CHAPTER TWELVE
Eleanor stood at the tall mansion, her hands clenched beside her. Caedmon had gone with Alistair and Kieran but returned alone.
She sighed, her brows knitted together. She had tried to drop hints for Alistair.
The bangle…
But Caedmon outsmarted them, now Lila had no hope, Caedmon was going to dispose of her sooner or later.
" Miss, I've watched the guard ….he seemed to want to kill her" one of her informants said. Eleanor turned, her gaze fell onto a girl. She was hooded in black, her eyes held no warmth.
Years of training had hardened her, forged her into a weapon, a good pawn for Caedmon to get to his goals.
Eleanor nodded towards her and waved her hands, signalling the girl to leave.
She turned around, it was impossible to get into the mansion after all. If Caedmon had found what they had been looking for. Then, ..she could finally return to her brother.
She arrived at the basement, the thick scent of sweat mixed with blood made her nauseous. She walked in and saw Freya shivering at the side with Lila slumped on the ground like a piece of ragged doll. Her body was battered, she was unrecognisable.
She felt a slight pang in her heart, her chest filled up with bitterness and pain. Her eyes stung as tears threatened to escape but she sniffled and crouched down to her level.
She reached to touch Lila but stopped mid air. " Lila" she whispered…but, no response.
Her heart sank, bitterness burning upwards to her throat, threatening to burst out of her mouth–fear.
Her hands trembled, unsure how to react. She fought the tears that pooled in her eyes. " Are you ….dead?" She asked, her voice quivering.
Lila's hair moved, the chains clattering as she moved, she scoffed, but the sharp pain in her jaw made her wince as she lowered her eyes once again.
" Yes I'm dead"
Although the words were sarcastic, deliberately taunting, Eleanor felt a gush of relief run down her spine, her tense muscles relaxing.
" For a moment…I thought…I thought you were dead" she said, her eyes brimming with tears.
" She would be if you don't help out" Freya spoke up for the first time.
She dangled towards them, dragging her body along. The constant chiming of the chains, irritating. She held Eleanor's hand, " sa..ve her" she croaked, her voice broken.
Eleanor's brows gathered, " I'd find a way to save you too"
Freya smiled, she coughed. " I'm afraid …that's too…late" She said and Eleanor's expression darkened.
"Too late?"
Freya stared down at her stomach.
Eleanor followed her gaze and she froze. Blood! Lots of blood.
She was losing blood, she stood up, confusion laced on her face, " Caedmon …was really cruel" she said, her lashes flickering in sadness.
He had heard Caedmon's order, " don't spare them …don't kill them either" he had said. But now, Freya had already lost so much blood, if she didn't do something to help them, she would have to carry out their dead bodies later.
" Get a grip" Lila said, her voice sharp but weak.
Eleanor snapped her eyes open, she was in tears.
" I would let you go …but you have to promise not to get caught. Both of you. I never came here and we never met" Eleanor said, glancing at Freya who was extremely pale and then at Lila who was equally weak.
They both nodded.
****
Back at the underground factory, two men were still stuck behind a porcelain door. Allistair's face was pale, his body sprawled on the floor.
Exhausted.
Kieran was worse, his skin was white. His lips, purple as veins bulged.
Kieran forced himself up, the taste of the toxic substance still clinging in the air in a whisk.
" What…was that?" He croaked, the words coming out of his mouth, weak and fleeting.
He had never felt this weak…except once and he regretted it.
Alistair didn't say a word, he just glanced at him with a nonchalant twist of his head. " I.. feel faint," he said.
Kieran dragged his body upwards, going closer to Alistair.
" It's toxic but not enough to kill," Alistair added.
Kieran nodded, " it's not?" He asked and Alistair affirmed.
Kieran sighed, " good thing that we are going to die of exhaustion and anger then" he deadpanned.
Alistair sighed, " it's no time for joke"
" I wasn't" .
Kieran exhaled sharply, the weight sapping more strength from him. His mind trailed back to what had happened.
One minute he let his guard slip, Caedmon took advantage of it and dismantled him instantly. The locket, the safe at Aufrigad, was in his possession.
Whatever that locket held, Caedmon had already taken it into his possession, leaving them to rot behind these thick porcelain walls.
" It's impossible to penetrate" Alistair breathed, eyes fixed on the only problem before them.
Kieran breathed out once again, it came out ragged with hitches. The door towered to a frightening height, a two way lock to get through but unfortunately, he wasn't able to decode what pin Caedmon had used .
He was too careful.
….So careful that he didn't even suspect a thing.
" What happens to the safe?" Alistair asked and he shook his head.
" Isn't it obvious? Caedmon already has whatever it held"
Allistair's hands clenched, his jaw tightening, " if what was in there was really what he said it was..."
" It isn't" Kieran cut in almost immediately.
Allistair's brows furrowed, a confused expression laced on his face, " why so certain?"
Kieran smirked, " sounds foolish and impossible"
Allistair sneered, " foolish and impossible as trusting you"
" Trust me. It might actually be the only right thing you have ever done" Kieran dropped, his words laced with hidden spikes.
Allistair's expression darkened, his hands slowly curling into a blow.
" Reserve your strength. Anger would drain you" Kieran said with utmost nonchalance.
Alistair's eyes burned, but he paused, his hands still folded, then he slowly uncurled them. " You know nothing about me" he said and drew his head backwards in frustration.
" no, I …" he was interrupted by
the terrifying bang at the porcelain door. It cracked open.
They exchanged glances, forcing their weak bodies up.
Freedom!