Whisper Bloodrose

Chapter- 10 Prison

Chapter- 10

Prison

Whisper didn't even realize when it was morning, and when her body was slumping on the bed with her knees on the floor. Morning sun woke her up with it's warm, the darkness and coldness fading away in the nurturing warm glow of the sun. Her body was terribly aching due to the uncomfortable posture that she had slept in. She could feel that the blood had stopped oozing from the crevices on her back. But there was dried blood on the floor around her, and on her back. Lucien wasn't there, she assumed that he had already left.

Her body hurt terribly, one from all the destruction that her back had taken and two, from her sleeping position, that had left her knees numb. She tried getting up, by pushing her hands down onto the bed and putting some pressure on her knees. With gasps and winces echoing around the room she managed to get up.

Whisper used the blanket to cover herself, as her dress wasn't doing much. As soon as she did, the soft material of the blanket pressed against her back producing both agony and relief. She pulled a plain white silk fabric from the enormous cabinet of her clothes hoping to use it for her wounds on the back.

She bent her arms as much as she could, but was unable to reach her back or even close. Lucien was clever, knew Whisper hated showing her wounds to anybody. So he hurt her in a way that, she couldn't heal herself without help. So she was only more determined to do it all by herself.

She opened the rolled up fabric and spread it across the bed. She, the grabbed the ointment from the bed side table and applied it carefully on the silk sheet. Once done, she laid herself on her back so the fabric pressed on her back and wounds. A smile spread across her face, at her little achievement, only she knew of. The temporary pleasure only lasted before there was a knock on the door.

A knock that was hasty, as if striving to breakthrough the door. But it was too soft and gentle to belong to Lucien. Whisper quit presuming, and asked.

'Who is that?' She questioned. Her voice was hoarse from the lump that was in her throat all night.

'Whisper, it's me, Raina.' The voice came through, piercing through Whisper's made-shift comfort. She had just found her relief after an entire night. She breathed, because the alacrity in her voice was made Whisper's nerve freeze. As if something outside that door had went terribly wrong. 'Come out, please. You need to see this.' She banged on the door louder.

Whisper got up swiftly, the pain and loss of dignity long forgotten. She was scared of the weird uneasiness in Raina's voice. The uncertainty that Whisper held was purely terrifying to her own self. She could think of an endless list of things that Lucien could've done to make her weep.

She grabbed a white dress from the wooden cabinet along with a white fur shawl to make sure nobody saw the damage from last night. It was tough to hide because of the pain rushing through her, but she manipulated herself that she had taken worse. Though she had not, those were physical wounds she took. But these wounds were internal, it was giant gash in her heart and a hole in her dignity.

As soon as she was out of the door, she was pulled towards the staircase that lead to the courtroom. Not one exchange of words took place between them. Because she didn't want to hear a news that was so despising that Raina could barely manage to let it burn on her tongue.

She stood in the sideline, no one in the court noticed her presence. And she silently observed the atmosphere. It was awfully quite with only, Uriel speaking. She saw Lucien sat on his throne, his head held high as ever with not one sign of guilt on his face. Not like she expected any.

Something was definitely different today because, all the soldiers present there had their head down, staring at their shoes. Uriel kept speaking and that was when Whisper started paying attention to what he was speaking.

'Hence, I have every evidence to prove that, Beta Talon Bloodrose has attempted treason.' Uriel said loud enough for the entire castle to hear.

Whisper's heart leaped right out of her chest at the newly gained information. Talon was a true Beta, he could kill and die for the greater good of Forever Woods, but treason he would never commit. It took her all her strength to not walk into the courtroom and protest. Because if she did, Lucien will only worsen Talon's punishment.

She had never felt so helpless, to restrained. She had felt lonely, lost, alone, insulted, captured and what not in the past times. But never had she felt this, this feeling of grief that made her want to rip herself apart at the doubt of ability. She promised to herself that, no matter what may come, she will never let herself fall out of defense. Promises are made to be broken.

