Our eyes widen hearing Kaladar’s enraged growl. I grab her, pulling her down the hall and into the room near the door, just as Kaladar moves into the lounge.
He must have come in from the outside or used a portal.
Glancing at Luna, I watch as any hint of hope begins to fade, giving way to a resigned fate. She hunches over, trying to make herself smaller. Any hint of determination and desire for freedom, gone.
Glancing longingly over at the exit, I know we can’t just make a run for it. Kaladar would take chase or strike us down.
We need a distraction.
Hearing Kaladar get closer, I make a quick rash decision, knowing I would pay for it, but right now, none of that mattered.
Luna couldn’t stay here. I can see the truth of her words in her eyes. She’s nearly beyond the place of being broken. Something she may never come back from if she gets caught.
I wasn’t letting that sick fuck anywhere near her.
No. She will be free. No matter what happens, I would make sure of it.
“I know you’re here. Show yourself.” Wincing at Kaladar’s roar, Luna trembles.
My mind made up. I quickly dial Kai’s number, speaking low and soft while listening out for Kaladar as he rants on.
Kai picks up immediately.
“Is everything—”
“Change of plan. I have Luna, but she’s going to meet you. Head to the west side of the hotel, you’ll find her there. Go now.”
“Wait—”
“No time. She’s on her way to you. Be ready to get out of here with her.”
“What abou—”
Not waiting for him to reply, I hang up and turn to Luna. They all need to get out of the hotel before Kaladar’s temper rains down on us. The building was, most definitely, going into lockdown after the guys’ little stunt. They couldn’t stick around for that, especially with Luna’s life on the line.
And that’s even before King finds out. An icy shiver crawls down my back at the thought of what he will do.
For now, I push those thoughts aside, focusing on the present. I need Luna out of Kaladar’s view and safely back with the guys.
“When I’ve got him distracted, head to the west side of the hotel, take the service stairs until you get to the third floor and turn right. The guys will be there waiting for you.”
She glances over at the main door, her eyes widening when she sees it open.
I hand her the last vial Jazmyn gave me. “If you run into trouble, throw this on the ground and run. It’ll buy you some time to get away. Don’t stop until you see the guys.”
Luna glances from the door to where Kaladar is. “Come with me,” she pleads.
I shake my head, knowing that’s not an option, not now. “I can’t.”
Hesitatingly, Luna takes the vials. “I can’t leave you here with him.”
“I’ll be fine. I can handle him.” I give her a reassuring smile.
Her eyes turn sad at my admission. “But—”
“There’s no time.” I give her a little push.
“Go. Now. Please. Or this will have all been for nothing. The guys need you. Don’t let them down.”
Something flashes in her eyes before she reluctantly nods her head.
Moving out into the main area, I push her behind the nearest post and out of view, just as Kaladar walks in.
“You!”
I stand up taller, giving him a smug smirk. My faux confidence slips over me like an old friend.
“How did you get past my defences?” His eyes are wide with rage as they dart around the room looking for some clue as to how I got in here before narrowing on the open door.
Edging away from Luna and the only way out, I summon my blasé attitude, feigning a naivety I never truly possessed.
I shrug. “I was bored.”
His eyes narrow on me. “You little—”
“Did you know there’s plenty of places in this building that are easy to access, if you know where to look?” I give him a slow smirk.
“You think this is a game!” he grits out, his eyes bulging in rage.
“I’m King’s prisoner.” I shrug. “We both know it.
I give him a knowing look as he clenches his jaw. His nostrils flare as he releases a harsh breath, losing an edge to his ire and falling right for my act.
“There’s got to be some way I can entertain myself.”
“You broke into my suite, twice? For fun?”
I give him a sassy smile. “I like the challenge.”
His smile turns cruel. “Well in that case, far be it for me, to ruin your fun.”
He moves closer. “In fact, how about I give you another little challenge? One I think you will find a lot more appealing than simply breaking and entering.”
A shiver crawls down my back at the cruel glint in his eyes and pure delight in his voice. But I can’t focus on that. I need to get Luna out of here.
