Chapter 470: Back in the Dungeon
Violet strutted through the dark dungeon halls as if it did not phase her at all that she was back. She arrived at a cell right next to where Pearce was being held and walked in, sitting down on the cot that was placed in the corner.
Neoma glanced at Lucas with a silent question. Was it okay that Violet was in a cell right next to the council member’s? She didn’t want to have to confront Violet if she didn’t have to. The important thing was that she was some place secure where she couldn’t cause any more trouble than she already had.
Neoma was just thankful that it wasn’t difficult to get Violet here. She couldn’t imagine having to restrain or fight someone in this pack when she had just been formally accepted as a member herself. It was an honor she never expected, especially with how much of a negative impact her presence here had made as Zosime, Andreas’ pet.
And yet Graeme had asked her to become an official member of the Hallowell pack. She had a home. That is what he said to her when she accepted: "Welcome home, Neoma." It may have been the best feeling of her life—being welcomed to a home where she was safe to be herself and was actually valued for it.
Lucas rolled his eyes at Violet’s choice of cell placement as he locked the door behind her. Did she think she was being rebellious by somehow placing herself next to Pearce? Were her and Pearce going to start a revolution in here?
Violet might have something similar to her freaky mate’s abilities now—a possibility that was suggested visibly by her glowing golden eyes—but Lucas knew she wasn’t particularly smart. She may be arrogant, but was she capable of planning a way to successfully revolt against Graeme? Unless her mate’s power had somehow improved her intelligence, the answer was no.
Violet was petty and jealous and impulsive, but she wasn’t smart. Her decision to help the elders when they so easily disposed of her afterward was one example of how she was more likely to be manipulated because of her ignorance rather than to be the manipulator. Then there was her speech to the pack on the morning after Samhain, which clearly was not thought out well since it made an enemy out of Graeme and nearly everyone else who could feel the truth of their Alpha and Luna’s union. And now this. She had made a fool out of herself in front of a representative of another pack.
"Do you think it will hold her?" Neoma asked once Lucas was done locking the door. She remembered how August had walked through a door down here to help Greta on the other side. It sounded crazy. Neoma couldn’t imagine doing it herself, but if August could do it, then it was at least possible.
"You don’t think it will?" He asked, his eyebrows pinching together in confusion.
"I would rather be safe," she bit her lip, looking at the door and wondering what more she could do to help keep Violet secure.
She had been spending a lot of time with the other alyko who had returned here, particularly now that she was essentially living in the pack house. When they were all discussing their experiences in Zagan’s containment, Maggie mentioned how it was another alyko who created their holding facilities. She used a cage.
"I can do that," she whispered to herself and brought together the Veiled around them into columns that formed the cage Maggie had described.
As she focused her concentration on something Lucas could not see, he simply watched in awe. She was so much more confident now than she had been, and it made him happy to realize that she had found a place where she belonged with people who supported her. She was clearly learning so much from the other alyko.
"Don’t watch me," Neoma said without breaking her eyes from whatever structure it was she was building.
"Oh," his gaze darted away from her. He wasn’t going to leave her. Perhaps it was a good time to check on Pearce.
He unlocked the cell door and found the old male hunched on his cot in the corner. He didn’t even look up. It had been several weeks now that he was kept down here without any indication of when he would be facing punishment. For now, this was punishment enough. He felt like he had been down here in the dark for an eternity.
"Can I get you anything, Pearce?" Lucas asked in an attempt to get a reaction out of him.
At first, there was no response. Lucas sighed and was about to shut the door again when Pearce finally slowly sat up and looked over Lucas’ way. His face was dark and sullen. His cheeks were caved in like he had aged decades while he was here. And his eyes were haunted.
"They visit me," he said, his voice scratchy.
"Who? The guards?" Lucas asked. "They are supposed to visit you to bring you food and water. Do you need more water?"
It sounded like Pearce had not drank anything for a long time. Lucas looked around and found the pail of water that was still full. It appeared to have just been refreshed.
"You should drink, Pearce. You will feel better if you do," Lucas said.
Pearce must be so depressed that he wasn’t even bringing himself to take care of his most basic needs. Lucas would have to check with the guards to see if he was eating, although he doubted that Graeme would care if the elder starved himself down here.
Pearce shook his head from where he was sitting. Lucas poured him a cup of water and brought it to him. The old man took it from him and wet his lips before taking a few sips from the cup.
"Not the guards," Pearce said, his shoulders sagging as he handed the cup back to Lucas.
"Then who?"
"Andreas and Auden," he replied. "Always. Every time I close my eyes they are waiting."
"Huh," Lucas grunted. "Well, I guess you all deserve to be together."
"Is the ancient one coming for us?" Pearce asked, squinting against the small amount of light that came in from the hallway.
"The vampire?" Lucas asked. "He hasn’t so far. But if he does, I will make sure to steer him your way."
