chapter 10

Reader discretion is advised

Some scenes in this chapter is not for everyone and if you struggle with mental health please read at your own risk.

Inara sat on her balcony watching her personal guard leave the palace to search the Mako Sica for Sitara. Her father refused to lend her any more guards after the first six months now after almost a year she could only send her own guards. This time Davian accompanied them so she was alone for the first time in a long time. But she decided she'd visit her mother and take her mind off of everything.

There was a soft knock on her door.

"Princess?" A familiar voice called from outside the door.

"Come in," she entered her main room as Ulrik walked through her door. Ulrik was sent to the palace to study under her father. He was the son her mothers own bonded pair. He was her only friend other than Davian. His mother almost died having him and it caused him to be a sickly child needing treatments for his weak lungs.

"Is there still no news?" He asked Inara. She sadly shook her head.

"It's been almost a year. I keep replaying those last few days over and over in my head and I can't think of anything that would cause her to leave so quickly and without saying anything," Inara said playing with her sleeve.

"Davian will find something he is the best there is," Ulrik touched her arm trying to take her mind off of everything.

"I feel as if I've neglected you since you arrived," Inara says as she heads for her door so they can walk the halls of the palace.

"Oh please I still have to receive treatments so I'm not much for company anyway," he softly chuckles. The day Sitara went missing was the day he officially moved into the palace to begin his studies.

As the heir of the summer court he has to learn the duties and customs of the realm. His only relative that is able to is the Czar. It was suppose to be a happy day for the children but instead it was spent with the palace in chaos. Ulrik never once grumbled or became irritated at the fact that Inara was so concerned with someone other than him. He honestly found it refreshing to not be fawned over for once. His parents constantly worried for his health.

"Are you enjoying the palace so far? Are they treating you well?" She asked him glad for a distraction.

"Honestly it's taken some getting used to. I've been doing some light training nothing extreme since everyone is worried I'll drop at any moment but I am starting to feel stronger," he said as he walked next to Inara. He watched her as she chewed on her lip. He knew she was still thinking of her friends. He knew that having bonded pairs was a powerful thing and he wished he could have one but due to his health he was never able to do it.

They fell into silence as Ulrik watched his young friend. He may be six summers older than her but she acted much older than she was. He was worried he'd have nothing to talk to her about once he arrived. He saw how she talked to and treated everyone around her. She held so much kindness in her even now in the height of stress she was still worried about how he was doing in the palace.

"My lady the Czar wishes to see you," a maid approached them. Inara snapped out of her thoughts and nodded to the maid.

"I'll be right there. I'm sorry Ulrik I'll try to see you before I leave to visit my mother," she gave him a small smile before she hurried off in the direction of her fathers study. He watched her and the maid leave.

Screaming filled the cells. Perceval sat concerned next to a very sweaty Sitara her belly swollen. She could only pant and hoped Deimos didn't come to check on her today. She was thankful that there were no guards tonight. She didn't know what to do if the child came but she didn't need anymore of an audience than she already had. While she grew to love Perceval over the last few months she still didn't want him to see her like this.

"Should we get help?" Perceval asked her he tore off what remained of his sleeve and used it to wipe her forehead.

"No just you," she laid her head on his shoulder. "Percy we can't let him have the baby. He's going to kill it I know it," she cried as she gritted her teeth as a wave of pain washed over her.

"We have no way of getting out," he said mostly to himself. He looked around him and saw Affra watching them. Affras cell was next to his and Sitaras. He always found it funny that they sat next to each other for over a year or more and never once did he offer to tell him his name but as soon as Sitara comes and bugs him he starts spilling all sorts of information.

"Once the baby comes give it to me," Affra spoke his deep voice more of a rumble. Percy looked up at him and saw a strange look in his eyes. As if saying he'd take care of it. But was that to kill the baby so that it didn't have to be raised as an experiment or somehow get the baby out and to safety.

"Percy it hurts," Sitara cried as the waves of pain grew closer together.

"I know shhh it's okay it's all going to be okay," he soothed her as he wiped her forehead more. His ripped sleeve nothing more than a dripping cloth at this point. He looked back at Affra and gave a simple nod while he loved Sitara he couldn't watch her go through the torture of watching their child suffer.

Percy took his shirt off as he noticed the baby crowning. He didn't want it to get dirty from the floor so he made sure it wrap it tightly. He was worried as the baby didn't make any noise as he cut the cord as Affra instructed him to. He got up and handed the baby through the bars to Affra.

"Do you wish to know what you had?" He asked him about to unwrap the shirt but Percy shook his head. It pained him. To see his baby so quite in someone else's arms but he didn't want it to grow up here.

"Please don't," Percy softly said. He turned to go back to Sitara to take care of her but she was passed out on the floor. Blood poured out of her.

"Affra! What's going on?" Percy panicked as he looked frantically at the older fae. Affra looked on sadly and shook his head. Percy looked at Sitara he skin more grey than it normally was. He had grown to love her they started out as enemies but now he loved her more than anything. He quietly cried next to Sitara not noticing that Affra vanished from his cell only to reappear seconds later.

Deimos walked into the cells and saw the scene before him. He looked at the crying Percy and the lifeless Sitara and sighed. He was worried this would happen.

"Don't worry boy. She's not dead she's to strong for that," Affra softly said so only Percy could hear. He looked up and had hope in his eyes for the first time in a while.

"Where's the child?" Deimos asked irritated as he saw that she was no longer pregnant.

 "Dead," Affra spoke before Percy had a chance.

"Shame," Deimos said as he brought clothes and a blanket to the cell for Percy and Sitara. He even gave Percy a bucket of clean water. Percy looks at Affra as if asking if it was okay. The old fae nodded his head. Deimos left silently cursing himself for not coming to see her sooner.