Whisper Bloodrose

Chapter-9 Dazzle

Chapter-9

Dazzle

As Whisper looked at herself in the mirror, she couldn't believe what she had done to herself. A warrior had become a seductress. She was using her femininity to win a person over, which at that moment appeared to be the biggest crime to her. The first time she joined the army, she got an offer to become a spy but she refused. Because crawling up on somebody's back and playing with their trust was never her kind of game. She was satisfied with the sound of clanking metal, and the wrathful howls of werewolves in the war zone.

But now she recognized the importance of crawling towards someone, because sometimes walking straight in, is not an option. And occasionally red lips are more handy than red blood.

She looked at herself like she was noticing this side of herself for the very first time and it was true. She was wearing a sweeping long red dress, that revealed her cleavage and had deep back that ended at the low on her back. Her hand went under the pillow and grabbed the tiny glass bottle that was the size of her finger. She opened it hastily, and added it to the wine glass that majestically stood on the nightstand.

To make sure Lucien doesn't get a hold of that bottle, she broke it immediately by throwing it from her window. But then, she had no other alternative after that move was made. Her life once relied on water, but that day her life equally relied on wine.

The moment that door made the sound of someone's arrival, her heart thumped hard against her chest. She took in a sharp breath before looking towards it and she had seen the personification of lust, right there in front of her.

Lucien's eyes had darkened with desire, his eyes widened all so slightly at the new character. The way Lucien was biting his lips, it appeared it might bleed any second and he didn't seem to worry about anybody knocking that door today.

‘Wow, love you always manage to astonish me.’ Lucien whispered. His inner Alpha growled with desire and the sudden sensuality of his mate. He was almost being driven by his lust, which meant he was losing sense.

Whisper walked towards Lucien placing both her hands on his chest and no matter how much she hated it, she convinced herself to do it for the sake of her freedom.

‘I thought it would be nice to start from where we left off last night.’ She whispered seductively and that day she learned a lesson. The only difference between a soldier and a seductress is that, one uses weapons and the other uses words.

‘You appear much more confident to me, I admire that.’ He nodded and then he did the unexpected by stepping away from her. ‘But it also leaves me suspicious.’ Lucien walked towards the night stand looking at the wine glass as if he could see right through the liquid and see the love potion that was uniformly spread throughout the alcohol.

‘Suspicious? You don't trust me.’ She questioned mustering all the confidence she could as she confronted the devil himself.

‘How can I, darling. The day you came here you could stab me without thinking twice and now there is blind admiration in your eyes.’ He traced the wine glass with his finger. Whisper's heart was beating too fast because Lucien was showing an odd affection towards the crockery, as if it kept luring him in.

‘Admiration takes time to grow.’ She stalked to stand right in front of Lucien and he immediately diverted his attention from the glassware towards his mate.

‘And in your case it didn't take much.’ Lucien smirked while brushing his thumb against her cheek in a fashion that made Whisper's skin tremble and her Omega go insane.

‘Probably your magnificence helped the progression.’ Whisper retorted with a suggestive raise of her eyebrow.

‘I can't deny that.’ He chuckled. Whisper couldn't even tell if he was believing her anymore or not. She was almost scared that Lucien had caught her in the act.

‘I still don't get what you're implying at by saying whatever you're saying.’ She shook her head in a gentle style making Lucien smirk mischievously.

‘You're more intelligent than that, Whisper.’ Lucien laughed with fake amusement in his voice as he placed both his hands on Whisper's side. ‘I think you are using my love for you, against me.’ He said with a single nod of his head.

‘I am very positive I am not, Lucien.’ Whisper answered confidently, making much eye contact with eyes that unsettled her more than a paranormal presence.

‘I have my ways to see that.’ Lucien picked up the glass from the nightstand and raise it towards his lips. Whisper thought he drank it, but he stopped when the glass was only inches apart from his lips. ‘Is it for me?’ Lucien asked, knowing very well that the answer was yes.

‘Who else?’ Whisper responded.

‘Of course. You drink it, before I do.’ Lucien commanded stretching the glass towards Whisper. She stared at it thinking of a way to get herself out of this trouble and she had a plan in mind.

