by KC Kellersen
“Chain me up and get out of here before she comes down. I don’t want you seeing this,” I said softly, not trying to command him. Just trying to get it over with.
He sighed heavily and pulled me over to the wall with chains on them. He shackled each leg and each wrist. When he was done, he left without a backwards glance.
After what seemed like days of waiting for someone, but was probably minutes, someone finally came down the stairs. It wasn’t a wolf, but a human. A loud human. Irene.
“Hello Alina,” Irene called from the door. Gone was the mask of friendliness she showed Dale just a few hours ago and back was the cold-hearted woman that beat me senseless. My torturer.
Irene kneeled, so we were face to face. “You are going to break today, Alina. Then, you will tell me where the fourth alpha is.”
“I will not break. And I cannot tell you if I do not know.”
“Oh, but you will be broken when I am done with you. See Queen Lillian doesn’t like traitors to the crown, and it is going to be my pleasure to see that you pay for your mistakes...” The first hit was a punch to the ribs. The same ribs that I felt crack under the pressure of her kicks earlier. I bit back a scream.
“You hit like a bitch.” That probably isn’t smart, but it felt good to talk back. If I was going down, I was taking her down a few notches while I was at it.
“ARGG!!” she screamed and landed another punch to the ribs. This woman had a mean streak that had been dying to get out. Was I her first real victim?
“How long do you think you will last? I am thinking 2 hours tops. You will give up the location of alpha, if I have to bring you within an inch of death. You will beg for me to stop but I might not.” Irene stood and walked towards the wall, next to my chains and started pulling. It was pulling my arms up.
“It will hurt less if you stand on your own, though it makes no difference to me.” She kept pulling the chain until my hands were straight in the air. The next pull had me scrambling to my feet, she kept pulling until my hands were stretched too tight and my feet barely touched the floor. She left the chain and headed towards the tools hanging on the wall. I didn’t watch as she chose her first instrument, just waited for the reciprocating pain.
The jolt of electricity that hit me was startling. My knee’s buckled and my weight was now held solely by my shoulders. I had never felt such pain in my life. I was panting heavily trying to breathe through the agony. I opened my eyes and looked at the tool about to press against my chest again. It was a clamp of some sort, with a wire running back towards the wall. The second jolt had my legs giving out completely and a scream bubbling out of my throat. After the 5th jolt my voice was gone and I quit counting after the 10th jolt. Agony stole my thoughts and the blackness crowded into my vision.
“Where is the fourth alpha?” she asked politely.
“I wouldn’t tell you a damn thing, even if I knew,” I retorted weakly. She hit me with the electricity once more and the blackness invaded completely.
***
I woke in the position Irene had left me in; hanging on the wall, my legs far too weak to hold myself up. One shoulder was definitely dislocated. I tried to look around but as before I couldn’t see anything outside the cell. I had no indication of how long I had been here, it could have hours or days for all I knew. Irene was nowhere around.
I took the moment of peace and let my mind drift to my parents and Liam. All the happy memories collided causing tears to stream down my face. I missed them so much and I would probably never get to see them again. Never get to tell them I loved them, one more time.
Next my mind wandered to Oliver. The man who had become so close to me in such a short period of time. It was a peaceful place in my mind, a place with no regrets and no pain. His icy, blue, intense eyes on me. His hand running through his dark, black, messy hair. I imagined myself running my hands over his strong chest and shoulders and up into his jet-black hair, just to mess it up. I imagined what it would be like to kiss his soft lips again. To have him pull me into his hard body, like he did the first night. I imagined the world from my dreams, where we could finally be together. A place where we were safe, and a little voice called me Mommy.
Irene broke into my daydreaming as she came down the dungeon stairs. “I am so glad you are awake. You have surprised me. However, since you cannot stay awake through the currents, let’s try something a little slower today... Before we get started, are you ready to talk?”
She was insane, absolutely insane if she thought I was going to give up anything to her. Wait, did she say today? That means I must have managed to stay alive for the first day. Oliver would be here tomorrow. Perhaps I wouldn’t die at the hands of Irene, after all. I just had to stay alive one more day.
“What goes around Irene,” my throat was parched and cracked but my threat made it out.
“Tsk. Tsk. You shouldn’t make threats you cannot keep,” she scolded and turned her back on me. I heard her remove another tool from the wall, but again, I couldn’t make myself watch. The slice across my chest was unexpected and I whimpered in pain. I went back to my counting technique. 2 slices, 3 slices, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8... I kept counting to keep my mind off the fire of each slice. I wouldn’t let the pain and fear beat me. I was strong. I could do this. After the 30th slice, I was dripping blood. I had cuts on my face, chest, arms, legs, and feet.
“Is that the best you got?” I asked through clenched teeth.
“Well… You are a strong one aren’t you, and here I thought you were a weak human. “
Irene started punching me again. Each hit made a splash noise as her knuckles smacked against the blood running down my body. Normally I could take her hits, but after the electricity and the knife, each hit had the black pulsing in my vision. I tried focused on the blood spatter on the floor. It was becoming a bizarre pattern, one that would star in my nightmares. If I lived through this.
