Chapter 46 ~In the dungeons of Ashridge~
(Fiona's POV)
(2 days later)
I could only tell the days by the tiny window at the top of my tiny dungeon room.
I couldn't escape, and honestly, it was like no one was coming to save me, so slowly I was going from anticipation to worry, and now I felt numb. I was ready to take whatever life threw at me.
They were wining and dining in the banquet hall. It was flowing with ale and meat, laughter and loud music while I was dressed in rags, made to serve them while my stomach churned because the only thing I'd had to eat all day was bread and stale porridge.
It was taking me back to the time I was an Omega at Ashridge, only this time, it was actually worse.
Their beta, Otto, even had the audacity to tell me to kneel until anyone asked me to get them something.
They were all pretending not to notice me, but I knew they were watching. They were waiting for me to make a wrong move.
I felt a thick wine goblet land on my head with a loud clang.
‘Ouch!’ I clutched that spot in pain and laughter went around the room.
It was Cassia.
“Fill that up with wine.” She had an evil glint in her eyes.
Seething, I took the goblet to fill it.
My legs were shaky, and my body was aching because of hunger.
I'd had nothing to do in the cell but count the moon and sun as days went by.
“Here!” I dropped the goblet angrily in front of Cassia when I had filled it with wine.
She looked like she was about to say something, but decided otherwise, and instead, she stood up.
She came in front of me, clutching the wine, and she raised it and drenched me with it from head-to-toe. “Next time, watch your temper.”
I gasped as the cold liquid drenched through my underwear and clothes, soaking me.
Another round of laughter went around the room.
Isis, who was among the people that were laughing, called on me. “Fiona, my back is aching. Massage it!”
I glared at her, and through tightened teeth, said, “Yes.”
“Yes, what?” She smirked.
“Yes, Luna.” By now, bile was rising in my throat at the maltreatment and demeaning treatment I'd been made to go through.
Isis forced me to address her as ‘Luna’.
I placed my hands on her neck and began massaging it, wishing the ache would increase… that is, if she had any back ache to begin with.
The other pack members were drowning in wine and discussing around the table.
“So, Silvereign pack has been brought down by fire.” Someone said.
“Yes, I heard.” Another added. “Serves them right.”
I clenched my teeth to prevent myself from responding to their comments.
Otto, their beta, laughed. “And Alpha Xander will soon be over-thrown. Just give it time.”
“I heard they're all in Nightfang now.”
“It's funny that it was his very own brother, Loki, that was responsible for the attack,” Beckett laughed in mockery as he gulped down a full cup of ale. “Had to join forces with Rhaul and everything.”
The others roared with laughter.
Isis' voice rose among the jeers. “If they can't handle an attack from rogues, how will they handle all that we've planned for them?”
Beckett poured himself another glass, while coughing with laughter. “I'm so proud of Loki. Maybe we'll join forces with him. After all, any enemy of Silvereign is a friend of ours.”
As I was listening with shock and rapt attention, I didn't realize I was gripping Isis’ neck with my fingers.
Isis was groaning in pain. Only then did I realise I was hurting her. But by then, a nasty bruise had formed from where my fingernails had dug into her skin.
It happened so fast.
She got up quickly, and fuming, she landed two slaps. One on my left cheek and the other on my right.
By now, the other pack members were watching in anticipation.
A few of them were wide-mouthed and there was pin-drop silence.
In a second, I landed a loud slap on Isis’ cheek.
She clutched her face in shock, and I stared at my palms, only realising what I'd just done.
But my chest was still rising in suppressed anger.
Everyone gasped.
I could hear the clank of a wine goblet landing on the floor. The owner must have dropped it in surprise.
I could hear someone mutter. “Whoa… it's always the quiet ones.”
Isis had already turned red.
Cassia got up from her seat and pushed me to the ground.
She and Isis began to kick me all over. I tried to hold my clothes together as they attempted to rip it apart.
“Fucking bitch!”
“Dumb-ass!”
“Piece of shit!”
They kept throwing a new curse word as their blows landed on my body.
I curled into a tight ball to shield myself from what I could.
I could feel a sharp pain in my ribs, where Cassia kept repeatedly hitting with her boots.
I just hoped I wouldn't crack a rib.
When they'd beaten me to a pulp and were satisfied, Isis was already breathing heavily and panting.
She turned to Beckett, who sat down all the while, smiling and watching us like his favorite TV show was on.
“I don't know why you're still keeping her alive!” She screamed angrily at Beckett. “Kill the bitch already. Imagine she had the nerve to slap me! ME!”
Beckett looked unbothered for some reason. He just called to the gamma, who was not so far away, “Take her back to the dungeons.”
I was groaning in pain as the gamma clutched my arms roughly like a criminal and bundled me to the dungeon.
If my body was aching before, now I was sore all over, and times that by three.
The gamma landed me roughly on the floor of the dungeon, and I landed with a loud thud that had me yelling in pain. “Argh!”
He gave me a last menacing look and roughly locked up the door.
“Stupid bitch!” He spat on the floor and walked off.
I began rolling in pain as I cried silently, wishing that I could somehow get out of here.
I'd been through way too much since I was captured.
Ignoring the jabbing pain in my ribs, I closed my eyes, willing sleep to overtake me.
And it did.
I was still hearing the noise from the party going on outside when I fell into an uneasy sleep.
–----
I woke up to an intense migraine.
But that wasn't what woke me.
I could feel firm hands groping my body, attempting to peel off my clothes.
I could smell his scent. It was Beckett!
He was feeling me up, but stopped abruptly, realising I'd woken up.
I clutched my clothes in shock and gave a loud scream.
In the dim light of the dungeon, I could see him widen his eyes and slap a palm over my mouth, silencing me. “Shh…”