Regius by Nastasia Peters

her."
Although it was a statement and not a question, Calycanthus sounded
surprised nonetheless. Frowning in sadness, Galax rubbed his chest
when it felt like his heart was breaking all over again, like it
had numerous times ever since he'd come to find out Solis had been
kidnapped. Datura and Calycanthus stared at him in
silence.
    "I do." Galax sat back down
in the armchair, his head falling into his palms as he mutely cried
over her loss.
    * * * *
     
     
     
     

Chapter 7
Solenum Everhart
    Once my wits had returned
to me, Digitalis made sure they wouldn't remain. He pulled the sack
off my head, revealing miles and miles of ice around us. Corium
Desert. Thankfully, we were inside some sort of vehicle, the heater
turned on full force. He hadn't said anything, just pinched my nose
to force my mouth open then hooked a finger between my lips once I
realized he was trying to make me drink something. He managed to
make me swallow down maybe two times, which apparently was enough
since about five minutes later I was knocked out cold. The moment I
stirred, he'd repeat the same action.
    The second time I woke and
he began the process of giving me more of the liquid that drowned
me into slumber land, I'd been able to scan my eyes around the area
quickly. What I'd seen was a city in ruins. It looked bombed and
although normally such a description would lead me to think of
something ugly, instead it was beautiful. The architecture of the
buildings was very delicate and detailed. There were half broken
windows decorated with beautiful engravings, the bricked walls
carrying a different pattern each time. And everything was blue. Or
at least, the buildings were of an ivory color and because
everything was partly sunk into bright sapphire water with the
moonlight bouncing off it, the ivory glowed a soft
azure.
    The vehicle was parked on
a barge made out of white wood and floating gently through the
drowned city. It was Seputus
Civis , or the Sunken City; a place that
used to belong to the Palliums long, long ago. It had been taken
from them; forcing them leave and move to Iodin City. Much like how
they’d been forced to leave Iodin City and re-base themselves in
Cobalt City today. This place had been abandoned for
generations.
    Third time I woke and
Digitalis uncovered my vision for a short moment, I saw a forest.
There were massive trees in both height and width. Their bark was a
light beige and the leaves an icy blue. I was in Regius territory,
the Wastelands of Xenon. The trees were so similar to one another
it was said you always got lost when you entered Immortalis Silva . Except
when you knew where you were going.
    I didn't fight Digitalis as
he forced me to swallow the tranquilizer, simply laying back down
into the passenger seat before my body was taken over by sleep
again. I don't know how many hours separated the short moments
where I'd been awake, but the fourth time I stirred, he didn't make
me swallow down the liquid and neither did he pull the sack off my
face. The vehicle’s movement stopped; I figured we'd
arrived.
    Next thing I knew,
Digitalis, or I assumed it was Digitalis, manhandled me out of the
vehicle. It wasn't that I wasn't cooperating, I mean, truly, what
could I possibly do? I had no idea where I was and I was high from
the many tranquilizers. Moreover, Digitalis wasn't someone you
chose as your opponent without a weapon at the ready. Actually, he
wasn't the kind of opponent you took on with weapon,
period.
    Manhandling was needed, as
I couldn't feel my limbs anymore, they were still partly asleep. It
felt like millions of ants were crawling under my skin. Being high,
I couldn't stop the giggle from escaping me when the assassin
forced me to walk on tickling feet.
    Digitalis spoke. "You are
the worst kidnapped victim in history." If it weren't for Acacia's
murder and the consequences that followed, I would have said his
voice sounded nice. It was soft and surprisingly gentle. "Why are
you laughing?"
    "My feet