope to finally have independence, Amolet took the job without thinking much of it. That is until she meets the self-admitted patient, with unspeakable powers, shrouded in darkness and mystery.'

Thank you all for the support!!

~Midika 💜🐼