Alara sat on the bed with her knees pulled up, staring at the tray of food Mara had brought earlier.It was cold now, and the soup had a thin film on top.She wasn't touching it. Not until she knew what was going on.
Her stomach made another loud growl, and she muttered under her breath, "Shut up…"
That's when she heard footsteps. Slow. Measured. Right outside her door.
She froze, tilting her head toward the sound.
Then voices.
She quickly slipped off the bed and pressed her ear to the door.
It was Mara. "She's still frightened, Darius. You can't just keep her locked in here without explaining anything."
Darius' voice was deep, steady. "Fear will keep her cautious. I'd rather she be afraid than reckless."
"That's not how you treat someone who just—"
"She's not just anyone," he interrupted. "She walked into my territory without permission."
Alara frowned. Territory?
"She didn't know!" Mara argued. "You think she's part of—"
"I don't think," Darius cut her off again. "I know what I saw."
Alara's frustration boiled over. She banged her fist against the door. "Hey! I can hear you!"
The voices stopped for a moment. Then Mara's tone softened, like she was talking to him in warning. "You see? She's listening."
"Then she might as well hear this," Darius said, his voice raising just enough for Alara to catch every word. "You're not going anywhere until I decide it's safe."
Alara pressed her forehead to the door. "Safe from what? You keep saying things like I'm supposed to understand, but I don't! Where am I? Who are you people?"
"Exactly my point," Mara muttered.
Darius ignored her. "You don't need to know everything right now."
Alara's hands curled into fists. "Yes, I do! You dragged me here, locked me up, and you won't even tell me where here is! What am I supposed to think? That you're some kind of… psycho kidnapper?"
There was a short laugh — humorless, from Darius. "If I wanted to hurt you, you'd already be hurt."
"That's supposed to make me feel better?" Alara snapped.
Mara's voice broke in sharply. "Stop it, both of you. This isn't helping."
"Then tell me something, anything!" Alara pleaded, her voice cracking. "Why am I here? What did I do? You keep talking like I'm in danger, but from who?"
The silence on the other side of the door felt heavier than before.
Finally, Mara spoke, her voice quieter. "It's not my place to tell you. I wish I could. But I can't."
"Then whose place is it?" Alara shot back. "His? Because he's made it pretty clear he doesn't care if I'm scared out of my mind."
Darius' voice was calm again, but there was a steel edge to it. "I care that you're alive. That's all that matters right now."
Her chest tightened. "And how long is 'right now' supposed to last?"
He didn't answer. She heard footsteps moving away.
"Darius!" Mara called after him, frustration clear in her voice. Then the sound of his steps faded completely.
A few seconds later, the lock clicked and the door opened just enough for Mara to slip inside. She held another bottle of water, setting it on the table next to the cold tray.
Alara didn't move from her spot near the door. "Why do you stay here? With him?"
Mara glanced toward the hallway before answering. "Because… I owe him my life."
"And I'm supposed to believe he's the hero in this?" Alara said bitterly.
Mara met her eyes. "Things aren't that simple here. Eat something, Alara. You're going to need your strength."
"For what?"
Mara hesitated just long enough for it to feel wrong. "…For whatever comes next."