Betrayed (The Secret World Of Atlantis 3)

Chapter 3 - Sleepless Nights

After experiencing being thrown out of Eros’s head, I can’t fall asleep at all. So, the only thing that makes sense to me, is getting up and heading straight to the library. The Guardians at the bottom of the staircase question me about where I’m going, and I have no other choice but to let them come with me.

Ever since my father was back, he tightened the security, so no one could make it into the Palace at night. I don’t blame him, though. He’s been through the Tartarus and back with everything that Teivel did to him. So, no matter how much I hate being followed around, I know this is solely for the purpose of keeping me safe. Of keeping us all safe.

I walk through the shelves with the Guardians following tight behind me, while I’m picking every book that I deem useful. When my arms get too small for the ones I haven’t grabbed yet, I begin piling them up in the hands of my protectors.

They then stand by my table and watch me as I’m thumbing feverishly through the pages, trying to spot anything useful. The moment I put the tenth book away, one of the Guardians clears his throat. “I’m sorry to bother you, Princess, but I have a question,” he begins. I breathe out slowly, before looking up at him.

“Yes?” I ask, forcing myself not to sound grumpy. The truth is, I haven’t slept properly for two weeks, and I probably won’t until I find Eros. So, I don’t even have the strength to sound like myself anymore. I can see by the look on his face, that my tone came out exactly the way I didn’t want it to, so I force a smile on my face to soften the effect.

He seems a bit confused, but still opens his mouth to voice his question. “Is it true, that you went to the North with Eros Callisto?” The moment I hear his name, I stiffen, and my chest begins to squeeze itself together. I must force myself to breathe in, but it’s hard with the pressure I feel on my lungs.

As I finally manage to get myself to function again, I look at the Guardian, who now seems scared of my reaction. I take a deep breath, trying to keep my lips from trembling, as I answer him. “Yes. I followed him there.”

I quickly turn my gaze back down, refusing to let them see the tears forming in my eyes. The tension in the air is so thick, that I could be cutting it with a sword, but the Guardian luckily doesn’t say anything else.

However, his question throws me off balance and I find myself completely losing my concentration. No matter how hard I try to read, the words keep dancing in front of my eyes, and I can’t seem to comprehend them at all.

I take a deep breath, before turning to one of the Guardians with a pleading gaze. “Could either of you bring me some water, please? I don’t feel so well.” The one that spoke to me before, nods his head, jumping at the opportunity to make it up to me. But it’s not like he has to. It’s not his fault, that I’m emotionally wrecked, and sleep deprived at once.

As I wait, I lean back into the armchair, resting my head on its edge. I stare into the flames, that are dancing on the gilded ornaments on the ceiling for a moment, before closing my eyes. I try to imagine, that I’m back. With that I mean back in the North, by Eros’s side. Resting in his arms with the infinite sky above us, and the stars watching, keeping us safe.

Not even knowing that I’ve fallen asleep, I open my eyes just as the sun begins to rise. I straighten up a bit too hastily, my neck hurting terribly from the uncomfortable position I’ve been sleeping in. I look around, spotting the two Guardians still standing nearby and watching over me. There’s a glass of water on the table, untouched, as I dozed off before the Guardian could bring it to me.

“I’m so sorry that you had to get the water, and I didn’t even drink it. Why didn’t you wake me up when you came back?” I ask, my voice finally sounding like my own again. And my tone isn’t hiding the hint of remorse inside it.

The Guardian shakes his head with determination. “No worries, Princess. And it seemed like your rest was much needed, so I didn’t want to disturb it. I hope you’re feeling better now,” he declares politely. I breathe out slowly, before nodding.

“Thank you for your concern, I’m much better now. And please … No offence,” I add, offering him a small smile, but it doesn’t reach the corners of my eyes. He returns it and at the same time bows his head at me.

“None taken,” he replies. I begin thinking about going straight to Elena’s room, but I know her love for sleep. She probably isn’t awake yet. So, the only other thing that I can do in the meantime, is research. I keep combing through page after page, trying to find some explanation for what has happened to me last night, when I tried to reach into Eros’s mind through the essence of our bond. But the problem is, there is so little information about bonds, that it’s highly doubtful I’ll be able to find anything about essences.

