He laughed, unchained me, then strangled me with the chains. After that, he water boarded me. I think I went mad until he knocked me out. A small mercy. The worst part is the knowledge that I’m getting ready to feel unimaginable pain all over again, that I will only be able to remain chained like an animal and take it. And to what end? Even if Lawrence continues to heal my wounds, surely I’ll die from the shock, hunger, or thirst soon enough.
Now, I hear footsteps returning and I panic. I cannot keep this up. I’ll never be able to withstand another punishing hour of this. I am alone, weak, hungry, and so thirsty. I have to buy some time to get free of this. I pretend to be sleep as I listen to the footsteps get heavier with their closeness. Maybe then, he’ll leave me alone for a little while longer so that I can think and rest.
Icy water splashes all over me and I yelp, then growl in pain from my sudden flinching. Now, I’m just fucking mad. I open my eyes and blink out the remaining water as I start to shiver. There’s nothing left for me to lose now. My shivering from the cold becomes trembling with rage. Lawrence looks at me in amusement. I look back at him like I want to rip his head off. He pretends not to notice. This only makes my anger grow. I’ll repay his ass if I ever get out of here. I promise myself that.
“Rayne, is it?” he asks, saying my name for the first time. “I’m glad you’re awake. Your lover Selene was asking about you. I told her that I didn’t think you’d last much longer and she looked concerned. Maybe I should bring her here to say goodbye.”
“Why?” I ask. “Where are you going?” Not the best comeback, I know.
A flash of surprise shines through his mischievous green eyes and then it disappears. “Was that a joke? Delightful.”
“I just want to know if that’s all you’ve got? Are you really threatening me now after all you’ve already done to me? I don’t fear you or any of this anymore. Right now, I just want to destroy you,” I tell him calmly. Fuck him and his glowing skin. I’ll peel it right off of him and use it for a nightlight.
This time, he laughs a loud booming laugh. “Thank you Rayne. This is the most fun I’ve had in years. Then, he slices my upper left thigh and I hiss in pain. He raises his sword at me again, but I try to swing away, ignoring the protests of my too raw wrists. He misses and I try to counter with a kick that’s nowhere near the target. Lawrence laughs again at my attempt to scramble away and head butts me something vicious until I see stars. Before I can shake off the blow, he comes at me again and slices my stomach. I stumble back into to wall and hit my head again.
I take a deep breath and stand as upright as possible with the blood beginning to pool on the ground around me. Then, I feel it. The power building up inside me, the will to survive, and it clicks. It is like an inferno roaring to life, a wall of water breaking through the dams. The minute I stopped being afraid and started to fight back is when the power started to flow. This whole time, he wanted me to feel helpless, hopeless, weak, and afraid. It isn’t about just having the will to survive; it was about being able to be in a life or death situation and still being able to be courageous.
This test is meant to force me to find my power and awaken it. I had to remember my goals, my family, why I was here doing this. I had to forget all I once was, my weaknesses, and become something more. I had to be un-made. The entire world seems to slow down then speed back to normal as I see things as if for the first time. My new senses explode.
Lawrence comes at me again with a forward strike. This time, with new eyes, I’m able to follow his movements. This time, with new strength, I rip the chains free of the wall and wrap them around his neck pulling as fiercely as I can manage as he runs the blade through me again. It doesn’t hurt like it did the first time and the surprise on his face gives me the ultimate satisfaction I need. I collapse in his arms after he pulls the sword out of my stomach and I loosen the chains on his neck. He scoops me up like a baby and pulls me close to his chest before kissing me on my forehead.
I grin stupidly as he says, “Well done child. Your mark is glowing. You have unlocked the secret to your power and you have been un-made.”
Damn right.
Chapter Twelve
This time when I wake up, it’s to the beautiful hum of Selene’s voice. She’s running her fingers through my hair and I put my hand on top of hers. We lock eyes and I see that she’s been crying. Quickly I sit up and question the reason for the tears.
“I’m just so proud of you. I didn’t know that you’d be tortured Rayne or else I never would have called on Diana. Please believe me. I would never put you through that.” Selene spits out her apologies, but I silence her with a finger.
“None of that matters now. That part is done. I can feel the power inside me and it feels incredible. I pull aside the sheet that is wrapped around me and look at my body. No scars, no pain, it’s amazing. I smile at Selene to show that I forgive her, that I never even blamed her.
“Lawrence healed you about six hours ago and said that you’d probably be out for a couple days, but I guess he underestimated your strength. They’ll want to start to ceremony immediately then,” Selene says.
“What ceremony?”
“Apparently after someone unlocks their power, there is a celebration and an introduction to the eldest of the Immortals. I don’t know anything else about it.”
“Well, okay then. Let’s get this over with. I want to keep going with all this.”
“Don’t be in such a hurry for punishment Rayne. Lawrence is already excited about teaching you to fight with weapons.”
I laugh. “He probably just wants payback for me choking him with the chains.”
“Yeah, he’s told everyone within hearing distance how you broke free and tried to choke him to death. He’s very proud of you and wants to take you on as his lover,” Selene tells me, extremely amused.