When that wasn’t enough to keep the agony at bay, I let my mind drift to Oliver and the dream that no longer played while I slept. I wanted to go back to that. That happy moment when he spun me around and kissed me tenderly. The feeling of such joy and love that I could explode with it. Back to the moment when a tiny little voice called for her mommy.
I raised my head a little, when she became too tired and slumped to the floor and drug in deep breaths. Beating someone was tiring, I was glad I had outlasted her.
“Fuck... you... Irene...” My body couldn’t take much more, but I couldn’t have stopped myself if I wanted to. The extreme pain my body was in, resulted in a sassy comment.
I watched Irene until her breathing was steady. I feared the moment she got back up; I should have kept my mouth shut. She grabbed the chains above my head and spun me around. Twisting my arms and pulling the second shoulder out of socket. What felt like a metal pole hit my leg, the crack was audible even without extra wolf hearing. Once again there was no more room in my brain to escape. Fear of my imminent death seized my lungs, and the pain dominated my thoughts.
“Come on Alina hang in there. I am not quite done with you, and I still need you to tell me where I can find the fourth alpha.”
The snap of the whip behind me had me cringing towards the wall in fear. The second crack of the whip came with a slash of fire across my back. I opened my mouth to scream out in pain, but no sound came. The pain was ebbing my vision in and out. It was more than I could bear. Oliver, where are you? I need you.
I welcomed the darkness that swept over me.
Chapter 16
Oliver’s POV
“Oliver calm down tell us what’s going on.”
“Don’t tell me to calm down. I am gone for four days and they lock her up like she is some sort of animal!” I was shouting and I didn’t even care.
“Yes, Irene thought she was the spy and she was brought to the dungeons two days ago,” Dale said with regret.
“Oh, Goddess this is all my fault. We have to get her out of there. Irene will kill her; we all know w
hat she is capable of.”
“You need to take her and run,” Dale said, and he met my eyes. He knew. At least he knew part of it. He understood the desperation that was running through me.
Two days. Two whole days. I have spent my days leisurely riding through the countryside, and she has been tortured for two whole days! The anger boiling through me was enough that Fynn was close to taking over. I wanted to kill every single person in this castle, and right now I felt capable of doing just that. I had never felt so dangerous.
I wouldn’t give in to my murderous rage right now, I would never save her that way. I needed to see her. I needed to know she would be safe. But before I did that, I needed a plan. A good plan, that would save all our asses.
I left the alpha’s and headed for the woods around the training center, running once I was out of sight. I whistled for Zev and he came right away. He was waiting for Alina, and a fresh stab of regret entered my heart. I grabbed the letter off his leg.
Found interesting stuff. Might have a plan.
This was exactly what I needed! I wrote a quick response, on the same paper
Found interesting stuff. Might have a plan.
Coming in hot – will need containment for 3.
I sent Zev with the message and ran back towards the castle, slowing only when I was in sight of the upper floors. When I entered the castle, near my tower base, Irene was there in front of me. The rage I had pushed aside earlier, threatened to explode out of my chest, even Fynn was pushing for control. I hated her and I wanted to kill her with my bare hands, right now.
It was her words that stopped me. “The Queen has requested your presence in the throne room,” her voice was low and afraid. She could probably feel the murderous rage gushing out of me.
I forced my body away from her and up the steps, calling behind me as I went, “I will retrieve the alphas for her.” If I didn’t get away from her, I was going to kill her right there, and then I would never get Alina out safely. I didn’t wait for a response, just kept on up the stairs.
I went straight into my unit, locking the door behind me. It was now or never! I had to get Alina out before tomorrow’s moon and Liam’s note gave me hope. Hope that it was the right time to put my exit plan in action. Hope that the alphas would have a chance.
“I need help,” I said without preamble. “Before we meet with the Queen and it is very important. I cannot give you all the details, but Alina needs us. And we need her. I have to find a way to get her out of the dungeons and the four of us on a mission, with her tagged along. Got any ideas?”
“Why not just break her out and escape with her?” Cord asked.
That won’t work. You need to leave as many options open as possible.
I wasn’t exactly sure what Fynn was thinking but I went along with him. He never steered me wrong before. “That’s one option, but if my wolf-spirit is right, we need to find a better way.”
“What if we help her ‘escape’ and then tell Lillian. She will send us after her to try and get us to bring her back,” Ryan said with thoughtful eyes.
“Yeah but she will probably put you guys under a spell and I’m sure her condition is going to be rough. I can’t protect her from you guys and get her to safety.”
“What if you tell Lillian she is going to lead you there?” Of course, Dale would come up with a viable solution.
“Now that might actually work!” I exclaimed.
“But why would Lillian believe you? If you are not under the spell or her command, why are you coming up with the idea?” Cord asked playing devil’s advocate. He was right, I would never suggest such a thing willingly and she knew that.
“I will see if she will hand Alina over to my care, instead of Irene’s suggesting I can get faster answers. She will command me to get answers... Then I can present the idea.”
“But why would you offer? Same problem,” Cord said again.