‘Sure.’ She smirked with an opulent glint in her eyes that could be easily mistaken for real. She took the glass from Lucien, who had his notorious smirk plastered on his lips. Instead of swallowing it down, she placed it back on the nightstand.

Lucien looked down at the glass again, with a hint of confusion in his expressions, but he didn't interrupt her movements. She fisted both the lapels of Lucien's dark blue coat in her hands while looking straight into his eyes.

Lucien was taken aback when her lips attacked his mouth in a kiss that was full of haste. But that never stopped him from kissing back, he kissed back with more power trying to gain the dominance not realizing that Whisper had pushed his coat down his arms.

She pulled away, only for Lucien to pull her in again. She was panting into the kiss, but that never stopped Lucien from his movements. He started unbuttoning Lucien's shirt her fingers trailing down his toned chest.

‘That doesn't fulfill my demand.’ Lucien said commandingly, slightly out of breath from the shortage of air.

‘Of course it does.’

And within seconds the wine was dripping down from Lucien's neck towards his chest, and Whisper’s lips attached to the center of his torso and sucked in the sinful liquid. An animalistic growl of pleasure left, Lucien's lip at the erotic action.

Whisper looked up at him with eyes that intoxicated Lucien more than the wine that was sopping down his skin. ‘See I kept my promise.’ She winked.

‘I love these ways of yours, Whisper.’ Lucien sighed as her lips were replaced by her fingers, the other hand still holding the half-filled glass.

‘I am glad.’ She extended the crockery with an appealing smirk on her lips. Lucien was quick to grab it and swallow it in one swing, not even bothering to place it back on the night stand instead, he just threw it behind him.

He was desperate, she could see. So she wasn't shocked when his next move was a harsh and hasty kiss on her lips. Whisper had merely started moving her lips, and even before she could catch up Lucien had pushed her on the bed with his body weighing her down.

Whisper saw as Lucien's eyes slowly drifted close and his face fell on Whisper's shoulder. He was asleep, but she waited another ten minutes to make sure he was actually sleeping.

Once she was sure that Lucien had lost his senses for three hours at least, she pushed Lucien off herself. It was a challenge to get his body off, because he seemed to weigh a ton. He was more built than Whisper was, because of obvious reasons.

She quickly took the key that was attached to Lucien's halter, which was wrapped around his waist. When she was standing close to the door, that was camouflaged to make it look like one of the tiles, she thought back.

She imagined what she might find there, and she was scared she'd find something she couldn't bare to see. Most of all, what if it is something that is not worth all the risk she took. What if whatever that is down there harms her.

She looked back at Lucien's sleeping figure. And for a minute there she thought of stepping down. But one thought stopped her, yesterday it was Titania, what if she was next.

So Whisper, without thinking twice opened the door. She looked down and it was deep, but she could make out stairs. She placed her feet on the first step and gradually descended down and she regretted not having a source of light at that point, but, there was a lantern at the very bottom. It was deep, but at the bottom it was tiny. Four walls that were so close that only two people could stand there. She sighed because she had descended twelve steps to come to a tiny square room, until she noticed the door to her right.

She took the lantern and opened the door to reveal a long and wide hallway. She quickly realized, she didn't need the lantern because the hallway was brightly lit. She entered the hallway, and stared at all the lanterns that were lighting th hallway.

Now she had two ways, she could go straight through the hallways to see where it led, or she could go to the door that was located at her left.

What attracted her attention was the constant rustling of water that was audible from the room. Without second thoughts, she opened the door. She was extraordinarily surprised at what she saw. Her eyes were wide and mouth was agape.

It was a large room, larger than Lucien's boudoir, she would say. The entire room was full of water except the spot in which Whisper stood and the center. The center was a circular floor that floated above the water with one giant cage in the middle. There was not one lantern in the room, yet the room was brightly lit, brighter than possible.

She looked through the bars of the cage, to see a giant bird sat in the middle of the cage. It was gorgeous, its feathers were bigger than its body and they were like flames. Its feet were the color of soot, and eyes were bright blue like fire.

Whisper recognized it, it was…….Fierce Rise, the mightiest birds in the Forever Forest. They were rare, and they could take up human form. They had the power of fire, in their bird figure they could use fire as a weapon to destruct. In their human shape, they were extremely striking. But what was a Fierce Rise that looked as mighty, doing here. The water was definitely there so it was unable to escape, but did Lucien do that.

