• Chapter 8

    A triumphant smile spread from one ear to the other. I smiled, “By the look on your face I’m guessing they agreed.”

    Rian sat in front of Erick and I, “They did, so now Erick is going to be watching Helen whenever she’s here.”

    Erick seemed puzzled, “How did you get them to allow it?”

    Rian looked at me sheepishly, “I told them that Helen doubled your lashings and slammed your head against the wall. Oh and they’ve requested to see you for verification.”

    My mouth dropped open, “What?! Do I really have to see them?”


    “Yes you have to go see them, now.”, Rian said grabbing me by the arm and pulling me up. The lacerations on my back were still so fresh that when he pulled me up I could feel some of them open and ache.

    “Ah!”, I hissed.

    “Sorry!”, Rian looked at me apologetically.

    “It’s alright, lets get this over with.”, I mumbled.

    We walked down the winding hallways of Abyssus castle with Erick right on our heels. Whenever we passed people in the halls, they would gasp and gawk at us. It was like they’d never seen people before.

    Soon the halls seemed to stretch on forever and the turns became more frequent. “I swear I don’t know how you guys get around here without a map!”

    They both chuckled. “You used to walk these halls too Angel.”, Rian said, a slight smile on his lips.

    “Yes, but I remember being led around by you Rian.”

    “Yep, and now you’re being led around by me again, just like old times.”, he said with a distant look in his eyes.

    Suddenly we were at the chamber of Ivan and Evelyn, Ryan’s parents. “Are you ready Angel?” Erick asked.

    “I guess I have to be.”, I said, uneasiness rising in my throat.

    Rian knocked on the door. “Come in!”, I heard Ivan shout.

    Rian went in first and I followed. Erick stood in the hall and shut the door behind us. The sight of Rian’s parents made me tremble with anger.

    “Hello Mother”, he nodded to his mother, “and Father.”, he nodded towards his father. He looked back to me, “Angel, show them.”

    I took a few steps forward. “Well I see Helen bashed your head as Rian said.”, Ivan said with a hint of a grin.

    “Go on Angel, turn around and show them your back.”, Rian urged me.

    I couldn’t take my eyes off of his parents, I was afraid that if I moved that I’d end up running across the room and strangling both of them, or that they‘d kill me the second I turned around. I couldn’t trust their actions or mine anymore.