“Hmm… I’ll have to figure that out on the fly. We need to get down there, she won’t take kindly to waiting on us, and I need her in a good mood.”
We left the unit and headed to the throne room. Lillian and Sarina were waiting for us. Scowling. We were not off to a good start. I didn’t see Irene in the room, but I could hear her coming. As soon as Irene entered, Lillian’s rage filled eyes swung to hers.
“Why hasn’t the prisoner talked yet? You wanted this, now I want results!” Her hands were shaking with fury. I was sure this time, she would finally let her wolf out. But then she started taking deep breaths, calming herself down. Why not shift? Does she really hate all wolves that much, that she is smothering the other half of her own soul?
“She isn’t talking my Queen. No matter what I do to her,” Irene said meekly. I felt the rage tingling again. I was definitely going to kill this woman with my bare hands.
Or you could let me eat her.
“She isn’t going to live much longer if Irene continues,” I stepped in. Lillian snapped her attention to me. I was risking everything right here and now, and I couldn’t stop myself.
“You think you can get answers from her?” she asked, leaving me the perfect opening.
“I do. If Irene’s torture isn’t working, perhaps a play of betrayal might.” This was turning out better than I had hoped. I kept my tone neutral, but I let the rage showing in my features.
“Why would you do that?” Lillian asked, exactly like Cord has predicted.
“When I was chasing after the spy’s contact, I found bodies of the people from Ironridge. Those people she is working for killed the entire village! Those people killed my family!” I said angrily. I didn’t even realize what I was saying, Fynn had taken over. Brilliant wolf!
“How did you come by this information? Why didn’t you report this earlier?” Lillian asked confused.
“My Queen, I just got back from my mission when Irene told me you had summoned us,” I said and I was back in control.
“Why would she think you were being her friend?” Irene asked aloud, then bit her lip. She wasn’t supposed to speak unless spoken to in here.
“Simple. She’s attracted to me. Has even come on to me a few times, the alphas have seen it. It would be easy to play that up and get her to trust me. I will let her think I am helping her escape and running away at the same time. She will lead me right to them.” I finished darkly as my plan fell perfectly into place. The only problem with my plan was Irene. I was leaving her alive and that didn’t sit well with me.
“You will not do this alone,” Sarina said speaking up for the first time. “Lillian, you must have the alphas follow them and a small army. Priority must be finding the fourth alpha and the child.” I had only heard her openly command Lillian to do anything once before. This had to be major for her and honestly, I was expecting backlash. However, Lillian looked too pleased with the situation.
“Hmm… very well. Oliver, you will pretend to be her friend. In the morning you will free her from the dungeons and make her take you to her village. You will NOT betray me. Once you get there, the alphas will join you. You will capture the fourth alpha and the child wolf. If she tries to escape from you, you will stop her!” I felt the commands fall short over me like always. I wanted to grin, but I fought the urge.
She turned her attention to the others, “Alphas, you will follow Oliver to the traitors hide-out. Once there you will capture the fourth alpha and the child wolf and bring them both to me alive. You will NOT betray me! Sarina, add your spell. I want absolutely no mistakes this time!”
Sarina spoke in her low terrifying tone, “Bound by loyalty on this hour, by the blood of your alpha power… Let your will and mind drift, to the Queen you will submit!” Black tendril seeped out of her hands and entered all four of us. I tasted rather than felt the power, but it didn’t change anything inside of me. Having the alphas under the spell would complicate matters, but at least they would let me get Alina to safety before they made their move.
Lillian spoke again, ending the evening, “I
rene, you will not go near the dungeons again. Oliver this better work. Now get out of my sight!”
I left the throne room and waited at the base of my tower, for Lillian and Sarina to retire to the royal unit. I went to the dungeon and straight to Alina. I wasn’t waiting until morning to get her out of there. I needed to see what kind of condition she was really in. I needed to see her with my own eyes.
She was passed out on the wall, whip slashes across her back. The sight of her made Fynn jump to the surface and let out a menacing growl. I kept him from shifting forms, but just barely. If Irene had been anywhere near, we would have killed her without a second thought. It took me a few moments to get Fynn back under control. Alina. Alina needed me.
I gently took her off the wall. Thankfully she was passed out. Every movement made me wince, and I couldn’t feel the excruciating pain I could only imagine she was in. The amount of blood everywhere was sickening. On the floor, the walls, and even on the ceiling. My determination to kill Irene rose up again with a fiery passion. She would die because of this. A very painful death. The only thing keeping Fynn under control was the sweet, broken girl in my arms.
I took her back to my unit and locked the door. The alphas were in mission mode and would have gone straight to their room. I laid her in the washroom and stripped what was left of her dress off her skin gently. I washed her body of the dried blood and examined the wounds. Her skin was raw and covered with either welts, cuts, or bruises all over. If it weren’t for the moans every now and again and her heartbeat, I would have been panicking.
After I washed her, I laid her on my bed. And dressed her wounds as best as I could. I got both shoulders back into their sockets and splinted her leg. She was in rough shape, but she was alive. Hopefully getting her wolf tomorrow would heal her quick enough.