CHAPTER 4
1633 Words
Kael’s POV
The guards dragged me through the long and cold corridors of the castle, then I remembered something: “maybe death will be easier."
“What are you looking at? Move immediately," one of the guards yelled, pushing me forward.
I didn’t give any response because there is nothing I can say. The walls surrounding us were carved from black stone, tall and endless, like a castle has no heart, but only bones and everything felt so lifeless before me.
We turned to another hallway, then another one again. I tried to keep track so I could remember, but everything blurred away from my mind.
I was in prison yesterday, and now I belong to the court? Everything seemed weird to me the moment Damien made that statement.
Finally, we stopped in front of a large iron door, and one of the guards stepped forward and pushed it open.
The hinges creaked loudly, and there was a gentle warmth that made my skin tingle.
“Go inside”, the guards pushed me inside, and I stumbled, but I caught myself on time. The room wasn’t what I expected. I thought it’ll be a cage or a cell, but it’s a chamber instead.
It was very simple and clean with a bed, small table, a basin of water, and clothes neatly folded and kept on a chair. This doesn’t make any sense at all, I frowned.
“Wait here,” one of the guards ordered. “Don’t try anything to act senseless," another guard said while slamming the door behind them.
Just like that, I was alone in the room. I stood like that for a few minutes without moving or touching anything, but just staring at everything in the room.
Why would they keep me in this room? I’m only a sacrifice, not a guest and I wasn’t brought here to be comfortable but to be sacrificed.
A soft knock interrupted my thoughts. The door opened, and an old woman stepped inside the room gently.
“I’m Elara, and I’ve been asked to assist you," she said in a soft and calm voice, still I didn’t respond. I kept staring at her because I have never been assisted by anyone in my life.
She didn’t even look bothered about how quiet I was, instead she walked closer and set a small tray on the table.
Elara stood close to me and spoke calmly, “I know you’re quite confused about everything, but let’s focus on your condition because you’re injured”.
“Don’t worry I’m fine”, the words slipped out of my mouth very fast.
She offered a cheerful and warm smile before she muttered “no, you’re not”.
Before I could utter any word again, she reached for my arms and I paused instantly. I pulled myself back and said sharply, “don’t touch me”.
I paused for a second and she said softly, “I’m not here to hurt you”. I smirked, “everyone tells me that before they do”.
“I’m different from others and I promise not to hurt you”. Something seemed different in the way she spoke like her intentions aren’t fake, so I slowly allowed her.
Elara wrapped her warm fingers around my wrist, turning it slowly. She looked at the bruises on my wrist carefully and her expression darkened instantly.
“They shouldn’t have been this rough with you” she mumbled slowly, but I stared at her without responding.
Why does she really care about the bruises on my wrist? I was quite startled.
Elara walked in circles around me, gently observing my shoulders, hands, back, and legs slowly and cautiously touching those parts to observe if there are any bruises.
Each touch from her was warm, professional, not cruel, and no ridiculing but just care. It felt very weird, unfamiliar and uncomfortable.
“I can see you’ve been through a lot here”, she said calmly and in a very low voice.
My whole body stiffened for a few seconds and I asked rhetorically, “why is she asking me that, when she doesn’t know about anything that happened?”
I blinked and gave her a cold and rude response, “don’t say things that you know nothing about”.
She gazed at me firmly without arguing, then she nodded, “okay”.
Elara’s response made me freeze. Some people would have pressed further by arguing or trying to defend themselves, but Elara didn’t do any of that.
She handed a clean cloth to me and muttered, “try and wash up, it’ll help very well”. I looked at the cloth she handed me, then I looked at her again.
“Do you really think I trust you?” I asked carefully.
She replied quickly and gently, “no, but I expect you to take care of yourself”.
I hesitated at first, but the honest response from her caught me off guard and I slowly got the cloth from her, not because she’s right but because I feel very tired and dirty.
“I’ll be outside and if you need anything call me”, she said while walking briskly towards the door to step out. Elara turned and spoke gently again, “just so you know, you’re safe here for now”. She opened the door and stepped out.
I stared firmly at the door after she walked out, “I’m safe?” The words felt very strange and wrong in my mouth.
There’s nothing like being safe here, I’m meant to be sacrificed not to be safe here.
I walked slowly to where the basin of water is, I dipped the cloth inside and brought it to my face. The warmth made me freeze and I closed my eyes for a few seconds, I felt very fresh again.
I washed my body again, this time I stood for a minute watching how dirt, blood, and dust vanished from my skin.
What was left on my body was bruises, marks, cuts and evidence of all I’ve been through. For a moment, I stared at my reflection in the water, and I couldn’t recognize myself again.
A knock came at the door, I didn’t react or say anything then the door opened.
A young man walked in, his expression was heavy, cold and controlled. A mere staring at him, I could tell he’s a Lycan.
My eyes locked with him immediately and he asked, “are you the human sacrifice?”
He asked in a mocking and cold tone, his eyes were very sharp and suspicious. I didn’t answer him, nor did I look away from him.
He walked closer to me and crossed his arms, watching me fiercely like he wanted to get rid of me instantly.
“I’m Silas, the Alpha’s Beta”.
I thought as much because of the way he stood and watched me carefully.
He whispered bluntly into my ears, “you’re in deep trouble”.
My brows furrowed and asked immediately, “is it because I’m still alive?”
“Yes” that response came too fast from him, like he had been waiting for me to ask that question.
I let out a dry chuckle and I muttered slowly to him, “then you should have killed me since”. His eyes widened slightly and I thought for a second that his reaction would be cruel but he didn’t react.
“You’re getting it all wrong, I mean things here aren’t simple” he said quietly.
I gave him a weird response, “yes, I figured that much”.
His jaw and fist clenched, and I could tell that my response pissed him off.
He continued speaking, “you’re to simply follow orders and not to cause any issues, but if you derail from any instructions…” he paused to look at me before he went on “you’ll wish you were dead”.
A heavy and suffocating silence settled between us in the room, then he heaved a sigh of relief like I was already boring him.
One more thing, “I want you to stay out of the Alpha’s way”. That statement caught my attention and I looked at him closely again.
“Why should I do that?” He didn’t respond to me immediately but he kept looking into my eyes like he’s lost.
He said faintly, “because you’re already affecting him”.
My breath hitched and I probed again, “what do you mean by that” but he didn’t respond immediately.
He turned and walked towards the door then he stopped and said, “don’t just try to disobey my words” then he walked out.
A heavy and thick silence settled in the room, and I paused what I was doing to think. How am I affecting Damien?
Suddenly, I felt that strange pull and connection in my chest. This feeling or whatever it is, isn’t normal again and I’m not the only one that has noticed it.
I sat down slowly at the edge of the bed, my whole body was hurting me while my mind was racing fast and everything was changing rapidly.
I looked at the life I lost, the bruises on my wrist and the way my hands were shaking.
“I just have to survive, adapt and endure, nothing more or less than that”, I murmured.
Deep inside me, I knew this isn’t about survival anymore because whatever is happening between Damien and I, is growing gradually and quietly.
I have a feeling that this would either save or destroy me totally.
- Writer
