Chapter 293 Paid in blood

Chapter 293: Chapter 293 Paid in blood

Talia’s POV

The guards reached the cell. I heard them shaking the bars, with their voices loud and mocking.

"This is the one," a guard said. "The Silvertongue woman."

Another guard laughed. "Look at her. She is nothing but skin and bones. How is she still alive?"

"Malachai wants her to suffer," another voice said. "He wants her to watch herself rot away."

I pressed my hand against my mouth, and I felt the tears streaming down my face. They were mocking my mother, and they were insulting her.

My mother’s voice came from inside the cell. "You will not break me."

The guards laughed again. "Break you? We do not need to break you, because you are already broken. Look at yourself."

"You are nothing," another guard said. "No one is coming for you. No one even knows you are here."

I closed my eyes, and I felt the rage building in my chest. They were very wrong. Because i was here, and I had come for her.

"Face it, old woman," a guard said. "You will die in this cell. You will turn to bones, just like all the others. And no one will ever find you."

My mother’s voice was steady. "My daughter will come. She will find me."

The guards laughed. "Your daughter? She is probably dead by now. And even if she is alive, she will never find this place. She will never find you."

"Move on," another guard said. "There is nothing here."

I heard the guards’ footsteps moving away, with their laughter fading into the distance.

I waited until I could not hear them anymore. Then I let out the breath I had been holding.

Kaelen’s voice was weak. "I think they are gone?"

I listened. The footsteps were fading, and the voices were growing distant.

"Yes," I whispered. "They are gone."

I pulled back from the alcove, and I looked at the cell gate. It was still locked, and the guards had not broken it.

I walked to the bars, and I looked at my mother. Her face was pale, and I could see the tears on her cheeks. But her eyes were still strong.

"Mother," I said. "I am here. I am not leaving you."

She looked at me, and I saw the love in her eyes. "I know, Talia. I know."

I pressed my hand against the bars. "They are wrong. I am here, and I found you, and I will get you out of here somehow."

My mother shook her head, and I saw the desperation in her eyes. "Talia, you need to leave. Now."

I stared at her. "What?"

"You and Kaelen. You need to go," she said. "Your lives are in danger if you stay any longer. The guards will come back, and they will find you."

I shook my head. "I am not leaving you."

"Talia, please..." Seraphina looked at me.

"No, Mother," I said. "I did not come all this way, just to leave without you."

Kaelen’s voice was weak but firm. "I am not leaving either."

My mother looked at both of us, and I saw the tears in her eyes. "You are both so stubborn."

I almost smiled. "We learned from the best."

She pressed her hand against mine. "I know, Talia. I have always believed in you."

I looked at the bars, and I felt the determination rising in my chest. I would find a way.

Then I remembered the glamour charm. It was my mother’s magic, and it could have broken the bars. But I had left it behind.

"Mother," I said. "Aside from the charm, is there anything else? Anything else that we can use to break you out of here?"

She closed her eyes, and I saw the exhaustion on her face. "There is one more thing. But I did not want to use it."

I leaned closer. "What is it?"

She opened her eyes, and I saw the pain in them. "My blood, and your blood, Talia. Silvertongue magic is strongest when it is paid for."

I stared at her. "Blood magic?"

She nodded. "It is dangerous, Talia. It takes a piece of you, but it is the only way."

I looked at the bars, then at my mother. The silver was too strong, my magic was too weak, and the rod was useless.

"Talia," my mother said. "Blood magic is not something to be taken lightly. Once you start, you cannot stop. It will drain you."

I looked at her. "I do not care, mother."

"Talia..." Seraphina shook her head.

"Mother," I said. "I did not come all this way to stop now."

She looked at me, and I saw the love in her eyes. "You are so much like me."

I almost smiled. "I learned from the best."

She pressed her hand against the bars. "Be careful, Talia."

I nodded. "I will."

I looked at the bars, and I felt the weight of everything pressing down on me. I would find a way.

I looked at my hands, at the cuts and burns on my palms. My blood was Silvertongue blood, and it had broken the lock on the door. So it might work on the bars.

"Your blood," my mother said. "Or mine."

I looked at her. "I will use mine."

She shook her head. "Talia, no. You are already weak."

"I am not weak," I said. "And I will not let you bleed for me."

She looked at me, and I saw the tears in her eyes. "My brave girl."

I looked at the bars, and I felt the determination settling in my chest. I would use my blood, if that would work, and I would break these bars.

I raised my hand to my mouth, and I bit down on my palm.