'I, don't doubt my soldiers.' Lucien declared. Whisper looked up to pay attention to the verdict that Lucien will announce, and she already knew it would be unfair. 'Talon Bloodrose has shed his blood for the goo of his home on occasions I fail to count. But today seeing all the evidences against him, I am compelled to announce my decision against him. With utter regret I, expel him from the Defense and announce him a lifetime prisoner.'

And that day she learned, that when you fall you pull everybody that held you, along.She couldn't hold back anymore, she flexed her tightened fist and walked into the room, making her presence known. All the ministers stood up to acknowledge the Luna's presence. Lucien smirked slightly at the tiger that he had trapped in a cage. He liked the struggle, she made gave her chances to prove his own domination and power over her.

He loved seeing her broken and lost. Lucien would have loved to see her like that, broken, trying to collect her pieces and pulling it all together, and every time she found herself succeeding Lucien made all of it slip down again, only because he could.

'I was indeed, expecting you Luna. Especially because it is your brother who has been found guilty.' Lucien stated and only Whisper found it teasing, while everybody else found it sympathetic.

'May I know, Alpha. Why my brother is being held for treason.' Whisper questioned looking at Talon, who hadn't distracted his eyes from the floor.

'Uriel, has collected some evidences that clearly suggest that Talon Bloodrose has given refuge to a Rogue.' Lucien answered confidently, giving Whisper a look that clearly told her that he had done it intentionally and was willing to do much more.

'What are those evidences?'

...................................

She was ashamed. She couldn't protect her own brother; Lucien had gone too far this time. Her family was not supposed to get involved in any of it. But she had managed to hurt people who loved her.She was being pushed on the edge of it all, she was on the brim already, one wrong step and she wasn't sure where she will fall or will she even fall. Lucien held all the strings he was the one who held the greatest stakes, with a security to win. Talon was imprisoned, for treason.

When she stood there in the courtroom, she had seen Talon his eyes wet, and he was unable to find his own voice. He was unable to protest. He had spent so much time I war zone protecting his home he had shed so much blood, he had lost so many friends all for the sake of his home. Whisper knew that Talon was wishing death, instead of accusation of treason.

But she promised to make sure that Lucien paid for all he has done. For making her shiver, for breaking the Cannon Tome, for cheating his own people, for putting Talon in a position of shame and for things he had done but Whisper didn't know.

She had washed herself clean of all the blood on her back, but something she couldn't wash was that touch. That sinful touch, that made her want to crawl like a coward. She tried to scrub the hand prints on her skin away, but it wouldn't. Lucien's hand print had the same tenacity that Lucien himself had.

But she was sure that she'll cover it well, so only Lucien knew about. Even if Rebel came, she wouldn't let her have a peek at it. It was a secret she and Lucien will keep. She will play this game alone, no matter how bad she fell.

Whisper stepped into the new long dark dress, getting herself ready to confront Lucien, and think of another strategy to fulfill her revenge. As she started to reach towards her back, to hook her dress the door to the chamber opened, and she didn't think twice, to name the man that stepped in.

She shivered internally, but didn't flinch as he walked towards her. Whisper refused to look at Lucien and acknowledge his presence, but she could clearly see his movements in the mirror. If mirrors reflected the insides of a person, Whisper was sure she wouldn't be able to glance at that mirror.

Lucien was divine, he was beautiful. His form was so exquisite that, it took away your breath. But the devil is the most beautiful being, with insides that could burn your eyes. Ironically Lucien meant, light while all he brought was darkness. He stood right behind Whisper, his chest pressing against her back. He smirked into the mirror, satisfied with his position and the true expressions Whisper was hiding. The back of his fingers traveled down towards the low of her back, where the last hook rested.

She didn't flinch at the coldness of his finger, she didn't react or protest. Because she has learned that her efforts to fight and protests led to nowhere but her, getting hurt.

‘You have no idea how much I relish watching you dress.’ Lucien whispered into her ear, his voice making a thick electrical pulse race throughout her spine. ‘There is a natural, involuntary sensuality to your movements.’ He continued when Whisper didn't protest. It, not only left him surprised, but pleased. As he thought he had managed to tame the tiger, and keep her still in a cage. But silence is not peace. ‘It makes me want to throw you on that bed.’ He snaked his hands around her waist from behind, growling his words into her ear. Lucien had made her feel so much disgust that now she was completely numb to it. ‘And rip out every fabric and stitch that you have so carefully replaced.’ Whisper could feel his grin on her cheek and his other hand fiddled with the last hook of her dress, all while his lips brushed on the nape of her neck.