“Oh really now? Well do Immortals understand the concept of being a lesbian?”
“No, they understand the concept of bisexuality extremely well though, but exclusively attracted to only one sex, or only one partner, it’s absolutely preposterous,” Selene laughs. “Still, if you let him down gently, he’ll probably leave you alone. He sees your willpower and it attracts him, that’s all.”
“Well, I’m flattered, and even though I have no interest in men, like that, maybe he can tell me more about this more than one lover thing,” I joke.
“Ha ha, very funny. You wouldn’t know what to do with two women in your bed.”
I raise my eyebrow at Selene and smirk. “I’m sure I could find my way around just fine.”
“Well, you’re just going to keep imagining that, cuz this one right here does not share.”
“I wouldn’t ask you to,” I tell her, kissing her lips.
“Good. Because if you did, I’d find a spell to cut you in half and then tell you to share.”
We both laugh as Selene pulls me out of bed. “Come, let’s go find Diana. I’m sure she’s anxious to see you now.”
We walk down a long corridor filled with beautiful marble columns that remind me of a Greek palace. Everything is elegant, bright, and warm. I feel like royalty as I stroll through and admire the tapestries of purple and gold, the elaborate paintings depicting naked men and women, epic battles, elegant feasts, and the unmatched architectural beauty that is this home. If I didn’t have a job to do, I could get comfortable here for a long while and probably never have a care in the world. If only the circumstances were different. I shake myself from my wishful thinking as we reach a massive wooden door with gold trimmings. Selene knocks purposefully and seconds later, a familiar melodic voice answers us.
“You may enter.”
Inside is a space that looks like a bedroom, but is so large that even I, who grew up with much more than most, have to do a double take. The bed itself can hold about four people comfortably, not to mention the furniture that is not only large, but looks soft and inviting in neutral colors. The art on the walls would make Da Vinci look like mac
aroni art. Then, there’s Diana standing at the double glass doors which are open, leaning against the frame with both hands, her golden dress tied at her neck, but the back cut so low that I can almost see her ass. I have to clear my throat in order not to drop my jaw at her beauty. What a sight it is indeed.
I glance over at Selene to see if she’s watching me, but it seems as if she’s enjoying the vision in front of us as well. I don’t feel as guilty. I take a couple more steps forward before Diana finally turns around, her hair swinging seductively in her face and I have to wonder if she’s doing it on purpose.
“Rayne, it is a stunning surprise to find that you have unlocked what was hidden inside of you. My mark was the first part of the key and only by ridding yourself of fear and believing in your strength were you able to put the rest of the pieces together. Child, there are great things for you to achieve and here we will make you a powerful weapon. Now that you have been un-made, I can teach you the ways of the supernatural and extraordinary. Now, you will be able to see the world as it has always been. You are one of the awakened,” Diana tells me, delighted. She touches my shoulder gently and the mark on my chest comes to life with a powerful glow. I feel excitement coursing through my veins and I say a silent prayer to my family.
Diana looks at Selene and states, “You may now take your leave, witch. I have business with the child and I have arranged for Kaede to go over some ancient writings with you that may be useful in the future.” She dismisses Selene a little more rudely for my tastes, but I decide to leave it alone for a while.
Selene ignores her pride, thanks Diana and kisses me on my cheek before leaving us alone.
“I may not necessarily be a mind reader child, but I have lived long enough to pick up on the slightest hint of body language or facial expressions. If you do you not like how I treat your witch then say so. Speak up for yourself young warrior or you will not be heard,” Diana tells me as she lifts up my chin, examining me like a doctor would a patient.
“Fine. I don’t like how you dismissed Selene as if she were a servant. She’s my girlfriend and if it wasn’t for her, I wouldn’t be here,” I admit.
“I will try to be more kind in the future,” Diana says, with slight humor in her voice.
“What is so funny?” I ask, starting to get upset with her attitude.
“You amuse me is all. It has been too long since I’ve been in the company of humans. Lesson one then Rayne. We are not human, you cannot expect us to always behave in the way that your kind does. Remember that will be the truth with other types of supernatural beings that you encounter as well. Many of us are more long lived than your kind and your cultural expectations are not always relevant or familiar to us.”
“Well, maybe you shouldn’t have given up on us,” I say before thinking.
A flash of anger and something more deadly crosses Diana’s expression, and then her calm demeanor returns. She ignores my statement and says, “So, Lawrence tells me that you have the spirit of a true warrior. He is quite taken with you.”
“I can’t say that I’m too fond of him yet, since I know more about the sword he carries than the man himself.”
Diana laughs and motions for me to follow her through the double glass doors. We step out into a beautiful field of green, purple, blue, and pink, headed towards a small body of water. I breathe in the crisp air and realize that I can hear birds in the distance and voices farther down the way. A new found talent no doubt.
“Lawrence is one of the best warriors we have to offer. It is an honor to be held in such high regard by the likes of him. He even believes you will be a suitable lover.” She glances back at me as we cross the sand near the water.
