Descending Darkness(81)

“That’s different.”

“No, it’s not. What if your daughter was the mage in the prophecy? Would you be willing to just hand her over to Dravin, no questions asked? Would you be willing to risk her life for the promises of a lying man? Would you be able to give her up knowing that he’s going to kill her? Honestly, I don’t care what happens to me. But if I’m going to die, I at least want my death to mean something. I want my death to show that I didn’t stop. That I fought for what I believed in. This isn’t what I believe in. I know you’re a good man for Liam’s said nothing but good things about you. But where is that man? Where is the man that taught him how to use his gift? Where is the leader of a strong tribe? Where is he? Because the man standing in front of me isn’t him.”

Valdus watches me after I finish talking. I don’t like the eye contact, but I refuse to look away. I’m tired of looking weak. After a couple of seconds, he silently turns around and leaves the room.

“You’re getting pretty good at giving speeches,” Liam says with a small smile.

“Too bad they don’t work half the time. No one listens to me which is how I always end up in situations like this.” I start moving my wrists around trying to loosen the ropes but only manage to rub more skin off my wrists. “How is Valdus able to bring you here? Being a dream-walker, shouldn’t you be able to counteract his magic or something?”

“Valdus trained me. I’m starting to think that he left a few things out. However, he is much stronger than I am, so even if I knew how to fight his magic, I don’t think I’d be able to. He’s had a lot more practice through the years. I’ve only had two years to figure everything out.”

“Liam, if they kill me here…”

“They’re not going to!” Liam yells.

“But if they do,” I can feel the tears building up in my eyes, “please take care of everyone. Make sure that no one does anything drastic, okay? Make sure Colton doesn’t try to get revenge. I need you to promise me that you’ll help everyone. I can’t have anyone else die because of me.”

“Ryanne—”

“Please.” The tears are falling down my cheeks now, and I can’t wipe them away. Liam nods right as the door opens. A man comes in and walks over toward Liam. Valdus stands in the doorway.

“You can leave, Liam,” Valdus announces.

“I’m not leaving her,” Liam says. The man continues to walk toward Liam. He bends down and unlocks his handcuffs. Liam flexes his wrists and slowly stands up. I recognize the look in his eye. I glance toward Valdus and know that he recognizes the expression as well, but he makes no effort to try and stop him.

When Liam is standing, he looks straight at the guy, and with lightning speed, he brings his fist back and punches the man square in the jaw. Because of the force of the blow, he flies back, whacking his head against the back wall and falls to the ground.

Liam steps over the man and walks up to Valdus. “If you think I’m leaving here without her, you’ve got another thing coming.” Valdus enters the room and locks the door. Quickly, he walks over to me and begins untying the ropes holding my wrists in place.

“What’s going on?” I ask him as I feel the ropes fall to the ground. I jump up and move over toward Liam, who looks as confused as I am.

“I need you to attack me.”

“What?” Liam asks.

“I need you to attack me. It’s the only way you’ll be able to get out of here alive. Make it look real. To get out of here, you need to take a left and then a right. There’s a door at the end of the hallway that leads outside. Once you’re out, use your magic. When you get back to your house, you’ll need to do the protection spell, Ryanne. You need to be in contact with each person when you do, so you’ll have to do it multiple times. They’ll make me try to bring you back here, so make sure to put the protection spell on yourself as well.”

“Why are you helping us?” I ask him.

“Because I have a daughter,” he whispers to me. “She’s older, but she’s still my daughter.”

I walk over to him and stand on my tiptoes, giving him a small kiss on the cheek. “Thank you.”

He nods and looks toward Liam. I know that Liam doesn’t want to do this, but it has to look real. Liam takes a step forward. “I’m sorry.” He swings his right arm back and punches his tribe leader the same way he did to the man who undid his handcuffs.

I flinch as Valdus falls to the ground. I don’t like watching people get hurt, and I know that he’ll have a wicked headache when he wakes up. Grabbing my arm, Liam pulls me toward the door. When he exits the room, the yelling starts. “Crap,” I mumble right as a man barrels into me. I fall to the ground and get the wind knocked out of me.