Broken

F I A

I woke up with a pulsing headache.

I kept my eyes shut, letting my senses take in my surroundings before I announced to the world that I was awake.

Wherever I was, it was quiet, and damp, and cold, and reeked of dirt. Where have I been?

The last thing I remembered was that Damon had marked me, but why was I in another place?

I knew three things before I even opened my eyes.

The first was that at least six hours had passed because I could wriggle my toes and my fingers, and those movements were enough to tell me that all of my weapons had been removed. But couldn't Damon, do it? But why can't I even smell Damon all over the place?

The part where it bit me still hurts, but I don't know if my chest is heaving more with the knowledge that I am in a different place now.

I opened my eyes, finding myself indeed in a dungeon, dumped onto a rotten pallet of hay and chained to the wall.

Damn! Definitely, I am not with Damon. The man is possibly a monster. But he won't take me to a smelly place and chain me to the wall after he marks me, right?

My feet had also been shackled to the floor, and both sets of chains had just enough slack; it was quite long as if it was meant for me to be able to approach the small bucket on the side where I could smell the stench of urine.

Are they expecting me to do it in that bucket?

Crying, I sat down on one side and just watched the surroundings.

No windows and not enough space between the iron door and the threshold for anything more than light to squeeze through. I couldn't hear anything-not through the walls nor coming from outside. I could be anywhere-still beneath anyone's cell.

But who will do this to me?

Where is Damon?

I'm thirsty, too, which is what I wouldn't give in exchange for a mouthful of water to wash away the lingering taste of blood. My stomach was painfully empty, too, and the throbbing in my head sent splinters of light through my skull.

I have a headache, but until now, I can't remember what happened after the scene between Damon and me.

I tested the chains on my wrists and ankles, examining where they were anchored into the stone floor and walls, looking over every link, and studying the locks. They were solid. It looks like I'll have a hard time getting it off, especially since it's made of silver.

The door groaned open, and a man filled the threshold, three others behind him.

I frowned as I watched the three men enter.

His tunic was dark and embroidered with golden thread. But this kind of clothing can only be worn by a soldier of the kingdom.

Couldn't Damon have done this to me? Or could this soldier grinning at me be a traitor?

The guard in the doorway placed the food he was carrying on the floor and slid the tray towards me. It contained water, bread, and a hunk of cheese. "Dinner," he said, not stepping one foot in the room.

He and his companions knew the threat of getting too close. I was embarrassed. I was the one tied, but they seemed to be more afraid of me.

I glanced at the tray. Dinner. How long had I been down here? Had it been nearly a whole day-but if it had come to that? What happened to Damon?

The guard was watching me, and I looked up at him.

"This dungeon is impenetrable; you can't just get out," he said. "And those chains are made of hard steel and silver."

I stared at him. He was middle-aged, perhaps forty. He wore no weapons-another precaution. Usually, the royal guards joined young and stayed until they were too old to carry a sword. That meant this man had years of extensive training. It was too dark to see the three guards behind him, but I knew they wouldn't trust just anyone to watch me.

The person who hired me made sure that I couldn't just escape.

And it is telling the truth. It's really hard to get out of the chain that binds me. They made sure I couldn't do anything.

The guard shifted on his feet, and I realized I'd been staring at him. "The food is clean," was all the guard said before he backed out of the room and shut the door.

No! I need to strengthen my body. I can't die here.

I suspected correctly. It's not really Damon that has the plan. Because if it's him, he'll be the one coming in front of me right now.

And those guards sound a bit off. It's like there's something different about them.

I drank the water and ate as much of the bread and cheese as I could stomach. I don't know if I lost my taste because almost everything, I eat has no taste.

I kicked the tray towards the door when I was finished. I didn't care that I could have used it as a weapon or a lure to get one of the guards closer. That's vague. What a match for that tray against the big monsters that are guarding me.

When the roaring silence came to claim me again, I walked into it with open arms.

The guards liked to talk. About sporting events, about women,

But what caught my attention was when I heard them talking about their attack on Damon's kingdom.

"Krid's going to be furious if we let this healer escape." I was shocked by what I heard. Isn't Krid the beta of Damon? But what is this, I hear? Is he the enemy?

"Krid wanted to offer her to his father. But the king is currently waiting for his weak son. He wanted to kill Damon first before claiming his queen as well as the throne." what are they saying? So, Krid is our enemy?

And who is its father? I thought Krid was an orphan. And who is that king they are talking about?

