Aria’s POV
I didn’t know how long I had been here.
The room was dark. There were no windows. I thought we were underground. I remembered walking into a cave when I woke up from my unconscious state. That was when I saw a glimpse of the plant that I learned so much about when I was a child.
The only light I got to see was when he came in to hit me. He said that if my body was weak, it would be easier for my magic to transfer to him.
When he first started hitting me, it wasn’t frequent. But ever since Cora told him that the spell to transfer my magic to him wouldn’t be ready for a little while longer, he became furious. He came here often. His beatings were getting worse. I was pretty sure my ribs were broken, and I was bleeding out severely. The only thing I could smell here was my blood.
I knew he wouldn’t kill me. He needed me. He needed my magic. But every time he beat me, he left me on the brink of death. He really enjoyed hurting me, and that scared me the most.
I was chained to a metal table, but that really wasn’t necessary since I couldn’t move even if I wanted to. Every part of my body hurt.
But nothing hurt like my heart.
I missed them.
I missed my brother.
I missed my friends.
I missed Jake.
I missed my mate. Goddess, do I miss him! I would give anything to be in his arms one more time.
I guess that’s why I tried to send a message to Cassie. I got scared that I would never see them again.
I got scared that I would never see my brother again. I just got him back, and now I have lost him again.
I got scared that I wouldn’t see Jake ever again. He was my family growing up. He was my first love. I got scared that I wouldn’t see him smile again. I loved his smile. Especially when it was for me.
I got scared that I would never see Cassie and Annie again. I would never again hear them talk about clothes and shoes. Goddess, what I would give to hear their voices one more time.
I got scared that I would never laugh with Mike, Jack, and Blake again.
I got scared that I would never see my mate again. I got scared that I would never kiss him again. I got scared that I would never feel his arms around me again. I got scared that I would never feel his warm body wrapped around mine again. I got scared that I would never wake up next to him again. I got scared that I would never see his eyes again.
Thinking back, I shouldn’t have done it. I should’ve kept my mouth shut. I should’ve been brave like I was when I told Blake I would go with Victor. I should’ve been brave for them.
They will not stop until they find me, and then Victor will hurt them. I will be a reason Victor hurt them, and I won’t be able to forgive myself for putting them in danger.
A strangled sob escaped my lips.
I tried opening my eyes, but my head hurt so badly that I couldn’t. It wouldn’t matter anyway. This place was so dark that there was no difference if my eyes were open or closed.
Since I’d been here and since he started beating me, I’d been going in and out of consciousness. I had a hard time differentiating between reality and dreams.
I guess I was awake when I didn’t see Calvin. He’d been haunting my dreams ever since I came here. He was talking to me, telling me things I never want to hear again. And I couldn’t escape him. I was chained to this table, and he was always next to me. He was always touching me. His breath felt so real on my skin.
But he was dead. I know he was dead. So that meant I was unconscious when he was here.
My reality wasn’t much better. Either Victor was here beating me, or I was thinking about my family and friends, praying that they didn’t come and find me. I kept thinking about all the ways Victor could hurt them, and it was making me sick. I prayed to the Goddess to please not let them come here. I couldn’t watch them in pain. I could deal with whatever Victor had in store for me, but I could never deal with them being hurt. Even more so if I was the reason they would be in pain.
I could only hope Cassie didn’t figure it out. Maybe she didn’t remember. Maybe she had forgotten. Oh, please, Goddess. Please let it be true. Please, don’t let them come here.
I guessed that I was awake now. Calvin was not here, and the only thing I could think about was my family and friends. The fear of them getting hurt was making my heart clench painfully. I could feel my throat closing and another sob escaped my lips.
My mouth was so dry. He gave me water occasionally. He didn’t let me eat at all. I couldn’t remember the last time I drank a sip of water. But he will have to let me drink or eat something, right? If he didn’t, I would die. And I was no use to him dead.
I turned my head slightly and groaned. Everything hurt. Even the smallest movements were painful.
I was pretty sure that I had a fever. My head was throbbing. I was cold. I was shaking slightly.
The reality was slowly slipping away. I was not going to be awake much longer.
I could hear loud voices coming from somewhere. I didn’t know what they were saying.
But it was the first time I could hear something outside of this room and I tried to listen.
I couldn’t.
I was slowly slipping away. I couldn’t focus. My eyes were closed, and I couldn’t open them anymore.
I could feel tingles all over my body. Like the ones I felt with Nick. Maybe I won’t be dreaming about Calvin this time.
Maybe this will be a good dream. Maybe I will be dreaming about Nick.
