Chapter 149: Chains of Betrayal

Adams Weasley moved along the edge of the forest his mind was heavy with thoughts. He had let Ariadne down again. This time, he knew she was not going to let him go no matter what. He ran his quivering hand through his tangled hair and muttered under his breath, "I can't go back, not like this. She'll kill me." This would have to be the plan: run as far out of the reach of Ariadne's grasp as he could manage, to get himself lost among his own people. maybe grow strong enough to confront whatever judgment she may wish to place upon him. But even as the thought formed itself in his head, a part of his brain screamed back that such was not going to work since Ariadne reaches long and wide, and one doesn't avoid by running but delay only. His legs would not continue any longer , but there was suddenly that rustling noise and crunching of leaves behind him that turned his blood into ice. From darkness came soldiers, sent from Ariadne. "Adams Weasley," called the leader. "By the order from Queen Ariadne, you're under arrest." Surprised Adam's eyes widened, his feet stepping backward in surprise. "Wait, no! This is some kind of mistake! I am loyal to her-always have been!" The soldiers did not even look at his eye. Two stepped forward, their hands reaching out for Adams's arms, and they caught him. "Please!" Adams' voice cracked with his pleading. "I can explain! I just... I needed time to regroup. I didn't betray her!" The lead soldier stepped closer, his face unrepentant. "Queen Ariadne has no use for your excuses. You will go before her in the castle." Adams felt his knees, his failure weighing him down. He knew there was no escaping her now. The dark, prison beneath Ariadne's castle was damp and suffocating; chains clanking, Adams was dragged inside and flung onto the cold floor, iron bars clanging shut after him like the seal of doom. He went against the cold stone wall, his brain in a whirl of regret and fear. A tread echoed along the corridor; every echoing tread bespoke the worst in the way of confrontation. Ariadne burst into his cell like a whirlwind of human force. Her like liquid fire, while her eyes, shining with an inner fire, appeared to shrink Adams where he stood under the glare of hers. "Adams Weasley," she said, and her voice was as cold, strained ice. "I trusted you." He scrambled up onto his knees, his hands clinging to the bars of the cell. "My queen, please! Let me explain!" Ariadne had leaned her head, her mouth curving in a bitter fashion. "Explain? tell me Adams, how you explain failure to meet failure? How do you explain disobedience and cowardice?" "I wasn't disobedient!" Adams protested, "I was chasing Viktor and Alfonso, like you ordered, but they-" "But they did what?," Ariadne returned coolly, "Again. And now, they're one step closer to Reika, ruining all I've worked for." Adams shook his head wildly. "It wasn't my fault! They had magic, a witch. That handmaid, Daisy-she used some sort of disappearing spell. I couldn't stop them!" Now Ariadne's eyes had become narrow, and the air touching her face was getting cold. "You couldn't stop them because you are weak, Adams. And in my kingdom, there's no place for weakness." "My queen, please!" Adams pleaded in a high-pitched voice. "Give me just one more chance, and I shall prove myself in front of you. I'll bring Viktor and Alfonso down on their knees. I swear it!" Ariadne pressed herself closer to the bars, her face giving no quarter to anger. "You had chance after chance, and you blew every one. Well, tell me, Adams-why should I believe you this time?" He had tears streaming down his face as he pleaded with her, "Because I'm loyal! Because I have always been loyal to you, Ariadne-everything that I have ever done, done for you!" There was a moment's silence. Ariadne watched him. Then she turned to the soldier who had been standing beside her. "Leave us," she said. Just for a moment, though. He bowed and moved back down the corridor. "Adams," she said. "My Queen" he breathed. She sank to a crouch, her face now level with his through the bars. "Then tell me, why is it that your actions always fall short of your words? Why is it that with so much promise you fail in everything you set out to do? Adams shivered , shaking with sobs. "I don't know. I try-I try so hard. But Viktor and Alfonso. they're resourceful, clever. It's not as easy as it appears." Ariadne's eyes narrowed once more at the sight, and she straightened up. "Excuses. That's all you ever have, Adams." "My queen," he pleaded, "do not cast me away. I'll do anything-anything-to get back into your good graces." She looked down at him, "You're right about one thing," she said, coldly. "You'll do anything I ask. But not because you've regained my favour. You'll do it because you have no other choice." Adams' face crumpled, and he reached through the bars. "Ariadne, please." She stepped back, eyes afire. "You shall stay here until I decide what to do with you. Perhaps you will serve as an example for all. This is what happens when loyalty fails. Or perhaps I might still find some use for you." She wheeled and strode away from him him, out of sight, her footsteps was the only sound echoing in the silence. Adams crumpled to the cold concrete floor of his cell, wrapping himself into sobs now-he could find no escape from this reality since he had been played, used at his major vulnerable points of loyalty and discarded. Maybe, if had he not disappointed Ariadne, he still could prove himself to her. But deep in his guts, this nagging whisper still wouldn't go away. Maybe this was one box of his punishment which he would never come out of. And so he sat in the dark cell like that, cold, patiently waiting for whatever fate Ariadne was to set before him.