“Hmm, so I’ve heard. I think I’m suitable enough without his help thank you very much. This human has only one lover at a time,” I tell her firmly, hoping she gets the hint.
“You are young yet. You will seek more hands,” Diana tells me as if saying that the sky is blue.
I laugh. “Well, Lawrence doesn’t have the right set of hands that I like,” I respond.
Diana frowns. “This I do not understand.”
“I have no interest in men,” I say honestly.
“Oh, so you are waiting for my favor then.” Diana nods.
I laugh uncomfortably. “Um, no, Diana. With all due respect, I need no one’s favor. Selene is enough for me.”
“Well, I can accept that, for now. But later, you may want to learn what a true lover is or maybe even both of you will reach out to me. After all, your witch is a beauty and force all her own as well. She will be a great high priestess if she chooses to work hard.”
I stand there for a few seconds, my eyes going to her hard nipples and I try not to groan. It’s hard not to be attracted to someone who literally radiates beauty, but I can be attracted to her and still be in love and faithful to Selene. That is what I’m going to do.
“Diana, if we ever have this conversation again, let it be on my terms,” I plead, trying to tear my eyes away from her body. My senses are heightened right now and I really need to learn how to keep them in check. That is the only explanation as to why I am acting like this.
“Fine. You will see though that the power awakened inside of you will rouse different desires. With the flames of power, the flames of passion so too arises. You will seek it, crave it,” Diana warns.
I will take my chances. For now, I am just passionate about ending this conversation. I change the subject as we continue to walk into a breeze, adjacent the shimmering water. “Diana, what kind of powers did I unlock? I want to understand what this all means.”
“The amount of power may differ among humans, but it is obvious that you have a lot of strength inside you. For some people, even without the help of the mark and the un-making, a small amount of power comes through. Those are people who excel in the arts of fighting, are extremely fast, or even feel as if they can sense things that others cannot. If they were ever marked, they’d have remarkable power. You, are somewhere in between. You may not have exceeded the way some whose power had slightly manifested, but as your urge to protect grew, your power began to leak. I believe that is why your witch was able to recognize what you could be in the first place. She may not realize it, but she felt your power,” Diana explains.
We stop at the edge of the water and it’s so clear that I can see straight to the bottom. I reach down and touch the water. The temperature is perfect.
“So, how much power you have, I do not know, but I can guess that it’s enough to make you not only a force, but a threat. You may become a target back in your world if you’re not careful. Still, when you are through with this training, you will be more than able to protect yourself and those you hold dear. Depending on how hard you train, you powers can only grow. They are not at a set limit. What I can say assuredly is that your physical strength has improved, your reflexes are sharper, your speed has increased, and your emotions are now heightened. If you were of normal intelligence then your intelligence has just grown slightly, but if your mental abilities before were exceptional, then they are now even more so. Any assets that you used a great deal before will be even better now.”
“I nod in understanding. Well, I was a fast swimmer before, so I should be even faster now. All those muscles that I’m used to working will work better then.”
“Precisely, child. Would you like to try it out?”
I look out at the water and smile. “There aren’t any sharks or some mythical creature out there that will eat me right?”
“Not to worry. There are no merpeople or shapeshifters in these lands. They dwell in the lands of the west,” Diana responds seriously.
“Oh,” I say. “Good to know.” After all, I didn’t want to be attacked by a mermaid on a Friday night. That would just ruin the rest of my evening. I wipe my face as I try to get used to hearing about all these things I never believed existed. This is my world now. The rest of the human race may have turned their backs on it a long time ago
, but I am going to embrace it as much as I can, especially if it will help me find justice for my family.
I strip off my outer layer and stand there in my bra and panties that I received from them. Everything fit so perfectly. I’d have to thank the local tailor. Normally, I’m used to tying my hair back, but now that it’s cut short, I don’t have to worry about it which feels a little strange. Still, I walk out into the water until I can sort of dive in and I start to swim with long even strides.
I feel so free and normal that I don’t even notice how far I’ve gone so quickly until I realize that I can’t even see Diana anymore. Still, I don’t turn around. I keep swimming, pushing my limits, faster and faster, until I reach about four small waterfalls. The water is pounding down loudly against the rocks below. I take in the hills on either side of me, the green contrasting so boldly with the blue of the water that I almost cry. There are hundreds of different types of fish swimming along with me. I can even see their colors clearly through my watery paradise. For a few minutes, I simply float on my back, admiring the beauty of this world.
“You could stay here forever, you know. But, I thought there was something you needed to do back in your world,” Lawrence calls to me from the cliffs above.
I call back, “I was just remembering how I used to go to the lake with my sister. I wish she could have seen a place like this. She would have loved to paint it.”
“Then paint it in your memory and tell her about it in the next life. You can tell her of your struggles among this peaceful background as I mold you into a warrior.”
“We will train here then?” I ask, suddenly excited. The land itself seems to be feeding me power.
“If that is your wish, then yes. But now, we have to go back and prepare for the ceremony,” Lawrence tells me, pointing me to a spot where I can climb out.
The Unmaking (The Rayne Whitmore Series Book 1) Page 10