A straight path was floating above the water from where she stood to the ground where the cage was set. She stepped on it to go towards it, and at her first step the bird looked at her.

The closer Whisper went, the more humanized her shape was becoming. When she stood close to one of the bars of the cage, the bird had completely gained the shape of a dazzling woman.

Her translucent form was gripping the bars as she looked at Whisper, and they both shared the same curiosity. She had feet long red hair that kept flying, even when there wasn't any wind in the room. She was wearing a long flame red dress, and it's skirt was so long that it covered the entire cage behind her. Sparks were continuously soaring around her figure, and her eyes were piercing blue. Those were eyes that were staring right through Whisper's soul.

‘Who are you?’ The red-haired beauty asked. She had a husky voice that had an echo to it. So the last word she said lasted even when her sentence was long gone.

‘I am Whisper.’ Whisper answered confidently, still mesmerized because this was the first time she had seen a Fierce Rise.

‘So you are Whisper.’ She said without much emotion on her face or in his voice. But she stepped back to stand in the center of the cage, her eyes fixed on Whisper.

‘And you are?’ Whisper asked, dying to know the secrets behind the mysterious bird inside the werewolf territory.

‘Dazzle.’ She replied and this time her voice lasted longer, than before.

‘Who bought you here?’

‘Lucien.’

‘Willingly.’

‘No.’ And there it was, her bribe right in front of her. Lucien had trapped another creature forcefully, he had broken the Canon Tome. If the council knew about it, they wouldn't take another minute to put Lucien down the throne. If Whisper used Dazzle to blackmail Lucien, he would definitely let Whisper go. Because that throne meant everything to him. It also explained the amount of water present in this room, so Dazzle couldn't escape.

‘How do you know about me?’ Whisper asked as Dazzle sat in the center of the cage, and the flickers that were flying around her, settled on her dress giving it a shimmering appearance.

‘Lucien mentioned you a lot.’ She answered, facing away from Whisper and looking at her dress with depressed eyes.

‘He comes here often, right?’ Whisper inquired again. He wanted a lot of information, though Dazzle's presence here was enough of a proof. She was only curious.

‘He used to, but now he has another entity occupying him.’ Dazzle chuckled. Whisper knew the “entity” was none other than she, herself. Even Whisper couldn't deny the fact that she was a distraction for Lucien.

‘When did Lucien capture you, Dazzle and why?’ Whisper asked, she didn't remember Fierce Rise and Werewolves having a blazing issue between them, which meant Lucien should have no reason to capture Dazzle.

‘Lucien came to Afhyl, to meet our queen. There he met me for the first time.’ She narrated in a tone, in which someone might describe their love story. ‘He was enraptured by my beauty, first he asked me to come to Seba as an ambassador and then captured me.’ His tone had settled for becoming a vocal venom. There was pain in her voice, and in the way she looked at her dress with teary eyes.

‘I can help you Dazzle.’ Whisper nodded at her, it was ironic because at that moment Whisper was the one who needed some help.

‘How?’ She finally met Whisper's gaze. Whisper could see it, she could clearly see the hope and desperation in her eyes. As if she longed to get herself out of that cage.

‘All you need to do is, tell all of this to the council, leave bringing the council down here to me.’ Whisper answered. ‘Can you promise to stay on that statement.’

‘Absolutely, anything for freedom.’ And in that statement, Whisper saw a little bit of, herself.

…………

Whisper climbed out of that door, locked it back and managed to get back in the bed, before Lucien woke up. She was happy and somehow that room was not excruciating anymore. Probably because she thought she had the upper hand.

With Dazzle on her side, she could throw Lucien off the throne and eventually get her freedom. The first lesson that as taught to them as a warrior was, don’t celebrate your success before it comes. But here she was celebrating it when it wasn't sure.

It was never sure with Lucien, he could give you a heart attack at the end instant. Something that she once admired about him, he kept his best cards for the conclusion. There was too much to Lucien to learn. He never showed his true self to anybody, not even Whisper. To the crowd he was a smart and strong ruler, to the mates he was a disloyal lover, to the army, he was a great leader, to Whisper he was, confusing. But the question wasn’t if he was good or bad, the answer was she hated him. He was the one who captured her, he took her freedom.

