Heart of darkness

Chapter Twenty-three

The days passed in a haze as I waited for Calia to bring good news. But as everyday passed my heart grew weary and I began to lose hope. Had Damian gotten to her before she could find the passageway or receive Cas's letter?

I mentally slapped myself for thinking of these preposterous thoughts. Calia wouldn't let Damian get to her. She was too strong and smart for him to do that for a second time. But it didn't stop the worrying from slipping through the weak walls in my mind.

Boredom was starting to get to me. The room was getting on my nerves and I didn't know the castle well enough to find a library or kitchen. Maids came every so often to bring me food and clean dresses. Other than that I was alone and bored. I didn't know how Calia did it, a whole week in here and she felt safe! I feel annoyed and crazed.

"Three days until the wedding. Calia, where are you?" I whispered to myself, while looking out the grand window.

It had grown to become a past-time, staring out the window at the gorgeous view. The horizon seemed to go on forever. I could see the maze that Calia had tried to get lost in. I could see a field of tall grass and trees. I wished that I could escape into it, feeling the blades of grass skim my skin and the smell of wheat fill my nose.

The sudden thought of running through it with Cassian filled my mind. We would run far into the blue horizon, our hands enclosed together, our smiles wide and true. My heart longed to be there, to be with him forever as we explored the world we knew little about.

"Aurora?" I heard Calia's voice say from behind me, pulling me from the daydream that seemed too far to reach.

"Calia!" I said excitedly and ran to embrace her.

"It's good to see you too." She laughed at my enthusiasm and hugged me back.

"Do you have any news?" I asked, pulling away.

"I haven't gotten a letter, but I have found the passageway. It was difficult to find and that's what took me so long."

"That's alright, as long as you are safe and out of harm's way." I smiled, the hope I had lost flooded back and I couldn't help but smile.

"We can go now if you'd like."

"Yes, of course. Though we have to hurry. Do you know where Damian and Garret are?" I asked as we walked out of my room.

"They're in the war room going over strategies for an attack on the witches, but of course they have to find them first." Calia stated.

"Then we really do have to hurry. Lead the way." I said and we went through the castle.

I hadn't realized how large the castle was. I wondered if Calia was lost when we suddenly stopped in front of a blank stone wall.

"Why did we stop?" I asked as she placed her hand against the stone.

"We're here." She whispered and started tracing the stones.

I watched her as she continued to trace the wall, a bit of uncertainty went through me as nothing happened. Maybe she had gotten it wrong? Maybe she had forgotten through the short time she had been there.

"Calia, I don't think-" I stopped when Calia walked and disappeared behind the stone. I gasped in shock, what kind of passage was this?

"Aurora, come on." She whispered and grabbed my hand, tugging me into the passageway and out of my shocked haze.

Behind the stone was a dark hallway, I could barely see anything.

"Where does this lead?" I questioned.