from the way Karim moved his arms and shouted louder, something was wrong.
“We cannot head back, Karim! We must take the princess to the Shadow King. He will know what to do.”
“And what of my sister? I can hear her screaming,” he shouted. Karim looked at me as if I were to blame. Which most
likely I was in his eyes.
“She is begging for me to save her.” Karim broke as he spoke and a tear escaped from his eye.
They were hurting Panya. Because of me. Possibly to draw us out, to hurt Karim for disobeying and betraying them. I hoped
Norok wasn’t playing into this as well. Marcus only explained in the smallest of details. My rescue was part of Norok’s plan.
Even if it was, I no longer trusted my brother.
“What are they doing to her?” I exclaimed.
“They are torturing her in the worst possible way a woman can be tortured.”
My breath caught as shock and anger ran through me in waves. I knew what he meant as did Marcus. If Norok stood around
and let that happen, he was no better than Dorian. Nicholas would see to it he was put down as well.
I prayed to the Goddess Norok was back at the camp with his soldiers, preparing and none the wiser to what our sadistic
uncle was doing to the poor, innocent girl.
“Take me back. I can’t allow someone to go through that when this is all my fault. Everything that has happened is because
of me.”
“Don’t be stupid, Ornella.” Marcus addressed me, using my first name for the first time ever. “Dorian will kill you as soon
as he’s done with you.”
“Then let him, if it means Panya is safe.”
Marcus rolled his eyes at me and mockingly laughed. But before he could start talking again, Karim cleared the space
between us. Wrapping his arm around my waist Karim stood behind me, using me as a shield. His hand lit up next to my face
and panic filled the air. Marcus was quick to draw his sword and hold it out between us.
“I will destroy you both if we don’t go back,” he shouted.
“Not happening, Karim. We have a plan!”
“Can we all just calm down, please,” I said, sickeningly fearful for my life.
“I will go with you, Karim, but Marcus is to be left unharmed. We all are to go in one piece. Please.”
I sighed deeply. It all seemed so pointless. The rescue and then running away to be pulled back right where we started. To
be trapped, tricked into helping Dorian, no matter who got hurt, he would always try and find a way to come out on top.
“No, Ornella, we can save Panya! You know as well as I do, Karim, they will be at the castle, knowing that’s where we are
also headed. We can trap them with the Shadow King's help.”