Chapter 42: 42

Word Count: 2025

~Avila

We stick close to the buildings as we stalk down the street.

The public is still frantic, running around and pointing wildly at the manor smoking atop the hill. Valery wanted me to stay at least one night with her, but I'm desperate to see Vade and my family.

"This way." Valery leads me down a dim alleyway, weaving between rubbish cans and broken up old pallets.

I glance over my shoulder warily, concerned that a member of the rebellion is going to spot us and chase us down. Running on hours with no sleep, I'm not sure how long I could go before they caught me.

"Is this safe?"

"There is no safer time to go then now. Emerick will be lurking near the estate to make sure the job is done," Valery exclaims, sweeping into the next alley with me in two. "Once he realises he failed, he will come for all of you."

I shudder. "Are you going to be okay?"

"I can't go back. I know that much." Her words may sound solemn, but they are edged with determination. She has been working for Vade for some time, I've gathered, so she likely always knew this was coming.

Still, I can't imagine it's easy to deal with.

"You have to stay with us. If Emerick is as thirsty for revenge as you say he is, then you're in as much danger as we are," I insist, having to quicken my step to keep up with her.

She looks over her shoulder at me, her expression unreadable. "Let's just get to this safe house first."

"How long has this safe house existed?" I question.

"Since the beginning of your bloodlines reign," she says, clearly having gathered her information from Vade. "This isn't the only one, either. There are many like this all throughout the territory."

"So you're saying we are always in danger?" I ask weakly.

I figured as much, but having the threat so imminent is a harsh reminder. Knowing this is my life, that this is normal, only makes my stomach twist painfully.

"You're royalty. Unfortunately, a lot of people want you dead. Now more than ever, actually." Valery's shoulders tense as we break out onto a street.

The density of the buildings has eased off as we enter what appears to be a residential neighbourhood.

"So you've heard what's been said about me?" I ask, scanning the face of everyone we pass by in case they recognise me. Thankfully Valery has given me a coat with a hood that conceals most of my face from view as long as I keep my head down.

"I wouldn't take it personally. People have an old mentality about dark magic," she exclaims. "It doesn't have to be harmful if you do it correctly. It's about possessing the right knowledge and wielding the magic with respect."

"Why do you know so much about it?" I ask, eyeing her suspiciously.

She shrugs. "I just do."

"Cryptic." I don't actually think Valery was the one who brought me back, but her knowing so much isn't socially acceptable to most people.

"People feel sensitive talking about it. Dark magic only attained its name because people misunderstand it's use," she tells me. "It's people with evil intentions that use it for the wrong reasons that have inspired the name."

"So it's not bad?"

"It doesn't have to be." She turns around, walking backwards so she can face me. "But if it's made you some kind of zombie or something, then it hasn't been used for the right intentions."

I sigh. "Right."

"Anyway, it's right here."

She stops in front of a short picket fence, flicking the gate open. I'm not sure what I was expecting, but a quaint two story house that looks like it belongs to a midsized family was not it. I thought it would be fortified,  surrounded by guards...

"Here? This looks like a perfectly ordinary house," I say as he wander up the garden path, which adorned with pretty blooming flowers.

"Exactly." Valery knocks on the pale front door in a very specific pattern. "Emerick knows this city intimately. He will know any secret spots that should be investigated. Hiding in plain sight is the only way of avoiding people who know their shit. Like Emerick..."

I wrap my arms around myself. "Makes sense."

"They will have already seen us." She looks up at the second story window, where the curtains are drawn. "We just wait until they let us in."

Soon enough the door pops open and a familiar face peers out. It's one of my mother's personal guards. He looks over our shoulder before ushering us in.

Inside, the place is swarming with people. They sit all over the flowery furniture, with some leaning against the wall and others sitting crossed legged on the floor. Some speak in hushed tones, while others stare vacantly into space.

I'm sure they are all wondering what would have happened if they weren't told to leave by Vade.

"Holy shit...let me guess, these are staff from the manor?" Valery says into the air as we step over people.

"They are. I recognise them," I say, scanning their solemn faces. "Vade got them all out. Thanks to you."

Valery claps her hands together, drawing their attention. "Alright people, where it the Prince and where is the Queen?"

"Upstairs," one of the guard points out.

We rush up the small set of stairs and onto the second story landing. I hear their voices before I see them, speaking lowly but urgently. We press into what must be the main room, seeing them scattered about, looking as tense as the staff downstairs.

Roel sits on the edge of the bed, bracing his remaining weight on his cane. Crimson is pacing in the column between the bed and the wall. Vade is on the other side, leaning against the wall, looking up as we stalk in.

"Avila..." He crosses the room, his relief palpable as he lifts me into his arms, my feet suspended in the air for a moment.

