Enemy: Chapter Twenty-Two
The Heirs of Kalistar
Hey everyone — thanks for coming back for the next chapter! I’m so excited to finally share it with you. Settle in with a coffee/tea and let me know what you think when you’re done — your reactions always make my day. <3
Chapter Twenty-Two— Enemy
SERA
Its been hours.
Hours of sitting here, flipping through these damn dictionaries. There’s some on the shelf dating back two hundred years ago. I’ve gone through a stack as tall as me. When we kept coming up empty handed, Tobias decided we should flip through almost every page, just to make sure nothing was on any of the pages that we missed.
And I’m not in a position to refuse.
I’ve had this idea for a bit. But I’m not sure if I should execute it. I’ve always wanted to know what it felt like, if it’s really like what I’ve seen in the movies. But I don’t want to give him the wrong idea. I’m not happy. Just trying to make the most of my situation.
I jump up from the table and shut the dictionary in my hands with a loud pop.
“What are you doing?” Tobias asks.
“I am going to have a bit of fun.”
I walk over to the ladder on the nearest bookshelf and climb up a few steps. My hands grab onto the shelf in front of me, dust swirling around my face. I pull my hands along the wood, attempting to move the ladder across the longest wall of the oval library. Its hard, and stiff.
So, it’s not as easy as the movies make it out to be.
I see Tobias’s figure in my peripheral vision. He doesn’t even look up from his dictionary. “Looks riveting.”
I sigh, “you know it wouldn’t kill you to be nice.” Or less of an ass.
“I’m plenty nice. For example, I didn’t kill you the night we met. I agree to your terms even though you’re my prisoner. I saved you from the guards. See, plenty nice.”
I huff.
He rolls his eyes. “You seriously think I haven’t tried that before, Sera? I grew up here for God’s sake. Beaux got up there once and I pushed him all the way to the end. We ripped the ladder off its rollers and Beaux ended up breaking his arm.”
“Well, then push me.”
“No.”
“Come on.”
“Still no.”
I pause. A ‘please’ almost escapes my mouth. But I refuse to say ‘please’ to Tobias Whatever His Middle Name Is Dougherty.
I put my hands back on the shelf, continuing to push myself.
“Fine,” he grumbles, “but only because you look pathetic.”
I tighten my grip on the metal rails as Tobias walks over. He places his hands near mine.
And then he runs. Suddenly, the wind is in my hair and a chill runs through me as adrenaline rips through my system. A squeal escapes me as I see the end of the ladder track come nearer and nearer until I’m thrown off by the impact.
I land on one of the couches, my hair in my face, pillows swallowing me whole.
It hurts. My legs—the bruises. But I giggle a bit through the pain, staring up at the tall ceiling, at the sunlight dancing in the air above me.
I prop up on my elbows to face him.
Happiness is such a rare emotion for me, that I have to catch myself.
I’m a prisoner.
Not a friend.
This whole thing started with Tobias because he wanted information. I was stubborn, so he bribed me. I was stubborn again. He allowed me a shower in exchange for more information. Even now, I’m just a means to an end. He wants work done, and hes recruiting me.
I’m far too naive to trust someone like him.
Starving people will eating anything. Neglected people will welcome any type of contact.
And after all, rich boys don’t have hearts. I should know.
His face looks melancholy. His lips a fine line, eyebrows down, eyes staring into my face.
I don’t know. Three nights ago I was dead set on killing him, and I hated him. I hated his attitude and his twisted words, the way he could make you think one thing, forget about another. It’s obnoxious, really. But there’s this small voice in the back of my head that keeps asking the same question over and over.
Is he really my enemy?
He’s not the one who locked me up. He’s not the one who hurt me all these years. Is he really evil by blood? Just by association?
“Who does the KSA work for?” I ask.
“Evander. Denarius on paper, but over the years Evander has mostly taken over.” He says.
“Then why was your father the one giving orders that night?”
“I don’t know.” He looks back at the dictionaries, running a hand through his hair. “Do you know anything more about Adler than what you told me the other night?”
I shake my head.
“He’s pretty non-existent online, impressively so. It would be helpful to tell me more.” He says.
“That’s all I have, Tobias.” Adler was a normal kid. I was a normal kid. We had normal lives. And now, we’re in the same extravagant place for two very different reasons.
Suddenly, the sun comes out from behind a cloud, and a light flashes into my eye. It’s blinding me from the highest shelf near the dictionaries.
I place a hand in front of my face.
“Tobias, look.” I point my hand up to the shelf, and Tobias’s gaze follows, but his eyebrows scrunch in confusion.
It must be my angle.
I stand from the couch and pull my braid over my shoulder, making my way to the shelf.
I feel this pull. This tug on my core. Something stirring, something deep inside me igniting as my feet pull me ever closer to that light. A call.
Time seems to stop. I keep my eyes locked on the spot where the light was. I wrap my hands around the cool metal of the ladder, climbing my way to the top, ignoring the pain.
I look, and there it is.
The culprit of the light is a golden pen, sitting atop an envelop and battered dictionary. I grab the stack of things and clutch them against my chest, heading back down the ladder.
“What did—” Tobias stops when he sees whats in my hands.
“I think I found what you were looking for.” I push the pen and letter into his hands, setting the dictionary on the table.
He brings the pen up closer to his face, wiping some dust off it, and he laughs. Truly.
Brown eyes full of molten light. I can’t look away. I genuinely don’t think I’ve ever been more attracted to a man before, and that’s saying something. Ungodly clear skin, unfairly gorgeous lips, a jaw that could give me a damn paper cut if I ran my fingers along it. Every time I see him, I get put in a trance. And when he looks at me, I can’t help but hope he feels the same way.