She wasn't fighting for somebody here, she didn't care if Omegas were being suppressed or killed, she cared about herself and her freedom. Only if she knew that with time, motives change.

………

Every five moons, Lucien organized it. The Infinity Council, the court where every common creature of the Forever Woods could come and seek justice. Beside that, they could question anything, including decisions and proceedings, because a king is answerable to none but his people. Lucien sat on the throne, in the heavily guarded assembly, with his back straight and eyes set on the door in front of him.

His council sat on either side of his throne, with eight members on either side of the throne. But the first creature, who entered the court left everybody stunned. It was Whisper. She walked with her head held high with pride and looked Lucien in the eye. The look on his face scared her, his eyes darkened with fury and muscled tensed, as he looked at his mate enter the court. His jaw clenched and his bottom lips shivered, because he didn’t know what Whisper came from, but he knew it was nothing he would be happy about.

The entire council was confused when their Prime Luna was the first subject that day. Raina and Titania both stood in the upper circle that was created at the right of the giant room, so the royals could watch all the processions without actually coming down. They exchanged a confused look at the ongoing scene.

‘If'd dare to ask you Luna, what brings you here?' Xavier stood up and asked, but the eye contact that was created between Whisper and Lucien wasn't broken.

‘I'd like you to refer to me as Whisper. Ive come here as an ordinary creature not the Luna.’ She spoke with her head held high, as she looked directly in Lucien's eyes.

‘And I'd like you to be referred as Luna, because the Luna is not just the queen, she is the Alpha's beloved.’ Lucien commanded in an authoritative tone, with darkness spilling from his eyes at the sight of Whisper in the Infinity Council.

‘Shall I present my concern before you, Alpha.’ Whisper asked, raising one of her eyes.

‘I don't see why not.’ Lucien answered. He was trying to keep his anger contained, to not spill it out, in front of all the ministers sat in the court room. He wanted to stand up and make sure Whisper doesn't speak a word for days, but he settled for squeezing the arm of his thrones in his hands.

‘I'd like to present a case, the case of Dazzle a Fierce Rise.’ She declared, some of their eyes widened. Especially the ones, who had newly entered the Council because seeing a Fierce Rise in Seba was rare. The ambassadors were the only Fierces some of them had ever seen.

Lucien's eyes slightly widened, but his face wrinkled with fury. The entire story was right in front of him. The sudden change of her act, the wine, the seduction, the sudden sleep, it all made sense. He was angry at himself for believing in her, who learned everything, even betrayal from Lucien.

‘Dazzle has been forcefully captured, by a conceited man, who thinks everybody around here is a toy, Lucien, Lucien Nightshade.’ She announced and a huge gasp echoed in the council that was silent for a while. Titania and Raina both stood up to get a clearer view of the procedure. Lucien stood up from the throne in an abrupt manner, his gesture followed by all the other council members.

‘I'd say you are under the influence of a heavy alcohol or perhaps a spell.’ Lucien smirked at her. Whisper shivered, she was expecting Lucien to get nervous and anxious, but he was confident as if he had already played his turn.

‘Luna, I think it is a misinterpretation.’ One of the council members suggested, suppressing an angry tone. Apparently they all absolutely loved their king.

‘I have my evidences, Lucien has captured Dazzle.’ Whisper exerted again, she wanted to repeat it, until the entire council believed it.

‘She, is speaking the truth.’ Lucien suddenly spoke, surprising the entire council and Whisper. That moment she knew the nearest future had no good for her. Lucien has won, she could tell. Because his eyes, they contained his message of victory, they declared that there was no way Whisper could outsmart him. ‘But in a different way, the truth will be revealed in the most best possible way, if you kindly follow me.’ Lucien smiled as if it was no big deal.

But Whisper she was traumatized, thinking of the aftereffects of her conspiracy. The council wouldn’t spare her, and even if they do, Lucien shall make her pay.

………….

Lucien was escorted by four ministers from the council and Whisper to somewhere he was leading. He walked across the hallways of the dungeon, followed by his ministers and mate.

Whisper's breathing was harsh, she had no idea what was happening. But she knew all of it had failed, and she was thinking of something, anything that could save her. From humiliation, misfortune, and above all Lucien. She should have though this through. But she was stupid enough to think, that defeating Lucien would be that easy.

