Chapter 102 102
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND TWO
LUCIAN'S P.O.V
I was roughly dragged out of the cell, my heart pounding in my chest. The guard pushed me down a corridor and I stumbled, my silver chains clanking against the stone floor, digging painfully into my flesh. We walked for what felt like an eternity, until we finally reached a large door. I stared vaguely at the place, trying to remeber if I ever saw this place before but I came up blank. The guard knocked, and a voice called out from inside.
"Bring him in."
The guard pushed me forward, and I stumbled into the room. Desmond was sitting behind a large mahogany desk, a cruel smile spreading across his face.
"Ah, Lucian," he said, his eyes glining with triumph. "I've been waiting for you."
I snarled silently, my eyes locked on his. What did he want?
"What do you want?"
He shrugged as he stood up, walking casually towards me. He stood in front of me, his eyes meeting mine directly.
"There's something I want to show you. More like someone." He laughed and made a beckoning motion with his hand while walking to the door.
"Bring him."
The guard once again dragged me through a dark, damp tunnel that j never knew was in the dungeon. The smell of decay and rot suddenly assaulted my nostrils and it took all I could not to vomit. A door appeared in our line of sight and as we drew nearer, the distant sound of whipping and screaming filled my ears. I stood straight, my heart pounding in my chest, my wolf clawing at my insides, desperate to be released in order to end their sufferings.
Desmond walked ahead of me, a few of his men flanking his sides, where he got them is still a mystery to me. We finally reached the door, he nodded to the two guards standing on each side of the door. They saluted him briskly and opened the door.
"No! It can't be!"
For the first time in a long while, my legs failed me. I fell to my knees as I watched with red, hot eyes, women and children, all of them dressed in rags, looking malnourished and weak. They looked like they haven't eaten a good meal in days and by the signs of whip marks on their hands and feet, they were beaten a lot and abused. They all moved around slowly and lifelessly, cleaning and moving things around. How coukd he let them be treated lie this? They were humans not animals. My hands were clenched tight and trembled ony lap. My eyes roamed the place for my mother. But I couldn't find her among the crowd of women and children. I turned to him, hatred seeing out of my eyes like sharp daggers.
"My mother. Where is my mother you bastard!"
A guard punched me heavily on the jaw, I spit out blood and glared at Desmond while gritting out again, squeezing the chains in my hands.
"I said, where is my mother?"
He cocked his head, crossing his arms with a challenging smirk.
"Why don't you find her yourself. You might also find someone else that you know."
I turned my head to the throngs of women and children again, taking deep gulps of air to calm myself. My eyes scanned the room carefully, and then I saw her. And not just her. My mother and Talia, were both standing by the corner, their hands busy as they folded clothes from a huge monstrous pile. Their eyes were downcast and their faces were streaked with red and blue with bruises, they looked painful thin and tired. And their clothes, just a plain black, shapeless gown that reached their feet were beginning to have a few tears on them from being worn too much. My chest constricted, my eyes felt hot and anger like red hot lava surged through me. My wolf's growling grew even louder and he closed desperately to get out but o could do nothing because the silver was stopping me from shifting. I could only let out a helpless growl while watching them.
"You...you monster!" I tried to lunge at him but I was pulled back by his men.
He smiled, his eyes shinning brightly with delightful malice.
"Ah. I see you've noticed your mother and the little one beside her. She's a feisty one, your mother. I never knew that until now. No matter how much I tried to break her, she still gets back the strength to glare at me. And as for your friend, the little one. She's feisty too but she can't keep it up foruch longer, can she? She's been enjoying her new role as a servant. Aren't you, Talia?" He called her name.
Both Talia and my mother's eyes finally lifted up to stare at him, and I saw a flash of defiance in them. But she said nothing, and instead looked back down at the floor. I edged forward so that they could see me. Immediately mom's eyes met mine, they went round with shock then misty with tears as she watched me.
"My son! You're here." She gasped softly.
Talia too had a shocked look on her face, her dark hair had grown longer now but looked ashy because of dirt and lack of washing. A watery smile settled on her face as she gazed at me.
"Lucian?"
As soon as she said my name, all the women and children working immediately paused and looked up at me. I could see the way their faces went from shock then morphed into hope.
Desmond made a clicking sound behind me.
"Look at them. Poor, poor peasants. Look how they stare at your with so much hope. They think you are here to save them but they have no idea right? They don't know you are just asking helpless as them, maybe even more. But of course, I won't spoil the surprise and tell them that." He clapped his hands cheerily. "Let's go back now. We have a lot of things..." He smirked wider, "...to discuss."