I breathe in his scent, feel the pressure of his arms around me. He feels like home, like safety. He gently sets me down again, but he doesn't let me leave his embrace.

"You're okay," I breathe, squeezing him tightly, feeling tears prick my eyes.

He could have been killed. Were it not for Valery, he wouldn't have known about the bombs, and wouldn't have been able to bring himself and many others to safety.

My mate would have been taken from me...

"Of course. We got everyone out safe." He pulls back, but he keeps his hands on my shoulders as his eyes assess the state of the rest of me. "What happened to you?"

"Emerick trapped me in his compound. He told me he was trying to keep me safe," I explain, looking at Crimson and Roel in turn. "Valery got me out."

"I'm glad to see you're okay, Avila," Roel says softly, his smile watery. "And thank you, Valery. It was your knowledge that saved us all."

Valery merely dips her chin.

"Where is this compound?" Crimson questions tightly. She looks the most ruffled. Her eyes are bloodshot and her hair is wild around her face. She almost looks youthful in her fright.

"Crimson, not right now," Vade scolds. He looks back to me and his expression softens. "I'm just so happy you're safe. I'm going to kill that man."

I let him press a chaste kiss to my mouth, soaking in his presence. I'm not going to let us be separated like that again. I shouldn't have gone to see Emerick. I allowed my desperation to get answers overwhelm me.

"We need to figure out what we are going to do now," I say, turning to the room.

"We will have to relocate shortly. This many people in one place will likely draw attention," Roel states, setting his cane down against the bed. "There are other safe houses, but we need to determine whether they are clear to move to. Guards have been sent out, but that will take time."

"That makes sense, I suppose," I murmur. "Although moving that many people at once without a member of the rebellion catching sight will be difficult.

"We can't possibly take all these staff with us. They will be fine returning home," Crimson snaps.

"No, they won't. Emerick will torture them for information, and when they have none to give, he will kill them," Valery warns, rubbing her cropped hair anxiously.

I press my hand to my chest. "We could use me as a trap to lure him out. Then you kill him."

"No." Roel waves his hand dismissively.

"Not a chance," Vade growls, pinning me with a stare.

"He still loves me," I remind them. Right now I don't think Emerick wants to kill me. He wants to control me, to own me, but not to kill me.

Vade just shakes his head. "I'm not taking any risk with you."

"You know, we could have put a stop to all this a lot earlier if you had been honest with me about my connection to him," I say bluntly, scanning all their surprised faces in turn.

Vade's silvery stare falls to the carpet, his brows drawing together. Crimson blinks in surprise and Roel stares back at me.

"We were hoping he would keep his distance," he admits quietly.

"We were wrong. We should have warned you," Vade murmurs, running his hand down my arm tenderly. "We were just afraid of you turning back to that."

I huff out a breath. Thankfully I had a bad feeling about Emerick from the beginning. Had I trusted his beautifully crafted lies, we would all be in a very different position.

I may have even been the one responsible for the bombing.

"Regardless, there are staff in here that are involved with the rebellion. Somehow bombs got planted on the property," Crimson exclaims, fanning her face.

"We will worry about that later, Crimson," Roel hushes. "I say we stay here for the night, let the staff rest, and start splitting everyone up into different safe houses. The King will return with his special forces soon, and we will be free to leave."

I rub my face. I forgot about my father entirely. He has been so absent in my life that he wasn't even a consideration.

I just hope he's actually rushing back, and not worrying about other business...

"What about the manor?" I ask.

"It will take a long time to repair. We will have to stay in our summer home out west," Crimson tells me before dragging her gaze from me, like she can't bear to be seen right now.

"We're lucky we have that," I murmur. "Let's just make sure the staff have somewhere to go."

Roel smiles tightly. "Of course."

"How did Emerick get to you?" Vade questions. He's still scanning my body, looking for any hint of harm. I wonder if he knew about the abuse being inflicted on me by Emerick...

"I...I went to him first," I admit, wincing at all their shocked expressions. "I wanted to tell him to leave me alone, to never contact me again and to make sure he never spoke to the public about me being brought back."

"He knew about that?" Crimson asks, visibly appalled.

"Of course. We were lovers, he knew that I died," I remind them. "And I didn't realise who he was when I told him I had come back. And I asked him if he was involved in bringing me back because of the dark magic in my blood."

"Oh Avila..." Roel bows his head, shaking it hopelessly.

Vade's eyes widen. "Dark magic?"

"We did the test," I breathe. "Someone brought me back from the dead, and I need to find out who it was."

🩶••🩶

Want more? You can read the COMPLETED version on Radish! (:

Thank you all for reading! I hope you enjoyed (:

Out now on Wattpad, The Alpha's Mistress!

I hope you check it out (:

~Midika 💜🐼