She regretted everything, finding that door and Dazzle because now, Lucien wouldn't fall for her act anymore and she had ruined everything with ungentle haste.

Finally, they stopped in front of a door, that was unlocked and Lucien opened it. The council's eyes widened at the sight of the beautiful Fierce Rise in front of them, Dazzle.

She stared at them with confusion, and finally at Whisper. But her expression changed from confusion to guilt and regret as if she was trying to warn Whisper.

‘That is Dazzle.’ Lucien declared, pointing at the redheaded woman that had already managed to entice everybody with her beauty.

‘Did the Alpha capture you.’ Juan, one of the council Gamma asked Dazzle.

‘Yes.’ She nodded, making Whisper look up at her with wide eyes. For a minute, she hoped, again. Only for those hopes to be ruined, again. ‘With his magnificence.’

And everybody's eyes were squinting in confusion, of her statement. Until Lucien decided to stop the game, and spare them all a puzzle.

‘When I visited Rose, the territory of Fierce Rise, I met Dazzle.’ Lucien started explaining, but Whisper was not listening to any of those lies that he had set up. ‘She said, she was enraptured by me and had fallen in love with me, and threatened to kill herself if I refuse her. I decided to bring her here and keep it a secret so none of my mates are insulted and no rebellion rises.’ He explained, and Whisper closed her eyes shut to suppress the tears forming in her eyes. Everybody was stunned at Lucien's story, and his kind nature.

They looked at Dazzle to ask for her agreement on this. She smiled, and Whisper was the only one who knew, it was fake. Because the day before there was a hunger for freedom in her eyes, and the next day there were pleasant thoughts.

‘He speaks the truth, I was free to go whenever I wanted.’ She nodded and everybody nodded. The surprise, slowly wearing off.

‘The council would like to appreciate the Alpha's kindness and courtesy towards all the beings.’ Juan smiled reverentially at him. All the four member mildly bowed as a gesture of respect, while Whisper was suppressing a bitter chuckle. Lucien nodded his head gently accepting the council's gesture.

‘The council has decided to ask Lady Dazzle to humbly depart from the palace.’ Another member declared looking at Dazzle, who nodded in acceptance.

‘We are utterly displeased of how the Luna has accused our Alpha on unjustified accusation, hence we find her guilty. But in honor of the royal blood, we ask Alpha Lucien Nightshade to resolve her punishment.’ Juan explained and the other three members showed their agreement. Whisper closed her eyes in shame, unable to meet anybody's eyes that were fixed on her. But she was prepared for what was coming.

‘As I am sure, that my mate did this in the influence of a misunderstanding, I forgive her. And if it is healthy with the council, I'd like to settle this with the Luna on a personal level.’ Lucien finished, only arousing more respect for himself in the heart of the council. Whisper wished all these members could be Whisper for a day, they'd know how much admiration Lucien deserved. ‘Is there anything you'd like to say, Luna.’ Lucien looked at her, with something in his eyes that she couldn't name. Victory, happiness, anger, admiration, annoyance and war.

‘I find myself in a highly apologetic position, for doubting the Alpha as well as my own mate. Ive placed him in a disrespectful position and Ive raised eyes of suspicion on him. I seek the council and the Alpha's forgiveness, while taking responsibility of my actions.’

It was not supposed to end like this, it was not supposed to leave Whisper all the more wounded.

……………..

Whisper had developed this new habit of looking up at the moon, with questioning eyes. The Lunar Godess lived there, The Luna of All, lived there. She, who created them and Whisper finds herself asking questions to the white object hanging in midair. Questions like, what had she ever done wrong.

She was just Whisper always, she just wanted to fight and that was all she asked for. And they say, be careful what you wish for, because you might as well get it. So now, Whisper was given a seemingly endless war, to fight.

That was the first time, ever she felt defeated, by herself. Lucien had crumpled her into tiny pieces that she was trying to collect them. She was alone, nobody could save her. Saige, Talon, Ace, even Rebel.

This time Whisper wished this war would end soon, because if it doesn't the warrior, fighting it will. After all, how long will the adrenaline flow in her blood, at one point it’ll wash away, leaving behind an eerie quiet in her veins. There will be a silence, a silence that will slowly crawl up to her heart and she won’t listen to the beating of her heartbeat anymore.