‘Why did you do this to Talon.’ She finally asked with not much emotion in her voice.

‘You asked for it darling.’ Lucien answered in a very pacified voice. Torturing Whisper was exceptional for his temper. ‘The rule was to save yourself, not to throw me off the throne.’

Whisper looked in the mirror to see the look on Lucien's face, but she saw nothing. Because Lucien’s head was dipped into the crevice of her neck.

‘Please let Talon go.’ She had now resorted to begging, if it meant his brother's safety. Because if Talon didn't go back home, Adlecia, Saige and Edith would never forgive Whisper.

She heard Lucien take in a dramatic sigh as he turned her around and pressed her against the mirror. ‘How can I refuse you, precious.’ He smiled while grazing the tip of his index finger, on her collarbone. His touch was lust, raw and pure lust. As if everything he will touch will slip into a daze of sensuality. ‘Just tell me the name of the person who bought you the sleeping potion, and your lovely, loyal brother is free to go. I am a very righteous gentleman.’

‘I found it in the castle. One of the maids she had trouble sleeping. She had it and I stole it.’ Whisper lied fluently, with not one stutter in her voice. Lucien nodded understandingly.

‘I trust you.’ He nodded with a certain mischievousness in his eyes. Whisper wasn't sure why it was there, although she knew Lucien wouldn't trust her that easily. ‘But because you haven't named a certain person, I shall kill them all.’

At the threat of starting a killing spree and blood bath, Whisper flinched, Lucien didn't lie about such stuff. He wouldn't think twice before killing all the maids in the castle, just to draw the truth from Whisper.

‘No.’ She mumbled involuntarily making Lucien nod with satisfaction.

‘Then,’ He tucked a piece of hair behind her ear before speaking further. ‘Give me a name, kind and god's honest truth. Otherwise, instead of freeing your beloved brother, I will feed him to the wolves and make you and the good lady Adlecia watch it.’ He smiled making sure that his threat reached her ears flawlessly.

Did Lucien think she will take time to think. Because she won't, her brother was bigger than any of her motives, revenge and pledge. She could sacrifice hundred more opportunities to save her brother. She had no regrets or second thoughts. What a sister can never watch is his own brother dying, because of her. If it wasn't for the love that Talon had showered upon her, and the nights he had saved her from nightmares, she would have chosen Rebel over him.

………………

‘Talon, I thought we were past the age of teasing each other.’ Whisper entered his room angrily. It was the third time Talon had stolen his sword and hid it in a place she couldn't fight. He was sitting on the bed, biting his lip to muffle a smile, while reading a book about Vampire Lore.

‘I have no idea what you are talking about.’ He said, knowing very well that it wouldn't work, it was only to annoy her more than she already was.

‘Right, I should probably ask Ace, if he took it.’ Whisper folded her hands across her chest and breathed heavily to show him, her anger.

‘Perhaps.’ He nodded.

‘Talon I promise, if somebody gives me a choice to kill you I will take it without second thoughts.’ She had stated, and secretly cursed herself for saying such a thing.

‘I will await that day, my most beloved sister.’ He teased, knowing that there was no way it was true.

…………………..

‘He was a rogue, I don't know what his name is. In one of the wars, I had spared his life. He bought me the sleeping potion to return the favor.’ Whisper confessed, with a large stone on his chest. She had put Rebel's life at stake, but she was bound and tied at the threat of losing her brother, to a malicious death.

‘Oh! My melody.’ Lucien sighed tiredly closing his eyes as if he was trying to control his anger. He closed the distance between them, if it was even possible. He raised his hands with a velocity that made her, expect a slap across her cheeks, but what came was a threatening caress on her cheekbones. ‘Did you fail to take note of the part about god's honest truth.’ He spoke in a menacingly low voice.

‘I am speaking the truth.’ She stated looking away so his eyes don't intimidate her as much as they do. In one flash, Lucien had gripped her jaw and made her look him the eye.

