my cell by two guards. I don’t know how long I’ve been in here since Darius came to see me, but it feels like days. I hated him coming to see me after what he did, after he tore the flesh from my back.
He’s standing beside monsters, and he is none the wiser. To blind in his anger to see how impossible it is for me to have caused the rogures. Whatever he saw in this memory stone has made him convinced I’m the enemy, and who would believe a ‘traitor’?
I’m jostled and shoved by one of the guards, a sneer on his scarred face, and I hiss through the pain. The cuffs around my wrists, that I now realize are infused with terbium, have slowed my healing process down. That particular metal is rare, and there is only one person I know who has access to it. My skin has barely begun to close from the lashes and every sudden movement splits the skin more, letting fresh blood flow down my back.
I’m taken in the same direction as the last time I went to the great hall until we arrive at its doors. The guards stop in front of them for a moment, righting their armor, before we enter. People fill the room again, looking at me with distaste and anger as they spit at my feet, curses falling from their lips. The guards shove me forward down the steps to the middle of the sunken area, Josh and Kade once again next to me. Kade doesn’t even twitch at my appearance when he looks at me briefly as I’m once again chained to the floor. Josh has more injuries over his face, blood coming from the side of his head, his eyes are tired and full of pain.
“Are you okay?” he asks me quietly, and I nod, staying silent. He looks me over, his eyes tightening as he takes me in, but what else can I say?
My heart is bleeding more than the wounds on my back. Letting him know that I’m not okay won’t help anything.
Footsteps come from my right, and I turn and see my cousin, Patrick, coming down the steps toward me, and my muscles lock up. His blue eyes bore into mine when he stops too close in front of me, and I hold my breath. My hands shake but I lift my chin, waiting for him to speak.
“Hello cousin,” he smirks, eyes lingering on my chest that’s only covered by my bra. I bare my teeth at him, wanting to rip his throat out no matter how much fear I have of him. “No need to be so cranky. You’re the one who has been naughty.”
“Get the fuck away from her,” Josh snarls, moving as close to me as the chains will allow him.
Patrick ignores him. “Are you happy that you took our little brother from us,” he says to me, referring to Kade. “You stole a child from his family and brainwashed him. I can’t wait to see you punished,” he smirks, eyes glinting. “I’m sure Lord Higher will agree to let me give you some of my own punishments as I am Heir to the Aragnis pack.”
“I saved Kade from—”
His hand flies out, backhanding me and head snaps to the side before he grabs and squeezes my throat, cutting off any more words. His touch on me has my skin crawling, my body trembling. I bring my hands up, trying to get him off me, but he’s stronger than me at the moment. He squeezes harder with desire in his eyes. A choked sound comes from me as he brings his face closer, until I feel his breath on my ear. The Elites walk in at that moment, moving around the sunken area to stop in front of the dais. Darius’ eyes bore into mine, taking in my now reddened cheek and Patrick’s hold on me as my cousin murmurs quietly in my ear so only I can hear him.
“I’m going to finally have you.” I swallow beneath his hand, my scared eyes on Darius’ curious ones as he tilts his head at us. “I never wanted to wait before, but the Highers demanded it. It’s different now. All that time we spent playing together when I came to visit you will be nothing like what I will do to you now.” My eyes sting with tears, and Darius’ eyes darken. “Do you know where Sarah is,” he taunts, and I dig my fingers into his wrist harder. “She’s on her way to the pack, to be strapped down, ready and waiting for me. Don’t worry, there is enough of me to go around though.” He nips my ear, his lips on me making my stomach turn and I whimper.
“Get off me—” he squeezes my throat harder, and I thrash, desperate to get him off me.
“That’s enough,” Darius orders from his place in front of the dais, looking between us.
“I just wanted a word with my cousin before she is sentenced,” Patrick shrugs. “I’m sure I will be able to talk to her later on I suppose.” He looks down at my body, heat filling his eyes as I move my gaze to the floor, wanting to escape him.
I suppress a shiver thinking of what would happen if he’s allowed time with me. I have no doubt he will ask for it. But Sarah. Gods, Sarah is going to his home. I look down at my bare feet, sucking in breaths as I look over at Josh out of the corner of my eye. If looks could kill, Patrick would be dead as he walks back over to the family. When Josh finds out that Sarah is on her way to our old home, he’s going to lose it, but I need him to stay calm right now. I need to get him out of a sentence so he can go and get her. I have to try.
“What did he say?” Josh whispers through gritted teeth. I shake my head, not wanting him to know yet.
“You need to agree that I’m the one who caused all of what they are assuming,” I murmur, looking around to see if anyone can hear us. “You need to get out of here with the others. Blame it all on me. I’ll figure something out.” He starts shaking his head. “Please, Josh,” I plead with my eyes, nodding my head in Kade’s direction. “He needs you. They all do.”