‘Whisper. Whisper. Whisper.’ She heard a deep chuckle from behind her and turned around to look at him. She was sure Lucien felt like hell, and looked like the devil. He was constantly chanting the name with cackle of a maniac, leaving Whisper with no words, just the same eerie silence that was making its way into her veins.

He held a glass of wine in his hand, and he smiled widely at Whisper, leaving her scared for her life. He walked to the nightstand and placed the glass in the center, the smile never leaving his lips. While Whisper only watched silently, fearfully and carefully.

‘You, somehow, always impress me.’ He smirked and walked close to Whisper with long steps. ‘This was a really good plot, darling, a beautiful trap for a lame man.' Lucien teased standing an inch away from Whisper. With every step that Lucien took towards him, she took one back.

‘You worthless w***e, you've trespassed this time.’ Lucien yelled. His voice jumped each corner of every wall, before it hit Whisper's ear, making her veins shake in fear. With one strong push, he had her pressed against the wall, with his hands resting on either wide of her face. She was silent because the words that'll leave her lips, will only make the situations worse.

‘I am sorry, please Lucien this is not you.’ She replied in a hope to approach Lucien and calm him down as much as she could. But it was impossible, he was full of wrath at that moment. As if it wasn't him anymore, rather an angry spirit controlling an extremely wrathful Alpha.

‘You're not.’ He shook his head, his jaw tightening at the words of his mate. ‘You broke my trust.’ He said in a soft voice, as if he was hurt. But his heart wasn't broken, his ego was. ‘If I hadn't noticed the ashes on your dress that night, I could lose the throne.’ He yelled, pushing Whisper against the wall again, his back throbbed in pain, as the cold bricks met his skin harshly.

So that was how he knew, that Whisper went down there, all because of the ashes that were on her dress. She wasn’t angry at Lucien anymore, not even her destiny, she was angry at Lucien's fortune. How the universe was protecting something so evil, who in wrath and lust, lost his senses to the Satan. The man who had the pride that ruined so many people. Dazzle was the one Whisper discovered, she had no idea how many Whispers and Dazzles had come and gone. And how many survived and how many gave up.

‘Stop Lucien.’ Whisper said in a warning tone not wanting to show her weak side to Lucien. He would only gain pleasure from her weakness, and her strength, will crumble to nothing, if she lets her walls down around him.

‘Are you warning your Alpha.’ He questioned faking a shocked expression, his fingers tightly wrapped around her wrist and Whisper was sure it would leave a mark. ‘You never learn, do you.’ He yelled in her face this time, and only then did she understand the actual loudness of his voice.

‘You made me do it Lucien, you trapped me, you started this war.’ She yelled back, with forced fearlessness. It was scary to look Lucien in the eyes, when he was angry, but the expression that he held then, was pure acid to the eyes.

‘You could, for once, go with my will. Why don't you love me, Whisper. It would all be so simple that way.’ He smiled, touching the edge of her cheek, with the tip of his thumb. ‘But you had to fight.’ He yelled again. This time he pulled her away from the wall, only to push her again, with all his force, a force that was enough to break his bones. ‘If that's what you want, then fight.’ He smiled.

So Whisper did it, she tried to tug her hand out of his grip. But as she started her efforts, a pain went shooting through her nerves, all the way to her head. Her Omega was stopping her. It was painful, the grip Lucien had on her was one thing, but that thumping in her brain made her give up, too soon for her liking.

She sighed tiredly, because of the efforts that never showed themselves, her breathing was uneven, and she felt blood ooze from her lips. She looked Lucien in the eye, and there was determination in them. She hadn't given up, she never would, not until she was dead. And the blood that was slowly dripping down her lower lip reminded her, what blood she belonged to. The blood of warriors and fighters. If Lucien pleased, he could even kill her today, but she wouldn’t give up.

‘Kill me, Lucien.’ She smiled. The smile of victory, a smile that annoyed Lucien beyond limits. ‘Either way, you'll keep killing me day by day. But I am a warrior, even if you bring the hell hounds to torture me, I still won't kill myself. Perhaps, that is why I am urging you to kill me now, so I die a warrior.’ She laughed. She was ready for Lucien to slap her, stab her, push her hard to break her bones, but he only laughed.

