20

We hurry along the corridors of the castle. Each step makes me groan in pain, but Xerxes doesn't care. Rather, he seems excited. Like a child. He just quickly threw his coat over me and I was maneuvered out of the room. What is going on here completely eludes me. And so I keep glancing at Platura and Xerxes. But both facial expressions reveal nothing. But they are too different for that. Xerxes looks delighted. As if he had won a victory. The green eyes really shine. It is different with Platura. He gives the impression of being focused. And something tells me he's focused on me. His gaze keeps darting to me. As if he wanted to analyze me. The reason just eludes me. Actually I don't understand anything. Again, this is very sobering. Finally, I had the feeling that I could finally understand something. And now? Now I'm faced with a puzzle again. But that will probably be solved soon. At least I think so. Because even though both men show different emotions, one thing is the same. The smile soaked in anticipation.

I sigh softly and focus on myself again. To my aching muscles and the burning in my body. It almost seems as if fire is burning in my veins. And with every millimeter that we make further progress, this feeling is strengthened. The stairs leading down to the dungeon don't make it any better. Just the one second when my whole weight is on one foot makes me cry out in agony. But I keep getting pulled. Always deeper. Then along the dungeon corridors until we finally stop in front of a man.

It's dark down here. Like that part of the dungeon I've already seen. Again, only the torches on the wall provide light, but that's enough to illuminate the man in front of me. He's small and in a way he reminds me of Pete. A fact that gives me a pang in the heart. I haven't seen him for too long. I stopped hearing the other girls' carefree laughter. God, I never appreciated how good it was back then. But instead of delving into the past, I turn to Xerxes.

"What are we doing here?" My voice is shaking slightly. It's not coming from anywhere. I haven't had a good experience with this place. And whether I like it or not, the musty, damp smell alone makes my blood pounding in my ears.

"You'll find out in a moment," says Xerxes and nods to the man in front of us. He looks at me in amazement for a moment before releasing a key from his waistband I can't do it. The restlessness fills me up, so I hop up and down a bit. This causes me more pain. I don't care. The uneasy feeling needs to be channeled. Xerxes also seems to sense my excitement. He grabs my hand and rubs his thumb reassuringly over my skin. And as he smiles encouragingly at me, I hear the click. The one that indicates a door has been opened. It's enough to make my heart beat even faster, and now I'm sure that everyone must hear the loud pounding.

Here and there a cough or gurgle sounds. I can't even identify some tones. But all sounds have one thing in common, they sound pathetic.

We turn another corner and I breathe out heavily. Even though it's cold down here, sweat breaks out on my forehead. I shouldn't be here Actually, I should rest. I'm miserable. And as if that wasn't enough, the sweet smell of sweat in the air makes me sick. It smells like death. After the living dead, to be more precise.

"Xerxes, I'd like to go back to..." I can't talk any further when my gaze falls on the cell at the end of the corridor. On the only cell that is lit. But it's not that that makes me stop, it's the man who who is sitting in it. Zaret. And if my heart was still beating fast, it suddenly seems to want to quit the service. No. He can't be here! Zaret can never have been caught. Immediately I close my eyes convulsively, shake him Head and look straight ahead again. The image stays the same. And with that, my heart sinks one station lower. Even as we approach Zaret, I am overcome by the certainty: Xerxes has Zaret. This is no dream. No hallucination of my brain. It is real. And with that, my environment becomes blurred. I only perceive him.How the otherwise huge man squats in a corner and seems to have problems sitting up straight.

But despite his condition, his eyes are fixed on me. One eye is swollen shut and the blood on the half of his face shows that Zaret must have other injuries. Nevertheless, his lips twist into a smile. To a smile that's only for me. Which expresses something like the joy of seeing you again. This robs me of everything and if I had enough strength, I would tear myself away from Xerxes at the latest now and rush to Zaret. It's paradoxical that my wounds now play into my hands and keep me from this insane urge.

So I let Xerxes draw me closer to Zaret. By the time we are finally in front of the cell and although there is still quite a distance between me and Zaret, I think I can hear the typical smell of sulfur. This really caresses me and it's getting harder and harder to breathe.

The shock just has to be written all over his face and I know it would be wiser to look away from Zaret. Platura and Xerxes have to realize how much Zaret moves me. I do not care. Let them lock me up. threaten me I could never break eye contact.

"Hello, little Kalota," Zaret murmurs, his voice strained. This shows too clearly that even speaking is too much effort for him. This upsets me more than it should. God, why is my heart tightening together with the sight? Shouldn't I be happy? Right now the haunting could end. At least almost. It would be one less person who would want to harm me. And yet I would beg Xerxes to let Zaret go.

"Hello." That's all I can manage, and even that one word is more likely to be choked out than anything else. In fact, I'm afraid I'll fall on my knees to beg Zaret for mercy. That wouldn't help much, though. Me should keep a cool head. So I finally manage to tear myself away from Zaret and look at Xerxes. He beams at me. I should smile too. Should show something like gratitude. But that seems impossible to me. Platuras changes that too watchful gaze nothing The only thing I can maintain is sobriety The mask that radiates nothing but boredom.

"And do you like the surprise?" Xerxes whispers and glances at Zaret. His gaze wanders into the cell for just a second. And this one second is enough to conjure up this unbridled anger in the green again.

"I ... I don't know," I whisper, and my hands start to tremble. I immediately press them to me. I want to hide the obvious shaking. But too late. Platura saw it. A quick glance is enough for that "The knowing smile on his face speaks a clear language. The one that makes him seem almost smug. But Platura says nothing. Just purses his lips slightly and leans casually against the bars in front of us.

"Surprise?" comes a scratchy voice from the cell and I automatically look at Zaret. He has straightened up a bit, but it's still obvious that he's miserable. "Open the cell and I'll show you a nice one Surprise." Zaret laughs and me? I can only shake my head in complete disbelief. How can he still crack such stupid jokes? But Zaret's laughter is lost in a gurgle. He immediately spits a mixture of blood and saliva onto the floor and leans back against the wall with a moan of agony.

"The threat probably lost some of its expressiveness at the latest when blood was spit out, huh?" Zaret presses out and I can only look at Xerxes with wide eyes. And if I just thought that Zaret's appearance surprised me, Xerxes' reaction even surpasses it once. He smiles. And that's not a condescending smile. It looks more like a real thing. What the hell is going on?

"No, Don `t worry. She came across well," Xerxes replies, and I'm starting to think I'm dreaming after all. The mood doesn't seem threatening. It's not like Platura's and Zaret's clash. No underlying aggression. No vibration in the air.

"One last build up before I die, huh?" Zaret's smile widens a little and he rubs his face. The gesture makes him look tired. Really tired. And yet I sense the incredible presence of him. It's amazing that even in this state he manages to radiate this subliminal power.