Chapter 34

Finally, the king lets me go. I stand beside the window and glance out at the charred dead land. All I must do is get over the wall of fire. Maybe, just maybe, I can find my way home. But where is home? My grandmother has done nothing but lie to me, erase my memory at her will. I would never risk the lives of Clara and David as I have no doubt the king will not let me go without a fight. If I make it out of here, then I am on my own. I can’t risk the lives of the ones I love.
"Having fun?" Cole’s deep voice penetrates my thoughts.
"Who wouldn't be in a room filled with..." The rest of my words are muffled as he puts his hand over my mouth.
He removes his hand and passes me a glass of red wine. I take it eagerly and swallow the lot.
"Thanks," I mutter, turning back to the window.
"Be careful what you say, my father has ears like a hawk." His voice rings in my mind. I jump, raising my hand to my head. Although Cole is Lucifer’s son, I feel comfortable around him. Weird I know. But his presence doesn’t instill fear in me or make me feel on edge. Unless his eyes blaze with fire.
"Are you in my head?" I whisper, hoping my imagination has just gone intooverdrive. The last thing I need is for him to… let’s not even go there.
"Ssshh!" is his response; the sound rattles through my mind, giving me an odd feeling.
Get out of my head! I yell in my thoughts, hoping he can hear me. He puts his head in his hands and bows slightly, pain evident on his face. I guess he heard. I’m sick of people violating my mind.
"Not so loud," he snaps in my mind. Why the hell is he angry? He’s the one playing in my head.
"I said..." My words are cut off.
"What did you say, my dear?" the king questions as he comes up and stops beside me.
I say the first thing that comes into my head. “I do not want any more wine, thank you. I’m beginning to get a headache.” I’m slightly afraid of how easy it is to lie.
"Of course, you have had a tiring day." He ruffles my hair in a fatherly manner. This man has more mood swings than a woman with PMS.
"Cole will escort you to your room." He picks up my limp, sweaty hand and places a gentle kiss on the back of it. The tiny hairs on his chin scratch my skin. My mind screams for me to pull my hand away. But I hold still.
Cole places his hand on the small of my back as he guides me out of the room. As soon as we’re in the corridor, I spin around. “What gives you the right to violate my mind?" I prod my finger in his chest as I rant.
He holds his arms out in front, palms up. “Calm down, Kayla. What’s up, you got secrets to hide or something?”
That’s the problem. I’m terrified he’s seen into my thoughts and knows what I’m planning.
"Relax. I can only send my thoughts to your mind; I can’t read yours. You know, no one other than my father has ever sent a thought back." My shoulders relax. Sincerity shines in his eyes. Then again, it could be an act. He is the dark lord’s son. Maybe lying and deceiving comes naturally to him.
From this point on we walk to my room in silence. Both of us lost in our own thoughts. I glance at him and see a lifetime of pain in his eyes. However, I can also see he holds on to a flicker of hope. The sadness in his eyes mirrors my own.
He’s trapped here just as much as I am. Growing up in a place like this must have been hard. Humans are like plants. Plants need sun and rain to grow and bloom. Humans need love and guidance. I’m sure Cole has never received those things from his father.
"Can we go to the ruins again tomorrow, Cole?" His eyes flash with a deeper sadness. "Please!" I add, hoping my manners will win. He stares deeply into my eyes. I fight the urge to turn away. His unnatural black eyes are too much like his father’s.
We stop outside the door to my bedroom. I stare at the ground waiting for his response.
"The sunroom," he says, and I feel like I’ve just been told off.
"Oh." I don't have any words and inwardly groan at myself. I gaze into his face. It'sChris’s face staring back at me, his eyes, blacker than the night sky. His face is full ofconfusion and inner turmoil. I reach out and place my hand on his cheek. “Chris, if anyone can fight this it’s you. You’re stronger than this. You’re the strongest person I know." I feel like I’m watching myself from within as I step forward. "I believe in you." My mind snaps back into focus. My hand lingers on Cole’s face. His eyes shine with intensity. He swallows as I step back. The uncanny resemblance to Chris makes my heart flutter and sink at the same time. I miss him. I hate to admit it to myself, but it’s true.
"Who’s Chris?" Cole snaps. I take another step back. I have nowhere else to go as my back hits the door. The fire in his eyes is so intense I fear he will set me alight.
"My guardian," I say calmly, keeping my emotions in check. Inside, I’m shaking.
"The one that lied to you. Erased your memories? For what? His own personal gain?" he spits out the words as he paces the gap between us. The hatred in his eyes runs deep.
"It wasn’t Chris who erased my memories, and he didn’t lie to me. That would be my grandmother and mother."
"No, he just kept the truth from you. I bet he liked you being blind and ignorant to what was happening around you."
Fury wells from the pit of my stomach. Heat flares in my chest and burns through my veins like a spark following a fuse. Cole’s eyes widen, and I follow his gaze to the light blue ball sitting in the palm of my hand.
Cole shoves me into my room. "Get rid of that thing!"
"I don't know how," I croak on the verge of tears.
He opens the window fully. "Throw it out as far as you can."
I step closer to the window and with the biggest swing I can gather, I let the ball go. It soars through the sky as fast as lighting. I watch until it is out of sight.
He slams the window shut with a bang, and then grips my shoulders, forcing me to look at him. “How did you do that?"
I bite my bottom lip, unsure why he’s so angry. I’m a witch, right? I’m supposed to have powers. He’s the one with the crazy ‘I can talk to you in your mind’ trick.
He lets go of me and runs a hand through his hair. "It is not possible... unless…"
I take a step back. His eyes narrow, and a scowl forms on his face that slows my pulse.
"Who is your father?" he demands.
"I don’t know," I answer with my head down. Too scared to look him in the face, the mystery of my father is another question I am yet to find answers for.
He grips my shoulder and squeezes hard. I bite my lower lip to stop the sound of pain passing my lips.
"Do not let anyone see your power, especially my father. You don't know what this means."
"I’m a witch. I ‘m supposed to have powers."
He shakes his head. “Powers of the elements, yes. Not the power of an angel.” I hear his words, but they have no meaning.
"So maybe my dad was an angel?" I shrug him off and head to my wardrobe to claim my pajamas. I need something to do. The look in his eyes is terrifying me.
"Angels are forbidden to mate with humans or any supernatural other than their own."
"Why?" I ask. The Michaels never said such a thing.
"Because of the prophecy."
I give him a sideways glance. “What prophecy?"
"It doesn’t matter, just… please, don't let anyone see. Okay?"
I nod my head, too tired to argue. He turns and leaves me feeling more confused than ever.