‘No treasure, I know you won't give up easy.’ He smiled showing off his moonlight colored teeth. While the omega in front of him, trembled with the inner pain. He brushed his thumb on her lower lip, collecting the blood on his thumb. ‘That is why I didn't bother to bring the hell hounds.’ He rubbed his tainted thumb on his index finger, enjoying the warmth her blood gave.

Omega blood was said to be the best nurturer, and the warmth that oozed from it was so comforting, that an Omega and her pups didn't need external warmth during winters. While an Alpha's blood was said to be cold, and that was why all the Alphas wore a cape despite the season.

‘I brought me, who, is worse than hell.’ He gritted his teeth together. No moment was felt for a few seconds, but in one swift move Lucien threw her on the bed behind them. The force was so much, that even when Whisper landed on the cushion, it felt like she had crashed on bricks. Her knees throbbed in pain, because it had glided across the hard flooring, and her skin had peeled off, from the impact. Her arms rested flat on the top of the bed, with her head resting in the space between her two hands.

Lucien shadowed over her, Whisper couldn’t see his face rather she didn’t dare to. She had no idea what Lucien would do to her, but she was prepared, even for her death. She already had images of Rebel, Talon, Saige, Edith and Ace running in her mind, because what if Lucien lost too much control.

But Whisper knew, he wouldn't kill him. He wouldn't do that so easily, he'd make her beg for her death. She knew Lucien, she had stood in the dungeon and had seen Lucien torture the prisoners so they told him, what he wanted to listen. Whisper had seen them, and had done it herself too. He would say hit, and her whip would lash at the prisoner, drawing fresh blood. Sometimes they would beg her to stop, but she wouldn't. Indeed, everybody's Karma comes back to them.

‘You made me do it Whisper. You saw my love for you, used it all you could, now you'll see my hate.’ She heard him say, and the sheath of his dagger was thrown an inch away from her hand. She closed her eyes, in preparation, promising herself to not make one movement, that will satisfy the heartless Alpha behind her.

She felt the blade of his dagger, between her skin and the shoulder of her dress. She expected the blood, and slicing of skin, but what came was a cold gush of air onto her back, which made her realize that her back was now naked. With the broken apart fabric barely covering her lower back and front.

‘Lucien, how dare you.’ She screamed and before she could turn around Lucien held her down, by pressing hard on the back of her neck. She didn't struggle because she knew where this struggle will lead her. ‘Nothing that you think is happening tonight.’ He whispered into her ear, his cheek rubbing on the back of her neck. ‘Not getting the romantic vibe you know.’ He jeered, while brushing the cold metal of his dagger against her bare back.

The tip of the cold iron brushed softly down her spine, making her whimper. Lucien's hand caressed her shoulder in a fashion that made Whisper's throat feel bile. It was disgusting, so revolting her insides seemed to curdle, and her blood appeared to freeze. She was balling the sheets on the bed, to stop a plead of mercy, that was rolling on the tip on her tongue.

She felt Lucien shuffle, and sit beside her on his knees. He looked at him with those ice like eyes, blue and cold. Those eyes were burning holes into her skin, curious to know what was behind the pale colored fabric on her body. She wasn't looking at him, she wouldn't dare to. Her face was deep into the soft mattress, which was the only tenderness she had felt in a while. But even that tenderness came with the cost of Lucien's smell in it.

'You know, I don't want to do this.' She heard Lucien sigh while brushing her hair, with a strange gentleness, a gentleness that she wouldn't choose over death. She silently let it happen, not revolting, because that revolt will prove useless. But she couldn't help the bitter words from escaping her lips.

'Of course you don't Lucien.' She chuckled bitterly and the hand that was brushing her hair softly, now gripped them tightly in a fist tugging her face up. She wanted to yell, but she held it back, just like she had done with all other screams.

'This is why I am doing it, so you know how to use that mouth of yours.' He said through gritted teeth, expecting Whisper to make a movement. Any movement, that would provoke him more or will satisfy his need of feeding from Whisper's dignity. But she made none, and Lucien let go off her head to see if she'll face away again or not. To his amazement she didn't, she stared deep into Lucien's ice like eyes, that she was once running from.