Taking a step towards the lounge, I draw his attention to me and his back to Luna. Feigning to inspect the room, I watch Luna peak out from behind the post.
Needing him further away, I slip into the next room, hoping he follows.
“Where do you think you’re going?” he demands, but he’s already moving forward, pursuing me and playing right into my hands.
I turn around walking backwards to answer, catching a glimpse of Luna opening the door and quietly slipping out.
The tension leaves me, seeing her finally free, all unbeknown to Kaladar.
“I might as well have a look around. I didn’t get the chance last time.”
Turning around, I walk over to the large painting above his fireplace, feigning interest at the ugly piece as he comes up beside me.
“King will want to know about your disobedience.”
“I’m sure you’ll be the first one to tell him.” I dig my nails into my hands, the bite of pain keeping me here in this moment and not lost to panic as he moves closer.
He crosses his arms, leaning against the chair behind me. “Well, maybe I can be persuaded to come to some sort of… agreement.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I can see his eyes trailing down my body as he licks his lips. I hide the shiver of revulsion running through me and paste a small smile on my face, knowing this is the only way I might get out of here on my terms.
Turning toward him, I see his eyes light up with a wicked delight.
Looking him over, I adopt my finest bitch face, adding a layer of disgust for good measure. I need him angry, not turned on.
“Sorry, but you’re not my type. Conceited men usually aren’t.”
“Conceited?” His smirk drops, adopting a sneer as he fumes. Leaning in, he bites out each word.
“Then I guess it’s time to have a little fun until you come around.”
He steps back, his heated gaze still on me. “Fun for me, I mean.” Not getting any time to prepare, his magic whips out, punching me backward into the wall, cracking the plaster and a couple of my ribs in the process.
Sliding down the wall, I bite my lip, holding in the groan threatening to slip out. I wasn’t feeding any of the twisted psycho’s ego, thinking I was frightened of him.
Reaching a hand up to my head, I wince, touching a fresh cut dripping down the side of my face.
“How’s that?” he sneers.
“Still an arrogant prick.” My mouth seems to have lost its filter.
It’s not too long before my ability kicks in. The cut on my head knits and closes over. My ribs grind and move as they fuse together.
“So that’s how it works. Nifty little trick you have there.” Kaladar’s power strikes out again, lifting me into the air, my body no longer my own. He jerks me forward onto the table, breaking it and me on impact.
A groan slips out making me pissed off. “You son of a—”
“Mm, there she is. I was wondering when you’d come out to play.” I can hear the smile in his voice as he assumes I’m playing right into his hands.
Kaladar’s power surrounds me as he slams me into the glass door. The glass shatters around me, lacerating my skin and face.
Panting through the pain. I look over, seeing excitement spread across Kaladar’s face, making my stomach churn.
Yanking me up once more, he moves me over one of the broken glass doors; I brace myself just as he drops me, the thick chunk of glass impaling my stomach and wrenching a moan from my lips as I drag myself off it.
His chuckle grows along with his fascination as my wound slowly heals once again.
“What else can you do? Huh? How far can I break you? How much can you take?”
Glancing over, I see a sick look of delight to his unanswered questions. I brace myself for what is sure to be a long night.
“Let’s find out.”
Long seconds blend into minutes that stretch out to hours.
My body now paralyzed from the injuries, I can only watch on as Kaladar hunches down beside me.
“Now who’s arrogant.” He backhands me, whipping my face to the side. The deep throb in my jaw and face is nothing new. Grabbing my hair, he pulls me backward, a trail of blood left in my wake.
Coming up to the kitchen, he grabs a knife and runs the tip down the side of my face.
“Do you fear me now?” He smirks, putting pressure on the knife, hoping I’ll flinch back. But this was all just a sick game, one I had become proficient in.
Spitting out blood, I look at him with disgust. “No. You’re nothing, and will continue to be nothing, long after I leave this world.”
Violence flickers in his eyes. I knew the pain was coming before it hit.
Pulling back, he thrust the knife down into my thigh, making my body jolt from the impact.
