THE DREAMSCAPE : THE EMBERS OF CHANGE

Chapter 31 - ROSA

Even as terror seized every cell of my body, I have to admit Eric’s palace is beautiful. The glittering gold lights. Fireflies filling the air with an otherworldly light. The cozy sofas and the fuzzy cushions. It’s a place humans will kill for. But I am not taken to any of the beautiful corners of the house. The chains binding my hands and legs rattle as Eric pushes me into his study.

“Well…This is going to be entertaining.” Eric smiles. He raises his hands and the huge bookshelves in the study begin to glow. Then, one of them disappears entirely to be replaced by stairs heading underground.

“I’ve always imagined you here in the palace Rosa.” Eric smiles. His fingers clasp my neck and squeeze gently. “But I always imagined it in a different situation altogether.”

As I open my mouth, Eric’s fingers tighten. The corners of my vision blur into black.

He is going to kill me.

Strangely enough, that idea doesn't upset me. It was what he would do before he killed me that fill the pit of my stomach with dread.

Eric let go of my neck and I inhale precious air gratefully. His thumb brushes over my lip as he smiles.

“Your big scared eyes are beautiful.”

Suddenly, Eric plants a kiss on my lips. His teeth bite down on my lower lip and I moan in pain. Anger bubbles inside me. I want my magic. I want to stand and watch as he burned alive. I wanted to hear his screams of pain. But the chains restrain my powers. I am helpless and he –

The bastard is enjoying that I can’t fight back!

“Sorry.” Eric’s eyes glowed with malice as he breaks apart from me. “I shouldn’t be hasty. I haven’t even introduced you to the special arrangements I made for you.” He reached out and stroked my hair. “My little rose flower.”

Another kiss, this time on my neck. I try to shove him away but my hands immobilize. Electricity shoots through me and I cry out.

Bastard!

 “So fiery! Eric laughs. “It’s what I love about my little rose flower.”

He pushes me down the flight of steps. The dungeon is dark, lit with only a single torch on the wall. In the dim light, I make out the outline of the bed and the unmistakable scent of roses.

“I would love to explain what I plan to do to you in detail.” Eric’s voice whisper in my ears. I feel my skin crawl. Tears spring to my eyes but I blink them away. There is no way I give him the satisfaction of breaking me. “But, I’m so damn impatient.”

He pushes me down to the bed. One wave of his hand and the chains binding my hands and legs fasten themselves to the bed. Bile rises in my throat as I try not to give in entirely to the horror of my situation.

“I won’t blame you if you want to close your eyes.” I see the knife in Eric’s hands. I see the sinister curl of his lips. Although my entire body is trembling, I glare at him. I force all the hatred into my eyes.

“Still pretending to be the big strong guardian, are we!” Eric’s knife slashes through my dress again and again. “I don’t mind. It is always fun when the strong ones break.”

Hours pass. Blood is dried up n my skin. Eric’s knife is caked with blood. My sliced-up dress lay in tatters on the floor. Chunks of my hair on top of it. I don’t feel like crying or screaming. All I can think about is him on fire. His face screwed up in agony. Life leaving his eyes.

BURN!