But she learned, running never does her any good.

He waited for her expression or posture to change but nothing happened. Slowly, he was growing impatient, he needed to do something, to take his revenge on Whisper. But he would lie, if he'd say that this bravery didn't reduce the original amount of amusement in this job.

'You like stabbing people in the back don't you.' He questioned swinging the dagger between his thumb and index finger. Whisper looked down at her lap, truly ashamed this time. Because Lucien was right, she betrayed her own soldier self. But desperate times call for desperate measures. Even if that meant she have to turn an unfaithful back to her doctrines ad principles. 'But every bad deed catches up to you, right.' And his statement was followed by a pain, which was as long lasting as an apocalypse.

Blood trickled down the wide s***h that Lucien had made on her shoulder. She could feel the warmth of her own blood, slip down the pale trail of her back. But that warmth was discomforting. The blemished area of her shoulder throbbed, as the gentle winds in the room, kept teasing it. She bit her lip to stop a whimper from escaping her lips, and fortunately she was able to do that.

But Lucien's statement inspired her, yet again. If her bad deeds came to her, his come to him too. Universe doesn't make exceptions.

'Indeed Lucien indeed, my bad deeds caught up to me. It would be so scenic yet gruesome when yours will catch up to you.' She laughed and she sounded insane when she laughed like that. Laughed a true laughter when there was pain rushing towards her skin and blood rushing down it.

There came another s***h it was wider, and the dagger's tip lasted longer this time. Even when Lucien had sliced faster this time, across her back. She whimpered at the burning sensation on her back. Lucien shadow was castes on her blemished back, as he stood behind her, praising his own art work in wrath.

'I wish I could kill you.' Lucien confessed. He desired that, but he admired her so much, that he couldn't imagine not having the pleasure of making her life hell. Then, there was the fact that a mate made an Alpha stronger.

'Amazed, because I wish that too.' Whisper laughed when she accepted that she wanted to kill Lucien, despite the fact, that at this state he could slice her skin off her.

Another pain rushed through her, this time from her left shoulder and the blood slide down. As if the cut was a fresh, blossoming red flower, with dew drops streaming down from it.

'Count.' Lucien ordered and Whisper had never heard such cruel voice. The voice was terrible, drawn with shades of blue and purple just like the bruises that scattered Whisper's body. The voice that made her waver. But she would count, because she needed to maintain an account of all the scars, so when Lucien's bad deeds catch up to him, the scars he is left with is equal if not more.

'One.' She counted in a deep strong voice. Right on the shoulder. She also memorized.

Lucien struck again, and his dagger created a ghastly opening on the bottom of Whisper's spine. She shut her mouth tight so a scream doesn't escape, but a wince still managed to make it out of her mouth.

'Two.' She counted, loudly. Making Lucien more angry and determined to hurt her more. Bottom of the spine.

Instead of the pain, this time she felt coldness on her side. The dagger's tip rested on her waist and soon it pierced through her skin. A scream left her lips, at the metal that was touching the layer after her skin. She screamed once again when Lucien pulled the cursed metal out. She was breathing unsteadily at the pain rushing through her. She could become numb with all the agony that was crawling everywhere on her body.

'Three.' She counted. On the spine.

And by the time moon soared higher, in the blue sad sky. The count had become fifteen. With every strike, Lucien's anger only grew. Like a balloon that kept inflating, until it burst open. And even when Whisper counted every hit without fail, Lucien still kept forgetting the count. With the pain it was becoming tough to keep an account of all the hits, but Whisper had her entire mind on the count, so when the time came she won't hit Lucien one less or one more.

Lucien went to sleep, in the same bed, where Whisper's head had found a refuge. She lied there weak, and unable to move, as the moonlight illuminated her crimson back. A Scarlett waterfall, cascaded down the pale valley of her skin. Her once peace white dress, stained a sad and violent red. Blood pooled around her, and it appeared that she had been bathing in it to wash away her sins.

There was no movement in her, just a frozen figure with an unsteady breathing. Internally, she promised herself to not let a tear slip, and she was successful. Even in that state of despair, not once, did she feel like giving up. If anything she only wanted to fight more, and this time she made sure. That the blood that was cascading down her back like a river, flowing into the ocean, will write the end of Lucien Nightshade.