Before I have time to think about the pain, bolts of energy strike me like thunder, making me grunt from the weight of it. My body feels like I’m touching a live wire, as bolt after bolt hits me over and over.
I grit through the sharp flames stretching across my body, knowing pain was an old friend. One who visited frequently.
For a moment I shrink into my mind, looking to the future, and the endless possibilities, full of promise. I just need to push through this moment right now.
I need to fight for that future, the one Alana and I would have together.
This moment would fade like every other one, leaving behind an invisible scar no one would find.
Kaladar was someone who wanted to be in control, always. Just like King, he thought he could break me. But his control is just an illusion, one he attempts to seize through power and pain.
I may bleed and break from his beatings, but my mind will forever be my own.
Luna would be safe with the guys. Alana would soon be safe, and that’s what truly matters. Not this moment right now. Not the pain, nor the fear or doubts.
I would get through this. Just like always. My body would heal, the broken bones, bruises and cuts would disappear as if they were never there.
Time would move on, just like it always has, and I would get past this, one day at a time.
Kaladar strikes me again, the impact of his powers pushing me into the ground. I stay there, unable to move once more, as I wait to heal, my ability working overtime to fix the worst of it.
The sadistic look in Kaladar’s eyes is hopeful that I have given up. But I would never yield to him or King, or anyone who wanted me as their puppet. I would soon be free, and they would never get near me or Alana ever again. I would make sure of it.
Pulling myself out of the small dark pit that grows around me, trying in vain to drag me down, I get one hand under me and against the floor, and then another, before pushing my weight up.
I demand myself to continue. To fight.
Luna may be free, but Alana was still a captive here. There was no one else to fight for her.
Get up!
Pushing harder, I grit through the pain and will myself the energy to keep going.
Shoving myself up, I get to my knees, hearing Kaladar’s amused chuckle.
Gritting my teeth, I push again, swaying as I stand up on shaky legs.
The sound of a pop cracks through the air. A moment passes before I feel the sharp burn spread at the side of my stomach.
Glancing down, I watch a deeper red expand and run down my jagged white bloodied top.
He shot me.
Kaladar’s loud chuckle spills out around me. Swaying from the loss of blood, the sound comes from everywhere.
Stumbling backwards, I find the wall and grab hold of its strength to keep me up.
“King would have my neck if I killed you here and now, but a little bullet wound will do you no harm.”
I wanted to scream out, but my mouth no longer obeys. Blood leaks out of my lips, dribbling down my chin.
Swaying on my feet, I call upon my power, begging it to heed my call and push past its constraints to help heal me faster.
Energy bubbles up inside me as if hearing me. A slither of power drags and pushes over me, trying to heal the most serious damage first.
It’s a sluggish process, but slowly, my power pushes and pushes until I can breathe and move once more.
Still, I stay silent, feigning to be weak and afraid. The docile mouse he wishes me to be.
His smile is full of twisted delight, thinking I have given up as he makes his way over to me.
Using the last piece of energy, I wait for him to move closer. Knowing I’d only get one shot at this.
“You and I could be a formidable pair. With the right guidance, of course.”
Just as I feel his warm breath on my face, I reach out, slamming my fist into his throat as hard as I can.
Just as he pulls back, I bend my knee and aim it right between his legs.
He bends in half, groaning before falling to the ground and curling in on himself.
“You stupid bitch—” He groans.
Not giving him another chance to use his powers on me, I force myself to move, grabbing the nearest item to me and slamming it into his head, effectively knocking him out.
Limping out of there as quickly as possible, I breathe through the sharp burn in my side as it slowly knits back together. I put as much pressure on it as possible, but it still drips along the carpet as I make my way down the hotel corridor.
Glancing down, I find my phone; the screen cracked and broken. There are multiple texts and missed calls from the guys. One message is visible on the screen, giving me a sliver of hope and relief.
“We have her…”
Cracks obscure the rest of the message, but it’s all I need to hear to give me the push I need to get the hell out of there.
She’s safe. Luna is free and soon Alana and I will be too.