Which is crazy.
But over these last couple of days, I’ve noticed that I like it when he’s happy, contrary to what comes out of my mouth.
“Holy shit,” he makes me look at the pen up close, and there, inscribed in the gold is a set of initials.
E.D.
“Eugene Denali,” he says. “This was his pen.”
Tobias hands the pen to me, then gingerly rips open the top of the letter. I realize his name is printed across the face of it in a swirly, dark green ink. He pulls out a cream piece of paper. His eyes scan the page. Then again, and again.
“What’s it say?”
He sighs, almost laughing, pulling a hand over his face.
“For Tobias, whose words hold love and power simultaneously. Never let your words portray something your heart doesn’t feel.”
This guy’s words hold love and power?
More like sarcasm and stupidity.
He takes a deep breath in, making his shirt seem tighter, “it’s funny, because I thought he never knew me. But I guess if he died when Damon was twelve, then that would have made me two.”
I’ve never seen him look so honored. Reverent. Respectful. And he didn’t even know the guy. Claims he doesn’t care where this leads.
“You talk about him like he’s a saint.” I say.
“No, Damon talks about him likes he’s a saint. I just acknowledge that he’s the greatest king this country has ever seen. And he knew me enough to leave me something.”
Tons of people have wills. It’s a bit strange how Denali left this for him, but regardless, it’s not that unusual. “I don’t understand. You said Denali was leaving these clues to help you destroy your current king.”
“I’m not sure how it all ties together, Sera. Honestly, there’s not a lot left of the Denali legacy, so I have nothing to go off of. Believe me, after these past few days, I want answers more than you do.”
Anger storms inside of me. Confusion.
I almost slap him.
He has no idea how much I want answers to explain why this has happened to me. Why this has happened to my family. Why, after all these years, it’s never stopped.
Why this happened to Adler.
I block the thought of him.
I pick up the dictionary from the table and hand it to Tobias. He flips through the pages, then rips out a page of the book and begins reading aloud.
“Within the Castles heart, where ivy weaves,
lies a hidden courtyard, where mystery breathes.
Behind stone walls, obscured from view,
lies a realm of secrets known to few.
Moss covered statues stand sentinel still,
Guardians of secret, hidden with skill.
Echoes of the past linger in the air, in this hidden sanctuary,
where times’ layers wear.
Beware the courtyards silent call,
for within its confines, mysteries enthrall.
In shadows deep, secrets abide,
in the Castles hidden heart, where truths hide.”
It’s quiet for a second. Intense eye contact. Like he’s searching me for an explanation.
“So, a courtyard? That’s where the next clue is?” I ask, trying to get a conversation going.
He opens his mouth and then shuts it quickly, turning his face to the doors of the library.
“What?” I ask, following his line of sight.
“Shh.” He holds his hand up.
The door opens, and the chattering of voices echoes through the oval room. Tobias pushes me down to the ground as he kneels beside me, trying to conceal us with the table and chairs.
“Stay down.” He whispers.
Through the table and chair legs I watch, waiting to see the people.
They look to be about my age, one of them a curvy red-head girl, the other a slim brunette boy. They’re carrying drinks, presumably coffee.
I want that. God, I want that. Just to be a normal girl who goes to libraries with a boy midday to catch up over a cup of coffee. I envy that girl, her little skirt hugging her waist, the bracelets dangling from her wrist. The purse that is now slung on the couch, leaking it’s contents. A lip gloss rolls onto the floor, and the girl doesn’t even notice. She probably has a million more if she lives here.
But I don’t think I’ll ever be her. I’m not silk pajamas and painted nails. I’m not sweet perfume and candles in my room. I’m bullets and bruises. Callused hands and gasoline.
Blood and the will to survive.
“We have to get out of here.” Tobias whispers. But there’s little worry to his voice. In fact, he seems more irritated than anything.
The girl plops down on the couch and the guy sits on the floor, back propped up against a chair.
He shoves me, forcing me to get down on my knees and crawl to the door. I wince as my bruises and cuts hit the ground, biting back a cry.
“Tobias?” A female voice calls out.
I hadn’t noticed how quiet they had gotten until now.
They know him.
Shit.
Tobias hesitantly rises from the ground.
“Cordelia.” He says.
“Who is that?” She asks, amusement playing in her voice.
I remain where I am, not daring to move a muscle. If I could just disappear, I would.
My body turns as limp as a cats when Tobias’s hands engulf my shoulders, pulling me up. He spins me around so that I’m facing the shelves, but I still feel their gazes burning into me.
“Great question.”
“Is that Nora?” The disgust in the girls voice is almost tangible.
I hear the guy laugh a bit.
Two sets of feet start walking towards us. Tobias’sw hands are now shaking as he turns me towards the doors.
“Run!”
I’m fucking glad to.
Bonus Content
For this chapter, I thought I would create a short little playlist. These are songs that I think fit the chapter and characters well, let me know what you think!
“Stubborn Love”— The Lumineers
“I Wanna Be Yours”—Artic Monkeys
“Sweater Weather”—The Neighborhood
“Cherry Wine” (Live)—Hozier
“Kill For You”—Gigi Perez
And that’s a wrap on this chapter. I’d love to hear your thoughts — favorite moments, questions, predictions — drop them in the comments if you feel like sharing. Thanks again for reading along with me; your support makes this story feel alive. See you in the next one!
With all the words
—Chloe
I've kind of sort of started looking forward to Wednesdays by now. I like how this is building up!