So, after finding nothing, I decide to turn to the only other source, that might withhold at least some information. It’s time to pay Silver a visit.

Ever since we came back, he’s been different. Happier. No matter how stubborn he was about staying by my side, a big part of him missed his home. It’s true, that he was familiar with the other places we’ve been, and we were safe there, but he’s been living in Dairelis for years now. And it’s hard to leave behind such a big part of your life.

When I enter the stables with the Guardians behind me, I instruct them to close the door as quietly as possible. There is slight snoring, heard from all around the space, as the horses are still sleeping.

I almost tiptoe my way towards the end of the stables, to the place, that was still Silver’s. He is still sleeping, just like the rest of the horses, but I can’t help it. If I don’t get this question answered, I’m going to lose it.

I slowly reach out to him, but before I’m able to touch him, he opens his eyes in panic, suddenly raising the upper part of his body in the air, his hoofs waving around the air in a threatening way.

Startled, I stumble backwards, staring at him with wide eyes as he neighs in fear. In the next moment, neighing can also be heard from other ends of the stable, making me realize, that he’s woken everyone up. Wonderful. So much for keeping this visit quiet.

Silver, calm down, it’s just me! I reach out to him, but the moment I do, his front hoofs already fall to the ground, and he stops panicking.

For the love of Olympus, child, you can’t just scare me like that. I thought I was being attacked again, he declares, letting out an annoyed snort. I then finally dare taking a step closer, passing the Guardians, who are ready to take the Pegasus down.

I turn to them with an assuring gaze. “You don’t have to be alerted because of him. He’s my bonded, he isn’t going to hurt me. I only startled him,” I explain, receiving a short not from both of them, before they lower their fists and take their positions by the wall.

I then turn to Silver with a sheepish gaze. I’m sorry, I didn’t think you would react like that. And I’m also sorry for disturbing your sleep, I apologize sincerely. I caress his soft muzzle absent-mindedly, the feeling making me a bit more at ease.

He blinks a few times in affection, before responding. No worries. I was only half asleep. Now, what is it that you want? Not even a moment later, I pour the memory of what happened last night into his head, making him observe in silence.

Have you ever … experienced or at least of someone, who experienced something similar to what I have? I ask, biting my lip from the anxiety. He stares at me for a moment, and I swear I can hear his brain working.

I haven’t … But I might have known someone, who has, he begins. My eyes are already gleaming with hope, waiting for him to continue.

Yes? I encourage him, desperately wanting to know what he knows about this case. But he stares at me with such a gaze, that I realize I’m not going to like what he’s about to tell me one bit. Just say it, Silver, there can be nothing worse than the bond being broken, because then I’ll know that … I trail off, unable to say it. I clench my jaw, refusing to let the tears fall from my eyes in front of the Guardians.

Silver watches me intently for a moment, before finally giving in. Alright, I’ll tell you. In the case that I’ve heard off, one of the bonded tried to access the other’s mind through the essence, just like you did. They hit a wall all the same and tried to break through it. But when they managed to succeed, they were met with nothing on the other side. There was only emptiness, a blank space, with no sign of their bonded. They never found out why there was no mind on the other side … And whether their bonded was alive or not.

I stare at Silver in horror, shaking my head in despair. No … Don’t say such things, Eros is alive! Eros must be alive … I fight his story, trying not to think about his words being my reality. Silver watches me with a gaze, that is equally pitiful as it is loving.

I’m sorry, but there’s nothing more I know of this … I might be wrong, and Eros is on the other side … In fact, I am almost sure that he is … But he might not have control over his own mind, he continues, making me tense.

What are you trying to say? I ask, refusing to believe that everything is lost. If the bond wasn’t broken, he must be alive. There’s no other way.

He might have been captivated by that horrible man, Arya … And judging on what he did to your father, I don’t think Eros is in good hands right now, he concludes. His words almost make me collapse, so I have to grip the railing tightly. I shake my head. There’s only one way to know what’s happening for sure. I need to get inside Eros’s head. The sooner, the better.