‘Half-truth, angel, half-truth.’ He threatened letting go of her jaw, so he could gain satisfaction from the quick quiver of her lips. ‘I know Rogues, they don't go against their kind’s order, not for somebody who doesn't know their name.’

‘I told you everything I knew.’ She answered. But Lucien wanted to extract every single one of her secret within minutes. Lucien smiled in a nauseating saccharine manner.

‘I know you well, too. I know how persistent you are.’ He whispered and paused, leaving an eerie silence, because Whisper was aware that the words that will break that silence will leave her in sensational terror. ‘And I also know how rip that persistence off you.’

‘I already told you everything.’ She yelled this time to sound firm, and confident. As if she could lie to the demon.

‘The name, WHISPER.’ He yelled. No matter how eerie the loudness of her name sounded, she still managed to keep the name from rolling down her tongue. The name, which was her only escape in this world of traps.

‘Fine.’ Lucien nodded his head slightly. No movement or words were exchanged after that. Lucien didn’t make another attempt to touch her, she assumed that probably another number will add up to her back.

The steps were almost same, but the result wasn't. Whisper was thrown on the bed by Lucien again, her knees resting on the floor with her head deep into the soft fabric of the mattress. Lucien pressed her head down so harshly, that it was becoming difficult for her to breathe.

‘Don't tell the name, don’t. I promise you Whisper I will find every way to torture you. I am very creative, when I am angry.’ He yelled and Whisper kept telling herself it was an empty threat while she was aware that it was not. ‘I will kill you in ways that the demons don’t even imagine. I will abduct your entire family, and bring them here so you can watch them die, slowly. Shivering until deaths stirs itself in their blood.’ She shivered at the mere thought. But that day she learned that Lucien was very descriptive when he was threatening. ‘I will behead Saige in a place where only his family and I will see him. Edith will scream, cry to let go, but I won't. She will watch her husband bleed and won’t be able to say a simple goodbye, because I will tie her mouth she is unable to pray for his soul to find rest. What is worse than seeing your husband die?’ Whisper was shivering so much, that even Lucien's hand was quivering from the effect. ‘I know. Seeing your son die, but not yet. I will first hand lady Adlecia to Uriel, and let him do the job, and I will make sure your beloved brother is there to watch her scream obscenities.’ Acid, that was what she felt on her mind as she involuntarily imagined these happenings. ‘I won't kill her right there, I will first feed your beloved brother to the wolves and I will make Edith, Adlecia and you watch it. Imagine the hungry beasts tearing his flesh apart, chewing at his skin away, enjoying the taste of his pure heart. Then I will starve the two to death. And because you won't tell one name I will kill all the Rogues, even an infant. Then, finally, when I’ll come back tired. I will rip out every fabric on your body, touch you in ways you can only imagine, I will discover your body in rebellious ways. You will scream, loud enough for everybody to hear. I will mark you mine, I will make sure you don't walk for weeks. I will make sure you feel me everywhere, even-‘

‘His name is Rebel.’ She shouted, unable to take anymore, and that was the day that ended with the moral that words hurt more than weapons. Imagination was heartbeat raiser. Whisper wanted to think that those were empty threats, but the things he said were so descriptive that images flashed across her eyes and tears pooled in her eyes.

‘That is like my princess.’ Lucien bought his face beside her face, and kissed her cheek. Leaving behind a sensation that turned blant, compared to his verbal maltreating. ‘Now tell me, how you know him or I will tell you what I will do next.’

‘He used to like me, but gave up after we were mated.’ She answered squeezing her eyes shut to prevent the tears from shedding. If Lucien wouldn't have bought the apocalypse because Rebel tried to throw him off, he will bring it because he used to or loved Whisper.

‘Oh my ruby, you just increased a load of his punishment.’ He mumbled.

She had done wrong to her Rebel. She prayed that whatever happens, but Rebel remains safe and sound, or she promised she would kill herself.

…………………………..

