Chapter 11 - Dine With Trouble
Alive?
Her heart twisted and turned.
The night creature was alive.
But how?
She could have sworn that Haron had killed him last night.
Haron's grip around her hand tightened, and she saw that he was thinking the same too. She saw something tick in his jaws then he let her hand go.
"Haron—-"
"Lead my wife into the dining hall," he said to one of the guards then turned to her. "Enjoy the meal, my love. I will join you shortly."
He started walking away, Egor by his side, as the guard pushed the gigantic hall and led her into the dining section.
She wanted to scream! She wanted to take Egor aside and ask him questions. But instead her body was forced to go with the guard.
Her mind paced back and forth, her head roaring with too many thoughts.
If Haron had though he killed him, but he hadn't died, then did— was it— could it— by the Sun, what kind of powers did this type of Night Creatures have?!
What were they capable of?
Red eyes of ember flashed in her mind and her lungs tightened with fear.
What was he capable of?
If he wasn't dead, then he was never a ghost to begin with.
But the dream—-
The dream—-
"Damn that bastard!" Haron's voice cut across the dining hall and Ismena jolted in her seat.
Her gaze swung to him, as his frown vanished and he plastered a smile on his face.
"Hello, my love."
She rushed up to her feet but he signaled for her to seat back down.
She did.
There were no scratches on him, no purple blood but by the looks of how short the candles on the table were, time had indeed passed.
Her plate was empty too.
She had been mindlessly eating everything.
"I see you like my selection." He settled into his seat, at the other end of the long dining table. Servants rushed to laid his food before him.
She nodded. "It was a lovely dinner, but it would have been greater with you." She paused as he began to eat.
Wouldn't he say anything about the prisoner?
How had he been alive when Haron had already killed him?
Had he finally killed him this time?
Her insides twisted at that thought and she shoved the feeling away.
It was too confusing.
"The monster—-"
His body stiffened with rage. "That thing has already stolen too much of my time. It would not take any more of it. Especially not the ones I share with you." He held her gaze, his brown eyes cold. "I will not allow it."
There was more to the quiet fury in his eyes. Something strange and warm seeped into Ismena when she had seen it.
It was fear.
The King was afraid of his own prisoner.
She almost laughed. But that would have been death. So she nodded, and busied herself with dessert.
Only to be struck by the thought of what she had done during their visit to the children.
That punishment that was still waiting for her.
Ah, by the Sun, if she had any luck, he would just let her go after this.
But once Haron noticed that she was done with her dessert, he snapped his fingers and servants rushed in, clearing the table as quickly as possible. Although, her hand had first frozen around her fork when she thought he had snapped his fingers to let her Punishers in. It was such a relief to see that it was just the servants.
She had been better at hiding her emotions this time though. Not like it had happened with the children. She had smiled.
In no time, the table was empty.
"Thank you, for today, for everything," she said, hoping her words would change his mind about anything he had planned.
As if that would ever happen.
Soften his heart then. Soften his heart, maybe?
Haron pushed his chair back and the guards in the dining hall left.
Ismena could feel her heart drop. Haron had planned something. Everyone seemed to know what it was.
Everyone except her.
That. Was. Dangerous.