Chronicles of Dragon Warriors

Chapter Thirteen

I was cold. Freezing and shivering. I willed myself to open my eyes and I wish I hadn't. I was in a cell, wet and cold cobblestone flooring with no windows which meant no contact with the outside world. The only thing preventing me from freedom were these silvery metallic bars a mocking metaphor that was constantly reminding me of my captive.

I must have been a few feet underground because it was dead silent. No footsteps or birds chattering or sunlight. I sunk back against the grimy walls with my head turned upwards. Why couldn't I listen for once in my life? I just had to follow my own head and look where that got me. I was desperately searching for something, no, someone to come save me. But the images of me being some sort of princess locked away in a tower were feeding the fire of rage that was slowly starting to build up inside of me. No. Nobody was coming to rescue me. I would be the one to rescue myself.

The dirty cell had me grimacing because I could feel the grime on my skin and hair, and I promised myself a nice bath after I got out of this hell.

There was a c***k in the cobblestone and the sickening sound of a zigzag was emitting from what was happening in front of me. I put my guard up and reminded myself to stay strong I would be my own hero after all. A sudden light was radiating from the rip in the earth and two figures floated out from it. They looked like angels but I couldn't have been more wrong.

Their feet hit the ground and the blinding light that once was present had turned into a subtle glow. I was in shock and awe. An older man stepped forth first his hair was slowly whitening and there has been evident lines of stress and aging on his face. Overall he looked wise. He wore a dark red cloak and a soft smile. Nothing about this man looked threatening and that was more than I could say about the person who was accompanying him. He looked up grinning like a devil, the duke of Sagefield stepped out quietly wearing an amused look of indifference.

"Welcome Rosalie" the elder man mused. His voice was inviting and as thick as honey. I pressed my lips into a thin line and squared my shoulders as an act of intimidation.

"I presume you and the duke are past the formalities which is why I am leaving you in his care for the time being." an ugly frown crossed my face and the elder man picked up on it. "now I am sure you are confused about why you are here but rest assured you will be informed of the situation shortly. Just know that you are meant to serve a higher purpose here."

'a higher purpose' really is that what they are calling this now? I scoffed and the old man handed some rusty keys to Luca before quietly whispering something in his ears. He then turned to me and gave me another one of his infamous soft smiles before gently floating once again and returning to the bright light.

My eyes were bulging out of my sockets and I heard Luca quietly chuckle before swiftly turning the key and opening up the metal barred door. Snapping my eyes in a matter of milliseconds I stared him down, waiting for him to make the first move, willing him to extend first. He stepped into the cell before softly closing it which made me wonder if he was really going to let me out. My hands clenched into balls beside my sides and there were once again crescent moons that were starting to indent in my palms.

Luca stepped forward, closing the distance between us, and gently grabbed my hands, unwrapping them from my tight hold. My teeth ground against each other and I ripped my hands out of his hold. Swinging a punch I knocked him square in the jaw which seemed to make him a little off balance. He stood there casting his face to the ground and rubbing his jaw between his hand, which I could only feel the pain of a few minutes afterward. He suddenly looked up at me and I was slightly cowering backward, I have only ever seen the calm carefree Luca and right now I only saw red hot anger that was rolling off of him like waves. He roughly pushed me by my shoulders which made me lose my footing. Tumbling to the ground wasn't enough for him, no he grabbed my wrists and indented them with his own unique thumbprints. I could tell they would be ugly bruises in a few days. The hairs on the back of my neck rose as he pulled out a dagger and ripped some of the material of what once was a party dress. I couldn't fight back.

"Please, please I'll be good" my eyes turned watery as I struggled to think of what would happen next. My pleas fell upon death ears and the dagger traced upon my skin dancing dangerously on my abdomen. I couldn't find an ounce of humanity in his eyes and by now I was heaving, crying out in fear. So much for being my own hero, I hated what this place did to me in just a matter of hours. I felt weak. He scraped the dagger across my belly, breaking the skin shallowly. I screamed as the stinging turned into full-blown burning. Blood rushed out as he continued to play the role of a martyr. I knew we weren't alone; I had hoped someone, anyone could hear me in my misery but they didn't want to.

This wasn't the same charismatic guy whom I fought against at the carnival... this was an entirely new person.

My tears dried up and I lay there with a certain numb feeling, I didn't scream or fight back or cried. I let him finish his inhumane acts upon me staring at the ceiling of the cell allowing my mind to take me to a better place, one where I was only ever loved, my parents were there pulling me into their tight embrace.

I didn't hear the cell door open and lock once again. I didn't even realize Luca had left.