5 days, that was how long Lucien as gone, leaving Whisper in a state of fear, assuming what he might do to her Rebel. The nights were sleepless, the days were exacerbating. Every second passed like a boulder rolling over her body. Every moment she prayed that Lucien came back empty handed, that Rebel escaped and came to her to comfort her.

Desperate to see Rebel's face, she was passing every moment of her day, under the tree from where Rebel had appeared to illuminate her dull sky, with his star-like eyes. But sometimes desperation is the largest inspirer. If you're not desperate, you're not determined.

Burning with revenge, she was spending every hour with her eyes closed, hoping to have at least one strategy in her mind. One trap, that will make Lucien fall. But Lucien, every evil person is wiser than any virtuous person. Lucien was the wisest.

Whisper had no idea what she was feeling. Fear, of losing Rebel. Guilt, of putting his darling at stake. Hate, for Lucien. So many feelings, but not one, that gave her peace. But when Lucien came back, he wasn't alone.

……..

Whisper sat under the tree, her back against the tree. She was looking at the sun that made her squint her eyes, but she didn't look away. This morning, had been very rough, this morning she wasn't willing to get out of her bed, no matter how much of Lucien's essence it held. He felt like remaining in Lucien's absence was better than embracing that day's presence. Her concern for Rebel's seizing was not the reason for it. Because Rebel being seized or killed was a mere possibility that might not happen, but what she felt it was, something certain to happen. Something that was inevitable, and Whisper already intuited it.

She was looking in the distance, wondering why she was feeling that way. Empty, unwilling to move forward. She wanted to stay in that position, not wanting to go further or to step back. That feeling it was so strong that her vengeance as in the back of her mind.

Suddenly all she heard were drum rolls, loud drum rolls, that only echoed in the usually silent walls of the castle, on grand occasions. Births of heirs, crowning of princes, the wedding of the royals, the Lilac Moon Festival, anniversaries of the members, or…….seizing of a fugitive.

Whisper shot up from her position running towards the royal halls, to look for the reason of the maleficent arrangement and celebration. She was running, her winter white tail skirt, taking a skim over the dust. The satin fabric appealing to dust to set themselves upon it.

Her heart was beating like the drums that were deafening her ears. Loud and rough, making her want to scream. Whisper, she was not worried, it was an irony. She was sure, there was only a little hope. Like a pond whose entire surface in covered in green, leaving just one patch that is slowly vanishing, until there is nothing in the name of blue left. She was scared. Not for Rebel's presence in the castle, but what Lucien would do if he was the reason for Rebel's presence in the castle. She knew what Lucien would do to Rebel if he was in the castle. Lucien's hatred for Rebel was not the general kind bias, it was subjective. Lucien wasn't the best person to have personal bitterness with. The defense had returned, all the warriors had crowded the hallway waiting for Lucien to address them. She quickly made her way upstairs to stand in the gallery above the Royal Hall, and wait for Lucien to stop her harsh beating heart. In one corner of her heart, she didn't want to know what was the reason for the majestic celebrations, because she was sure it would only make things worse for her.

Whisper took in a deep breath as Lucien walked towards his throne and sat on it, Uriel standing behind the throne. The crowd had muzzled, just like Whisper's heart. Because that was the effect of Lucien's aura, it hushed every chaos and movement around it. He looked up, to see Whisper standing there like an invisible wreck.

But he saw it all too clearly, he could see that she was keen on knowing the reasons of this chaos in the castle. He even saw the fear, every little bit that was safeguarded in tiny corners of her nerves, but failed to escape Lucien’s eyes. He smirked slightly, but didn't miss the little movement of Whisper foot, as it struggled to take a step back. He bit on his bottom lip and nodded, as if to tell her to wait.

Lucien looked back at the eager crowd of listeners in front of him and nodded. His eyes held a strange satisfaction, a contentment Whisper had only seen in an animal after it drank after two dry days.

‘My most bravest Alphas. Most loyal Betas, most eager Deltas and the most intellectual Gammas.’ Lucien started. It was an irony that how Whisper's departure from the defense had absolutely cut off any acclaims that her kind received. She learned, that she indirectly represented the repressed. That somehow, people had started respecting the kind, even the slightest bit. Though all of it was gone now, in one blink of an eye, Lucien had her years long hard work crumpled.