“Rhea, they could do anything to you.” I nod, knowing I will probably be trapped in here for however long they want. Edward never came back, so he hasn’t found a way to get them out. If I take the full blame. They have a chance.
The door at the back opens and Taylor, Sebastian, Hudson, Colten and Anna are brought in again and put in front of us. Then Josie and Danny are dragged into the room. Attachments appear on the floor beneath them, and the hooded figures behind them attach the chains around their wrists to them, bringing them to their knees so they can’t stand. Their mouths are still covered in cloth, not able to speak, but their eyes say it all. Taylor looks at Kade, disappointment in his eyes as he shakes his head at him. Hudson keeps looking toward Colten whose head is bowed, fiddling with the cuffs on his wrists like he could get out of them. My eyes come to Sebastian’s sad eyes, and I already miss the lightness they had from him being his flirty self. Josie and Danny are put in front of them, Josie’s eyes rimmed red while Danny tries to get as close to her as possible. They’re chained to the floor like the others, all looking tired, shoulders slumping with exhaustion.I dread to think what they have been through with the bruises and blood covering them.
How did we even get here? Everything happened so fast. How did this Higher Aldus get a memory crystal, and how does it show me performing some sort of ritual? Nothing makes sense. But whether it makes sense or not, my pack is in danger. Sarah is on her way to my old home and my closest friends are with me for punishment. Kade hates me and his memories are all wrong. I don’t know where my other pack members are either. Are the pups safe and with their moms again or are they still separated? And Eridian… Gods know what our home is like now.
It’s not our home anymore though, is it? With Solvier gone, Eridian is probably overrun, and we are no longer a secret.
I look down at the tattoo on my forearm and then to my wrist through my own blood, silently asking for strength at what I may have to do. What I hope I don’t have to do. I made a promise, but what choice do I have?. Will I be strong enough to get everyone out of here? I have to try, but I’m scared, and I don’t know how to make it happen. Is it even possible?
I’ve only done it once in my life, and Mom told me never to do it again. She made me promise. She told me under no circumstances am I to show anyone, and I haven’t. My closest, apart from Kade, know what I am, but they have never seen it. Can I really do this? Show myself and him? He deserves nothing from me, not a single kindness, but he’s hiding himself for a reason just like I am. I’m not sure if he knows or not, but I’ve seen his markings. He tried to hide them within his tattoos, but I recognize them. I knew as soon as I saw them that they looked familiar, but that day in the forest with the wisps confirmed it. There is no more denying it after what I felt.
I look over at Darius talking with Leo, his stare going to someone standing around the side before moving his hands rapidly while he talks. I follow his line of sight as he looks over Leo’s shoulder again, and I see my family. My uncle stands imposing, his blond hair styled to sweep back off his face. My aunt stands next to him, her dark brown hair tied up in an intricate style. Patrick looks smug as he folds his arms across his chest, his blue eyes roaming over us below. My other cousins Alister, Richard and Sophia are standing next to him, looking bored as we all wait for the verdict.
These people were meant to protect me, protect our family. Instead, they helped destroy it. And for what? To be in the good graces of the Lord Higher. For power and titles. They just didn’t expect me to escape before my eighteenth birthday, or to take Kade with me. What have they been doing all this time? Have they been helping Charles?
I didn’t expect the Lord Higher to have gone on to take other children to see if they were like me. To train them like me. Charles rules over Vrohkaira a king would his kingdom with the exception of a few lands that have refused to pledge their loyalty. So why does he want more so badly that after I escaped? He needs to be stopped. He needs to be taken down with the other Highers and my family for what they have done, what they are still doing. They all have to die for the blood they have spilled, or more will continue to soak the lands and taint it.
It was one thing doing it with me. I thought they had stopped. I understand that it is different now. They will never stop until they get what they want.
I’m not strong enough to do it on my own. The Lord Highers’ power is strong, a force that is unmatched, especially aided by the other Highers and their witches. Over the years, I tried to find a way to get my revenge on him, tried to figure out a plan with Edward. Nothing came of it, nothing that would make us successful, and I had to learn to accept it. Accept what they all did to me and my mom and dad, knowing they were all still living and breathing, I had to let it go.
But I can’t let go of them bringing innocent children into their power play for years. If I had known, I would have revealed myself. I would have gone to him, done what he wanted and accepted it. I would never have put myself before children, and I unknowingly had by staying hidden in Eridian. Living my life, being safe, while others have been suffering.
This is another failure.
Another sin.
Another stain against my soul because of everything I am.
