Chapter 69 Sixty-Nine
'Danica...' the soft voice drifted into Danica's mind as she hovered between awake and unconscious. 'Please....'
The wolfs bane that ran through her veins kept Danica from truly being able to be aware. She could only guess that Marie was worried that if she was fully alert, she would try to contact Mason through the mindlink and give away what was going on.
'Please respond.' The voice seemed to be growing desperate. 'Where are you?'
Trying to collect all her strength, Danica did her best to connect with whoever the voice belonged to. In her delirious state, she wasn't fully able to place a finger on who was calling out to her, but she had a feeling it was Mason.
'I don't know.' Danica's voice came out in barely a whisper as she fought to stay aware long enough to communicate. 'Some underground holding cell.'
'Did you see the scenery when they brought you there?' Mason demanded as Danica felt his anger beginning to flare.
'No, I was knocked out with wolfs bane.'
The minute the word left her, Danica could feel Mason's alpha aura beginning to spike as his anger turned to pure rage.
'Who has you?' He demanded, trying to calm himself and think rationally.
'Marie.' Danica responded weakly as pain threatened to consume her again. 'Please, hurry.'
With that, Danica felt herself beginning to drift again as the connection with Mason completely disappeared, leaving her utterly alone.
Danica wasn't sure how much time had passed by the time she finally began to come to. It seemed the wolfs bane that was in her system was beginning to dissipate, and all she could feel now was the pain from her lashings.
Sitting up, she looked around the cell she was currently in. The walls seemed to be made out of earth and looked like they could begin to crumble at any time. The floor and ceiling were made of brick, and silver bars blocked her path to freedom.
Standing, she made her way towards the bars, reaching out a hesitant finger. She touched one of the bars only to have her finger burn.
"Shit," Danica hissed, pulling her hand back.
It seemed that these cells were made specifically to hold wolves, which left Danica wondering how many had been trapped here before her.
Slumping back on the ground, she wracked her brain on how she could get out. She didn't know if Mason would be able to find her, and she couldn't just sit there and wait for Marie to come and kill her.
'Mate.' Lizbeth spoke, drawing Danica's attention.
'What good is he if I can't tell him where I am?' Danica asked hopelessly.
'Trust in the bond.' Lizbeth insisted. 'He can find you if you are connected.'
'The bond of someone who doesn't even trust me enough to have me involved in his pack issues?'
'He...'
'Enough.'
Shoving Danica pushed Lizbeth away completely over her insistence that Mason and her bond were strong. The betrayal she felt was still very fresh, and there was no getting over it that easily.
"You're awake?" Marie's sweet voice drifted down the hallway towards Danica. "Seems the wolfs bane has worn off."
"Disappointed?" Danica asked, not bothering to get up from her place.
"No!" Marie giggled. "Then this wouldn't be as fun."
Arriving at Danica's cell, Marie held up a knife and smiled broadly. Heart-hammering Danica jumped up, ignoring the wounds on her back that screamed at her.
"What are you planning to do?" Danica demanded as Marie began unlocking her cell.
"Of course, I'm here to finish you off." Marie responded, stepping into the cell with Danica.
Looking around, Danica tried to find a way of escaping as Marie made her way towards her. The only way was by going past Marie, and in her weakened state, she wasn't sure if she would be able to overpower the harpie and escape.
"You can try all you want." Marie laughed. "But you won't be able to get out of here alive."
Instead of speaking, Danica sucked in a sharp breath as she surged forward, determined to take Marie down so that she could attempt to escape.
Caught off guard, the harpie didn't have enough time to react as Danica tackled her, sending them both falling to the hard stone ground. Grabbing Marie's wrist, Danica began trying to force her to release the knife she was holding.
As Danica fought, she could feel Marie beginning to compose herself after the initial shock wore off. If she didn't get up and move, chances were she would end up being killed. Giving up on trying to fight Marie's weapon away from her, Danica jumped up, ready to make a run for it, only to feel a searing pain run through her thigh as Marie shoved her knife deep into Danica's muscle.
Biting back her scream of pain, Danica kicked out her foot, connecting with Marie's face, sending her sliding away from her and beginning to limp out of the cell. Grabbing the door, she ignored the silver burning her flesh as she locked Marie within.
Looking down, she took in the hilt of the knife that was buried deep within her thigh. Bracing herself, she grabbed it and pulled, yanking the metal out of her and allowing her blood to begin to flow freely. Ripping her shirt, she wrapped the fabric around her wound to try to staunch the blood while Marie snarled and yanked at the bars that were holding her hostage.
"LET ME OUT!" Marie roared as her grip tightened around the bars.
Ignoring her, Danica looked from one side to the other, trying to determine which way she should go in order to escape. The sound of the bars groaning from Marie's strength spurred Danica forward, choosing a way and beginning to limp towards it in hopes that she had made the right choice.
The hall continued to go on and on as if it would never end before Danica finally reached a set of stairs. Letting out a sigh of rrelief,she hurriedly ascended them as light began to trickle out around a door just ahead.
Danica had just enough time to grab the door knob and begin to pull before she could hear Marie's angry footsteps quickly heading up the stairs towards her.
Realizing she had run out of time, Danica pulled the door hard and made her way out into a much too bright hallway. It was do or die for her as she picked a direction and ran.