‘It is an utter bliss when your enduring ambition falls into your palms like grace from heaven.’ He continued, and it was real and genuine smile on his lips. The smile of contentment, which verified the fact that Lucien had achieved his enduring ambition.

‘From the moment I had taken the throne, I had decided that I will terminate the vexations and the filth of our society.’ A sudden unnatural bitterness had fallen on his tongue. And that bitterness only lingered on his tongue when he mentioned, The Rogues. ‘In the past they got a powerful leader, appreciate it. Good leaders are always supposed to be appreciated.’ Lucien smirked as he was looking at that one door at his right, as if a perfectly presented gift will walk out of it. Whisper dreaded it because he assumed, who it was. ‘But he used his skills in the wrong way and caused misery to people. I had to capture him, anyhow. Because when you crumple the leader the team drops. As I will kill the leader, I will kill all the rogues.’ At that moment Whisper was sure, who it was behind that door.

She wanted to cry, scream, because it was her fault he was there. She could last longer, she could've resisted Lucien, she could have listened to him for once. But she rebelled, she became reckless in revenge and now all of it came down on, him.

You shouldn't be valiant until you've got nothing to lose.

‘Flyer Moonlight, Alastair Ivory Prime, Dair Sacred, The Lynx and Eka Spirit all these names belong to one person. My warriors, I present before you, the greatest Rogue, the demonic soul, and leader of this catastrophic kind. Rebel Crimson.’ Lucien announced. Whisper thought that knowing, the truth will reduce her misery will somehow reduce the blow, but it did nothing. When the giant studded door were, opened there sat her lover on his knees.

It wasn't painful to see him, it was killing her. He looked so weak, Whisper thought he'd break if she touched Rebel. He was tied up in chains, so he doesn't escape. Whisper bit her lip, as if commanding her tears to go back to the place where they came from. No matter how painful it was to see him, she still couldn't take her eyes off him, because she dreaded that if she blinked he wouldn't be there anymore. He was on his knees, his eyes barely open, as he held his head down. He was so tired, as if he was wishing for eternal sleep. His hair was ruffled up, and clothes, rather whatever was left of the purple fabric he had been wearing. His bare chest was adorned with red cuts, purple bruises and sorrowful wounds. His wounds, said that he fought as long as he could. But his cuts said that he got tired and gave up.

The mass was bursting into celebration, assuming that they had captured the wicked. That evil will be soon extinguished. Whisper pitied them, they had no idea that the wicked was ruling them.

Rebel glanced up at her for a moment, and she was astonished when he gave a slight smile that disappeared with the next wind, as if moving his swollen lips hurt. But she smiled back, with a lump in her throat. The most beautiful thing about it was that Rebel knew, that Whisper would know that his smile is false. And Whisper was sure that Rebel knew that her smile is false.

Yet those phony smiles, lighted up their dark nights, like a falling star.

‘Take him to the dungeons.’ Luicen ordered and Rebel was gone, that bogus smile still fresh in his eyes.

……………

Whisper was looking down the window of her room, at the lush green grass of the Royal Gardens, not thinking about anything. First time in a long time, her mind was blank, devoid of thoughts. She felt helpless, unable to make a strategy to save her love., so she gave up thinking.

Today, for the first time, she wanted to give up. Wanted to forget that Rebel existed, that she loved him, and that she was a warrior. Sometimes she just wanted to give in to Lucien, thinking that probably someday another Whisper will come, and Lucien will eventually lose his devotion in her.

What you are thinking is more than right. Her inner voice said, and even though she was slowly accepting her defeat, she refused to make it official. This is the thing about warriors, they don't give up even when they give up. I am not thinking anything. She laughed at her innocent effort of lying to herself.

Who are you lying to. I know you are aching to let go and just go downstream, because swimming is getting exhausting. Her inner Omega voice, and she wanted to raise her voice to say that she never thought about giving up, but she did, more than she was supposed to.

If swimming gets exhausting than I will drown myself, but I will not accept defeat. Whisper answered bravely her heart beating faster, at the questions that were pumping adrenaline into her blood.

