Chapter 46: Chapter 46

Ora’s POV

The cold, damp wall pressed against my back. It was so dark in the room that I couldn’t see anything at all. Grand Magus Valence kept torturing me for as long as I could remember. She wanted me to track down those children for her.

But, after what she did to my sister…. I didn’t have the slightest motivation to help her. I endured everything silently; letting the pain and grief fuel the rage that had started simmering within me. If some day, I managed to get out of this place, I would find a way to avenge my sister.

A groan escaped my lips as I tried to raise my hand for the hundredth time. With great deal of effort, I managed to keep my hand suspended in the air for a minute before it slumped to my side again. My body was just as battered as my soul.

There was a soft creak. Then a beam of light streamed inside the room. In the backdrop of the bright light, I saw two familiar silhouttes. Rubbing my eyes, I straightened my position. Was I seeing things now?

With a sharp intake of breath, my head struck the hard surface behind. My body went limp again. Someone rushed to my side and lifted me in my arms as a familiar voice fell in my ears, “Ora? Are you alright?”

“Sandy….” His name rolled off my tongue in a silent whisper as we teleported back to the room in the inn. My lips lifted in a weak smile as I placed my hand on his chest; silently noting that this was the second time he saved me.

“What exactly did they do to you?” Sandy said in a voice laced with concern. He brushed away the hair from my forehead and cupped my face; studying me restlessly.

I wanted to tell him that I was alright but I couldn’t even move my lips. They felt like dry sand papers stuck to my face. After several tries all I managed was a soft grunt.

This was when Evaan crawled onto the bed and placed his little hand on my forehead. His expression solemn, “She has probably been tortured using the seven needles technique, the five poisoned technique, the jarred ring spell or maybe a combination of all of these.”

Sandy looked pretty impressed, “You know all these techniques too. You are truly remarkable Evaan.” I was a bit surprised at his open praise. They had probably become closer while I was away.

Evaan’s lips pressed in a thin line and he said in a sad voice, “I don’t think I am remarkable yet, Uncle Sandy. I don’t know how to treat her. What is the point of knowing the names?”

Ah, my little cracker! My heart ached for Evaan. I so wanted to pull him into a hug but my arms wouldn’t budge. Sandy and Evaan were like anchors in the deep sea of despair and rage. They kept me afloat.

Sandy brought a tub of water and used a wet cloth to wipe a face. Then, he made me drink some water. All the while his expression remained solemn; as if he were doing the most important task in the world. Nobody except for my sister had treated me with so much warmth. Naturally, I felt drawn to his presence.

For the next three days, they took care of me relentlessly. Though they didn’t know what to do, they stayed by my side and kept me company. That meant the world to me, that was what kept me alive even though I was shattered from the inside.

Slowly but surely, my magical powers were restored and I started using it to heal myself. On the fourth night, I finally managed to sit up. Evaan was sleeping. However, Sandy was still awake. He was seated on a chair by the window but when he saw me trying to get up, he rushed by my side.

“You should have called me if you needed something,” he chided as he supported me and sat beside me. I placed my head against his chest and stuttered, “I am sorry for troubling you….”

He brushed the waywards strands of my hair behind my ears. I noted with glee that this had probably become his new hobby. He handed me a glass of water, “It was no trouble…” Then he shrugged, “It was not like I had a choice or something… You die, Evaan dies….”

Something hit me deep and hard at that moment. I had deluded myself into thinking that he cared about me; when the truth was that he was just looking out for his nephew.

The grief and despair that had been pushed to the recess of my heart resurfaced and burst into a bout of loud, agonized sobs. “Mother was right, Sandy. This is all my fault. It is my fault that my sister got killed….” My voice got choked and I whimpered, “I should probably end this meaningless life.”

He wrapped his arms around me and patted my back; his words soft and soothing, “Don’t be hard on yourself, Ora… None of this is your fault. If you want to blame someone, it should be the Grand Magus. If you want to hate someone, it should be that vile woman.”

I raised my head and looked into his eyes; desperately craving validation, “Do you really think it is not my fault?”

He nodded in all seriousness and placed his hand on my head, “It is not your fault.” Something about that moment tugged the deepest parts of my heart and before I realized what I was doing, I had pressed my lips against his.

Sandy’s eyes widened in shock. My face flushed and I was about to pull away when Sandy’s hand slid to my neck and he started kissing me with a certain rawness; his tongue slid into my mouth and a moan escaped my lips. His other hand moved to my back and he drew me even closer. My hands moved to his back, clenching the fabric of his shirt.

He stopped abruptly and he moved away with a gasp. Hurt flashed in my eyes and I looked at him apprehensively, “What happened?”

His face flushed and he massaged the back of his neck. His gaze drifted to Evaan and he spoke one word, “Evaan….”

I dropped my hand from his back and scurried away a little more. It was irresponsible to kiss like this with a child in the room. I lowered my gaze and bit my lip.

“You seem quite energetic now… I will go and get some solid food for you,” he said as he moved towards the door. I hummed absent mindedly as my lips widened in a smile.

My mind was still stuck on that kiss. What would have happened if he hadn’t stopped? Would I have taken it all the way?

I patted my face and shook my head. This was not the time for these thoughts. I had to focus on helping Evaan find his father. Only then could I focus on my plan to avenge my sister.