Word Count: 1573

~Akara

The prisons are exactly as I remember them.

Moonlight only guides me partially down the steps and into the lowest levels of the prison. Thankfully there are no guards down here that bother stopping me, most barely glancing as I pad anxiously by, looking desperately for whatever cell Tai has locked Marek in, that he will hopefully be freed from tomorrow.

"Marek?" I call out, voice echoing down the long hallway. My eyes trace over the concrete, trying not to step in the muddy puddles as I walk.

"Akara...I'm in here," he calls out.

Running down the hallway, I follow the sound of his voice until I come to his cell. Eerily, I realise it's the same cell Tai put him in all those years ago. It's demented, how he's trying to relive much of the past. I'm not sure why he chose that time though, since I hated him...I just hope he doesn't think that means I'll fall in love with him again.

"Are you okay?" I ask, peering through the bars.

He emerges from the shadows. I can't see much of him, but it's a relief to see he hasn't been beaten. He does look dejected though, irritated that he's ended up here, and he can't retaliate against Tai now.

"I'm fine, considering," he mumbles, resting his hands through the bars. I wind my fingers through his. It feels so good to touch him, after the day that I've had.

"I'm going to get you out of here, okay?" I assure him. Whether Tai told the truth about releasing Marek tomorrow is unknown, but if he doesn't, then I will stop at nothing to ensure Marek is my full priority.

Marek shakes his head, glancing to his right. "Don't say anything. Vaia is in the cell next to me."

Shuffling over, I look through the bars to see a figure sitting against the far wall, head in their hands. It's no doubt it's Vaia, a cruel smile touching my lips. Last time I saw her, she thought she had killed me. I feel no mercy for her, and when Marek gets out of here, I'm going to make sure she remains locked in here to rot forever.

"Say whatever you want. I have no interest in your foolish conversations," she mutters, not bothering to look up at me. I could laugh. All her confidence has leached away, and I'm loving it.

"She hasn't spoken to me much. Seems her dignity is shredded," Marek affirmed.

"Good. She should be embarrassed," I mutter. "How did Tai take over, anyway?"

Vaia sighs, leaning her head back against the brick wall. "He appeared with an army of men I couldn't fight against...completely out of nowhere. If I were you, I would ask where he got such support, so quickly."

"So he still hasn't released you from your engagement?" Marek asks, not bothering to hide the anger in his tone. Vaia already knows how Marek feels about me, since he betrayed her to keep me alive. I wish I could be privy to their conversations when I'm not around, to see whether Vaia has anything to say about it.

"No, but he promised to release you," I tell him. Marek frowns, probably doubting that as much as I am. But Tai wants me to obey him, to comply in this engagement that he see's as a very real agreement.

Marek presses up against the bars of the cell, hands gripping them so tightly until his knuckles pale. "Me? What about you?"

"He won't. We are going to marry, because I'm apparently in danger," I mutter, glancing over my shoulder as if whoever is meant to want me dead is here right now. The guards linger off down the corridor. I wouldn't be surprised if they let me get killed, so they don't have to deal with this engagement, with protecting me.

"What kind of danger?"

"People want to know why the curse worked on me," I murmur lowly, keeping my voice hushed so Vaia can't hear. Not that she can do anything with the information in here, but I wouldn't be surprised. She is capable of a lot of terrible things.

Marek's eyes darken. "I wouldn't be surprised if he spread the word about your survival himself."

"Maybe. Either way, it's going to take me some time to get away from all this. But for now, once he frees you, you need to get far from here," I instruct. Tai may not need to worry about the entire Province wanting him dead, but he does have to worry about Tai. And a King never plays fair.

Marek grits his teeth. "I'm not leaving you."

"Then stay close. But don't provoke Tai. He will kill you with no mercy," I remind him.

"I don't like that you bartered your freedom for mine," he mutters, running a hand down his face. No matter what I argued, Tai wouldn't allow me out of his grasp. Now that he has me in his estate, I will not be able to step out of it without his permission, and finding an exit will be near impossible. But with me here, Marek can live. I don't need to think twice about that sacrifice.

"You've done the same for me."

"Could the two of you shut up?" Vaia growls from the other cell. I smirk.

Ignoring her, I concentrate on Marek. "I have something else I should probably tell you."

"What is it?"

"I man came into my room tonight...someone I hadn't seen before, working as a member of Tai's staff. And he kissed me," I tell him, biting my lip in anticipation for his reaction. We haven't affirmed what is going on between us, but it's unspoken that neither of us want to be with anyone else. Marek wouldn't have done what he did for me if he did, and I wouldn't have given myself over to Tai if my feelings for him weren't strong.

The surprise mixes so seamlessly with the anger as it flashes across Marek's face, fingers curling up against his palm. "He what?"

"He kissed me," I repeat. My fingers come up to brush against my lips, as if I can feel the ghost brush of his lips against mine. It was pure passion, pure desperation. Whatever transpired between us in that short time must have been a lot.

"Why?" Marek demands.

"Because he knew me. During that period where I lost my memory," I explain. Marek closes his eyes, coming to the same realisation I have, turning around as he digs his hands through his hair. I could laugh at how absurd this all is.

Marek starts to pace. "Really?"

"It's strange, I know. But he was the one who got me to the Azure Province border. I was trying to get to you," I tell him, hoping that my desperation to be reunited with Marek after what happened will soften the blow. I'm not sure what I was thinking, wanting to kiss Grey, but maybe it was my way of manipulating him, of getting what I wanted.

I shiver. That's a dark thought, but I was struggling with needing to complete the transition into a Tani, so perhaps I wasn't in my right mind.

"Where is this guy now?" Marek questions. It's probably for the best Marek is locked behind these bars, because I wouldn't like to see what he would do if he wasn't.

"Hopefully doing what I asked, and asking around the Jade Province to see who wants me dead," I say with a shrug.

Marek shakes head, coming back to stand at the bars. "We need to get you out of here."

"We will. Just give me time," I soothe.

"Maybe I can help you..." Vaia says. I roll my eyes. I expected her to pipe in at some point, desperately trying to get her way out of here. I'm not sure why she thinks I would want to trust her, considering she tried to kill me.

"I don't need your help," I snap, not even looking into her cell.

She comes up to stand at the door of the cell, hobbling a little as she does so. "Don't speak so soon. Don't you want to hear my offer?"

"And have you manipulate me into getting you out of here? No way," I respond. She looks terrible, having been beaten. Small wounds seep with what appears to be the beginning of an infection. The Princess I once knew is gone, her usual perfect appearance having diminished, her hair a mess, skin sallow and sickly.

"Fine. Have it your way, Akara. As always," she grumbles, seeing no further opportunity to manipulate me. She sinks back into the shadows, having used all her energy on that one exchange.

I look back at Marek. "I need to go. I don't want Tai knowing I was down here."

"Don't let him touch you. And if he does, kill him, or I will," Marek says, worry knitting his brows together.

I nod firmly. "He won't touch me, I made that very clear."

I turn to depart, hearing Vaia's strangled voice chase me down the corridor. "Put off that engagement, Akara. Once you're married, you're bound to him forever."

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Remember that you can always find this story 10 chapters ahead on Radish (:

You will find it under King's Possession Season Three!!

~Midika 🐼💜