Just because you won't accept it, doesn't mean it won't exist. Whisper you know Lucien loves you, he will never let you go. You are a fool to neglect such love. She chuckled externally, her Omega was gullible enough to think that Lucien actually Loved her. Whisper knew the day she will give Lucien, what he wants, he will go looking for another Whisper.

So you capture the ones you love. She answered with a certain sense of humor in her words.

No, you keep them safe for yourself. Her Omega answered so bravely that she wondered where this valiance faded when Lucien touched her.

But Lucien is hurting me instead. You, I hate you. You are so vulnerable everything that I would never be. You are the biggest war I have taken, the best part about dying would be I will never see you again. You are dependent and desperate, I am not. I am grateful that you appeared, and reminded me that I am not supposed to give up. Your job is done. With that, her inner Omega disappeared, the voice faded and he felt a ripple in her mind indicating her soul’s fading.

She took a deep breath, taking in all the natural air. It calmed her nerves, letting her think again. The only silence that scared her was the one inside her brain, and when it was replaced by the beautiful chaos of thinking she smiled through all the pain.

‘I missed this scene, darling really.’ Whisper heard the most dreading voice, he was back. Obviously he would come, to see how vulnerable she had become, or if she was still fighting. But Whisper promised herself she wouldn't give him the pleasure he came for. ‘Watching you just stare out of that window, as if a knight will save you. Hate to break it you, but I am your knight and I have already saved you, now I want my reward.’ Whisper's back was to Lucien so she didn't see his movement, but she could still feel the arrogance oozing from his body language.

She finally turned around to see him, in the best clothing. She wanted to laugh at that fact, that he looked like he was returning from a gala instead of a war. Rebel looked like war himself, Rebel was raw and Lucien was refined. And Whisper would pick jaggedness over indulgence any day.

‘I am not waiting for any knight Lucien, I am my own savior.’ Lucine grinned Whisper reply. A series of throaty chuckles escaping his lips, as he looked down while nodding. Then he faced her again, the grin fading into a wicked curve of his lips.

‘This..this…’ He continued looking for the right word while moving his index finger vaguely. ‘I don't know what to call this attitude of yours. Its strong, heroic, but also foolish.’ He smiled again, very much pleased with the fact that he just stated.

‘My strong, heroic yet foolish attitude has been the reason that coaxed you towards me.’ Whisper dauntlessly answered the man who was staring into her eyes, as if to pull out a deep secret.

‘You know, Whisper seizing things is not fun.’ Lucien stated walking towards Whisper who was standing in front of the window staring at Lucien, dying to look away but refusing. He stood inches apart from her, biting his lip and snaking his arm around her waist and pulling her close.

‘Yeah, right, snatching is no fun to you.’ Whisper humorlessly chuckled, not afraid that she might anger him. And the stories about Lucien's anger were famous across the borders of Ebony Woods.

‘No really it is no fun, until somebody holds onto that thing really hard. Think about it, there is a child with a toy he loves, I desire for it and he gives it to me. No fun, I get it, I throw it away.' Lucien explained, his thumb brushed the side of her waist slowly, taking the pleasure of the covered skin.

‘Probably because you didn't want it. It was a toy for you could be a friend to the child.’ She replied, but Lucien shook his head as if to tell that her assumption was wrong.

‘On the other hand, Rebel. He held onto his kingdom, so tight. I was exhausted. 5 days, Whisper, 5 days.’ He raised his free hand to show his five fingers then clenched it back down. ‘He could have done anything, and I mean it, anything to save those people in his kingdom, Fragment.’ He chuckled, making Whisper hate him even more, because for him destruction was amusing.

‘He held tight.’ Whisper specified and Lucien nodded in agreement.

‘Very much, and that is why it was fun to snatch it. Because he refused to give it to me.’ Lucien smiled tucking one piece of stray hair behind her ear. ‘The same applies to you.’ He c****d his head gently. ‘If you would have agreed the first time I asked. I would have had a tiny Lucien, running around here by now.’ He chuckled at his own thought but Whisper her face remained straight. ‘But you didn't. The idea of a tiny Lucien makes me happy. But this, what you’re offering now. It pleases me.’ He leaned his face to the side, so his lips ghosted over her cheekbones, sending a sharp sensation down her spine. ‘The more you hold onto it, the more fun it becomes to snatch it.’ He whispered into her ear.