"I heard the castle is in chaos after the woman disappeared. Fortunately, Krid followed Damon. It saw what happened between the two fools. And now! Damon is too weak. It didn't even resist Krid taking its mate. I don't know why Krid hasn't killed Damon right there yet?"

A man said, laughing, so I bit my lower lip.

Can't fight? That means that its marking has affected me. Instead, it is his strength.

You stupid Damon! I warned you already!

"What's the point? Sooner or later, the real king will claim back his throne. Another one was closed when Krid left Damon. It's almost taking its life; you don't want to let go of its mate. If his other soldiers hadn't come, Krid might have really killed him." I gasped at what I heard.

I don't even know what to think.

He tried to save me?

"You think she's really a deadly assassin? And do you think she's a healer? If she's really that powerful. Why can't she escape from us? Don't half-creatures have unique abilities."

"She looks my daughter's age. But I know its blood is powerful. She can make anyone strong as long as she can be claimed. She can also give birth to a strong offspring. So that's what the king wanted. He wants that girl to be his queen."

"Better not tell anyone- Krid said he'd flay us all alive if we breathed one word. Because others can't find out because the girl might be kidnapped."

"Hard to imagine that it's her-did you see the list of victims? It just went on and on. It is said that it has killed many people, but it can't even kill Damon." they laughed after hearing what a colleague said.

"You think she's wrong in the head? She looks at you without really looking at you, you know? He's stunned and can't think normally yet."

"I bet she's still broken by the idea of failing her family again. Does your enemy mark you? It's an opportunity for the king. Tomorrow is the full moon."

Snorts. "Won't matter to the king, will it? He wants power, and this woman could provide him with that through her blood."

"I don't think she's really a healer."

"We shouldn't care if she's a healer or not. The king wants her, and that's more important."

"Trust the king's decision."

"But I wonder if the king will hang or behead his son, Damon. After all, wasn't Damon, the traitor who tried to kill him? All he thought was that his father was dead, but it was not yet."

What is it?

What he said echoed in my mind.

Damon's father is alive?

That monster is alive.

And he is the mastermind behind it all.

"Yes, he would have his other son there, wouldn't he? Krid is willing to do everything for his father. And another one is also able to make a king again with another son using the girl we have. With Krid and his new brother. Nothing can stop them from taking possession of the entire kingdom."

How can it be?

How did Krid also happen to be the king's son?

Suddenly, I lost the strength to think more.

They are planning to kill Damon. Isn't this my enemy? But why am I not happy with what I found out?

Why can't I rejoice?

All I feel now is fear.

Fear is not just for me.

But not for Damon.

----

Everything.

I had given everything for my revenge, but I failed.

I lay in darkness, the slab of iron like a starless night overhead. Because I can't see anything else but the steel ceiling that serves as the sky and the sky.

The speed of time last night did not help me properly. I'm here until the morning, and I'm going crazy thinking about what will happen to me now.

The full moon is about to come. Damon's father's plan continues, and it would be hard for me to say no.

I would be a willing victim. Knowing that I rejected Damon, it would have been easier for his father to do what he wanted with me.

Perhaps it had all been for nothing. Everything will come to nothing. I would be the Queen Who Was Promised.

Promised to die or surrender herself as the monster's pet.

I couldn't accept it. But I always fail to save those people I love, even though I force myself to fight. In the end, I still embrace defeat. Why is this happening to me?

It's just a matter of time, and something that I can't even imagine will happen to me will happen.

I know I wouldn't say I like Damon. But now I can hardly think of anything else but her smiles.

Just thinking that my mate would suffer death as well... Silent tears pooled in the corner of my eyes. I don't know if this is still the reason why it marks me, but there is a strange emotion that covers my personality.

It didn't matter. I wasn't leaving this place, this box. Even if I knew what I really felt, it was useless.

I would never again feel the buttery warmth of the sun on my hair or a sea-kissed breeze on my cheeks.

I only want to feel one thing. The freedom and pleasure.

I thought justice would make me happy, but why is this? Why does it come to nothing?

I couldn't stop crying, ceaselessly and relentlessly. As if some dam had cracked open inside me the moment, I remembered my family and even Damon's future death; I could even imagine Damon's blood dribbling down his face.

I failed them.

Many what-ifs are running through my mind right now.

I didn't care if my enemies could see or smell my tears. What is important to me now is to release the pain I feel.

I would let them break me until I was bloody on the floor. Let them do it over and over again.

I wouldn't fight. Couldn't bear to fight.

I have lost hope.

Will Damon find me?

Will he find me?

Will it be able to compete with its competitors?