Chapter 26

Something was happening. Rows and rows of people walked onto the arena floor and Kyrell cheered. I felt nauseated, but I gave the biggest fake grin I could. A loud voice filled the arena.

"PPeople of Dravonia.” Kyrell and everyone cheered again.

“ We give to you the ten candidates for the reaping.” My heart started to pound, but I cheered with the crowd as if my life depended on it.

“ First off is.” The voice continued. “ Is Jackson from our own little city. Now Jackon has done a few bad things, like stealing from the Kings council, and kill one of his head guards, I think you all could remember him, right?” The crowd cheered again, Kyrell didn’t this time which meant that Jackson most probably didn’t do those things, like Cassie explained it to me. I took a deep breath again, trying to calm the nausea in the pit of my stomach.

Next up was a young girl Alice. I tuned out what horrible things she had done, but when the cheering came, Kyrell was silent again, which meant that everything that they accused her of was falls.

The list carried on. When Kyrell did cheer, I cheered too. There weren’t many times to cheer, and I felt sick knowing there was so many innocent people being framed.

When the candidates were chosen, I could hear whimpering, tears welled up in my eyes, but I swallowed them fast. Those two candidates were scared out of their wits for what was about to happen to them.

Huge metal gates opened. They were so loud they almost deafened me and the growls and shrieks of what looked like a creature with two feet and talens for hands. The crowd went crazy with excitement. I closed my eyes for a split second, and the screams filled with shrieks went silent faster than I thought it would. It wasn’t even a fair match. These people never even had the ability to use their magic, that is if they even had any. Tears were lingering in my eyes, almost wanting to roll down my cheek, but I found a way to hide them.

Kyrell’s voice was the loudest, shouting next to my ear, encouraging the creatures. It was disgusting if you ask me.

“ That was fun.” Kyrell’s son said excitedly

The voice filled the speakers again. He was speaking about betrayals; the ones of the highest kind and I could see the outlines of big boxes getting pulled in. I squinted my eyes a bit and found steel, like cages on wheels being wheeled into the arena. The crowd booed, and I copied. I could barely see the people inside, and all I could think about was who they were.

When they disappeared, I shifted on King Kyrell’s lap. My seating situation was starting to get uncomfortable.

“ Get up woman.” He barked suddenly. We made our way to the exit of the private section.

“ And who is this snow maiden?” A fat guy stopped us. He was just as repulsive as Kyrell and made my skin crawl with disgust.

“ This is my new Mistress.” He tugged on the chain, pulling me closer to his side to show more dominus.

“ You really need to learn how to share, old man. This one is exceptional.” My mouth went dry. I tried to smile, but just couldn’t form one if I tried. Back home, no men showed interest in me, and now I seem to attract the attention of all perverts. The man lifted his hand to touch my face, but Kyrell smacked his hand away.

“ I don’t like to share my new toys.” The man laughed.

“ That is so like you. Maybe after you are done with her.” I wanted to die. These men talking about me like I am some piece of old clothing that could be handed over to someone else if it is worn out.

Kyrell pulled me along as he led us out the section. I was close to tears when he and his son started talking about the harvesting and how fun it was, and worst of all, they were hoping to see younger children next time. My stomach turned heavily, and I tried to think of something else, to not hear Kyrell’s son’s words.

*********************

The castle couldn’t come soon enough, and when it did, Kyrell walked fast, dragging me behind him. The metal cuffs were starting to cut into my flesh, making it sting.

Kyrell led me down the long cold dimly led hall I have come to know and dread as my new reality. My mind was still hazy from everything I just witnessed today and what I have read last night about this cursed king who’s clutches I have ended up in. I have to escape this place.

Lost in my own mind, I did not notice we were already in the small chambers.

“ I am glad to see my little Mistress had fun today.” The space between my brows narrowed as my frustration grew. I want to claw this his eyes out. He yanked the chain, and I was now standing only inches away from him. He pulled out a key from his trousers and unlocked the chains from my wrist, and a cling sound reverberated through the chambers as the chains fall to the stone floor.

I clutch my wrists to sooth the stinging. They were bruised and the skin started to get tints of blue and purple where the cuffs were. Kyrell gave me a smile, and I knew by now that nothing good was to come of that smile.

“ I hope you took notes last night, of Morgan’s obedience.” My eyes narrowed even more.

“ I need you to get me of my high from today.” Sick bustard!

He makes me sick to my core. How can someone get off on innocent people and children getting slaughtered. He needs to get a mental check.

“ Did you hear me!” He growled.

“ Why don’t you go and take a cold bath, that will help you get off your high.” I forced through gritted teeth.

SMACK!!!

The sound vibrated through the chambers as I fell to the ground from the blow to the face. The tears welled up in my eyes, but I bite down hard. I wasn’t about to cry Infront of this asshole.

He stalked closer, and I dragged myself across the floor to get away from him, but the chamber is only so big. He grabbed a fist full of my hair, making all Cassie’s hard work from this morning go to waist. He picked me up by my hair. A yelp escapes my mouth as it felt like the hair was being torn from my skull. Without thinking, I reached out and clawed at his face.

“ Bitch!” He growled, grasping his face with one hand while the other still had me by the hair. I smile, pleased to see blood dripping down the side of his cheek. His eyes darkened with rage. He let go of my hair, but in the same breath he smacked me across the face again, and everything went dark.

( Kaden )

It was late, like very late in the morning; I should be out there looking for Meara, but I had promised Deon I would rest. I closed my eyes and listened to my heartbeat. It always helped to calm me down. It was faint, so it meant that it was helping.

I listened intently to the steadying sound of my beating heart, but something was off. There is another beating sound, it was faint and beating fast. I forced myself to listen harder and the beating became louder. When it was pounding in my ear, an ache shot through my skull, and I lost the grip.

I could feel the buzzing sound of my magic source kicking in and in less than a few minutes the headache was gone. It was odd. My magic source was never that fast before. It was good. I could focus on that strange heartbeat again.

I was aggravated and annoyed at the same time. I would do anything for a sign of life, to make sure that Meara was safe.

I close my eyes and listen, like truly listen. I did what I had to and tuned out the sounds of healers walking by, and patients screaming from their battle wounds. It was not without difficulty.

I tuned in even more, until I picked up that other heartbeat, but it faded as fast as it came. I succeeded once but it left me with a mother of a headache, but I know my magic source will heal it fast. I didn’t know how long I sat there, and nothing came. Not even a soft heartbeat.

Fear overwhelmed me. I don’t know if I could live in a world where she isn’t in it. It is like I can’t function normally without her. I know I wanted her to leave Valtor and return back home, but that was for her own safety. Instead, I could have tried to spent more time with her, to make her see that I wasn’t the Barbarian she thought I was.