‘So the thing you like about snatching is, when they hold it tight.’ Whisper asked sure of the answer.

‘That, and the fact that I know I am going to get it.’ Lucien answered leaving a chaste kiss on her cheekbone.

‘You weren't like this Lucien. You were spoiled and arrogant, but under all of it, there was something that made me look up to you. Why did you do this to yourself?’ She explained. She still thought that there was something to Lucien that somehow he will understand how wrong he had been.

‘Because of you. I know I am wrong, but Whisper. I'd rather die than have you drift away from me.’ He answered with a certain crack in his voice that aroused sympathy for the devil in her heart. ‘Don't you see.’ He yelled his hold getting harsher as he shoved her into the nearby wall. Her heart skipped at a beat, at the sudden change in his voice. It was loud, a loudness that came from desperation, only. ‘Don't you.’ He whispered, his eyes staring into hers as he gripped her shoulders. ‘Don't you.’ He mumbled his hands moving upwards to cup the sides of her neck. His hands were shivering as they gently held the sides of her neck. He opened his mouth to speak, his jaw shivered as he started speaking. ‘I love you. What was I supposed to do. I asked, but you refused. I asked again and again and again.’ He smacked his fist into the wall mere inches apart from her face.

‘You were supposed to let me go.’ Whisper answered, hoping to coax Lucien out of his obsession. Because she would hate to accept it, but Lucien was a great friend.

‘You let go off people when you know they will come back. I knew you wouldn't.’ Lucien shook his head, he thought his actions were justified, that torture in the name of love wasn't torture.

‘You could try to forget me.’ She added, thinking that she was digging her way into his brains, but she had no idea that when she will come back to the surface she’ll end up outside another closed door, with high walls.

‘You think I didn't. I couldn't go a day without thinking about you. Even if I did, at the end, I still slept to your dreams.’ Lucien confessed, and she felt a little flutter in the heart but she knew. She knew you give life in love, but not take them away.

Suddenly she was taken aback, when Lucien started laughing. So hard he let go off the hold he had on her. He clutched his stomach with tears in his eyes. He fell on the bed, with his back, as he laughed so hard she thought it lasted for hours.

‘What are you laughing about?’ Whisper questioned, eyes wide in astonishment, hands frozen at her sides.

‘That you are my life and want to take mine away.’ He said between gasps and continued laughing. She didn't know which Lucien scared him more, the angry, ruthless, arrogant and wicked Alpha or the bipolar, obsessed, longing and mistaken lover. ‘I should go.’ He finally said sitting up. Tears in his eyes. It was an incident that left Whisper in surprise, and speechless. ‘I have a guest at the dungeons.’

That reminded her that, Satan might have been the most loyal archangel, but still rebelled and fell from grace.

…………………

Whisper was looking at the sky, because she had heard that familiar majestic sound. The sound that echoed in the sky, and was distinct. A sound that pierced the sky like a sword pierced through flesh. It wasn't just any hoarse screech of any bird, it was trained. She was sure he was Moon.

She was absolutely accurate, because a dust white colored bird soared in the sky, and slowly glided towards her window. She stepped back, letting the eagle land on the slit of her window. Moon was majestic, Rebel had trained him well, he once mentioned that Moon’s memory was so sharp he remembered faces better than a werewolf. He lowered his neck, as if bowing to Whisper and that was when she noticed the paper tied to his leg with a thin silk thread. Whisper carefully untied it, and unfolded it to reveal a message, with the symbol of wounded wolf on it. The royal rogue seal.

Maiden Whisper, we know about you and King Rebel. We hope you can help us save him, because god knows, that he could do anything to save you.

-Astera Crimson

Whisper looked back up at Moon and then the message. She knew, she didn't need to be told twice or to be reminded that Rebel would have gone farther than his limits to save her so she prepared a message for herself

Whisper wasn't playing with fire this time, this time she was walking all the way through it, having no idea where it might take her.

…………………….