Page 94 of What Lies Beyond the Realms

Samael closes the cell door and locks it, then he trails his hands across the bars, whispering an incantation under his breath. The bars illuminate for a moment then return to normal. I wonder why he’s doing this and why all the guards are still facing the cell. Then my stomach turns sour, and I realize they’re waiting for Onyx to come through the portal. I pray to the gods silently that he doesn’t. I hear the whistle of a light wind, and he appears in a flash, standing in the cell.

Nyx recovers much faster than I did. His eyes glow bright immediately, and the dungeon fills with his scent as his magic comes to life. I know he’s going to finally kill Samael, and it brings a wan smile to my face. Blinding light and fire burst out of him, slamming into the bars. I turn my face bracing for the heat.

Only it never comes. I turn back to the cell, and Nyx’s magic doesn’t get past the bars. It doesn’t even shake them. He slams his hands into the bars, and a wave of power sweeps through the cell, but nothing happens. The bars don’t budge.

“Your magic is no good as long as you’re in that cell. You have no idea what it took to find the spell that would hold you,” Samael says, trailing his fingers along the bars.

“Fuck you,” Nyx says, voice taut.

“Now, now, play nice.” Samael clicks his tongue. “I gave you a chance to return what is mine. You chose to ignore my letters, forcing me to act.”

“Where’s Lyra? If you hurt her, I’ll fucking kill you,” Nyx grits out, jaw clenched.

Citlali has me pressed against the wall with her hand over my mouth just out of sight of Nyx. I squirm against the wall and bite down on her hand. She slaps me hard, leaving my cheek stinging and hot.

“Citlali . . .” Samael calls.

“Yes, my king,” Citlali responds, repulsing me.

“Why don’t you put my dear sister in the cell next to King Onyx? I want him to watch when I punish her. Throw that rat of hers in the cell with her too.”

Samael’s cold stare sends shivers down my spine, but I hold his gaze without flinching. I refuse to let him see my fear. As Citlali nudges me forward towards the cells, the guards part, making way for us. My eyes flicker to Nyx, and the sight of him sitting helplessly, his eyes burning with rage, brings tears to my eyes. I bite down hard on my lip, determined not to show any weakness in front of Samael. I focus on my feet, my heart beating like a drum in my chest. The lump in my throat grows larger, threatening to choke me. But I push the feelings down, not wanting to give them the satisfaction of seeing me break. I can’t bear to look at Nyx, even knowing that I may never see him again. I repeat my silent mantra, I won’t let them see me cry, over and over in my head until we reach the cell. With a rough shove, I stumble into the small, dark space, and the guard slams the door shut, the sound of the lock echoing through the cell.

I don’t look over at Nyx. I just stare at my feet, blinking away my tears.

“Come now. Everyone, out. They won't be going anywhere. Oh, and Citlali, see to it that my sister has something more appropriate to wear,” Samael sneers before he heads down the hall followed by Citlali and the guards.

I don’t look at Nyx until I can no longer hear their footsteps traveling up the stairs. Once we’re alone, I turn to find him facing me pressed against the bars. The bars are packed tightly together, but he fits a finger through the crack. I wrap my finger around his and sob.

“Lyra, baby . . . I’m sorry.” His voice breaks, and his finger tightens around mine. “Don’t cry. I’m going to get us out of this.”

He rubs his finger along mine. I try to catch my breath and pull myself together. I need to think and stop being so emotional if we have any chance at breaking free. It takes me a few minutes, but I eventually slow my breathing and wipe my face. Chepi climbs into my lap and licks my cheek.

“Have you ever heard of a spell like this that blocks your magic?” I ask him, clearing my throat.

“Unfortunately, yes, I have. It’s dark magic, which hasn't been used in hundreds of years. Samael would’ve had to give up something important to get such a spell,” he says, furrowing his brows.

We hear the slow screech of a heavy door then the clink of footsteps coming down the stairs. Citlali walks down the hall with a red slip in hand.

“Put this on,” she says, throwing a red silk slip at me.

“I’m not putting that on,” I tell her in disgust as I hold it up. I’m not wearing this for Samael, that sick bastard, and I’ll freeze to death in that down here.

“Put it on now, or I’ll come in there and make you.”

I just stare at her without moving.

“Better yet I’ll go next door and play in your boyfriend’s cell. Would you like that? I bet I could make him hard for me real quick,” she says, pursing her lips in a cocky smile.

“You’re repulsive,” Nyx says under his breath.

Citlali ignores him and just continues to stare at me, tapping her foot. I don’t want to wear this, but I don’t want her to go into Nyx’s cell. I don’t want her touching him.

“Fine,” I mutter through clenched teeth.

I quickly take off my clothes and put the slip on. I was planning on pulling my sweater back on once she left, but she takes my clothes and leaves without saying anything else.

As soon as she’s gone, Nyx quickly removes his shirt and feeds it to me through the bars. I put it on over my slip, and his shirt actually falls lower on my legs then the slip does, warming me slightly. I pull my arms inside the shirt and hold them close to my chest, wrapping them around myself. It’s cold down here, and it’s only going to get colder as night approaches.