Chapter 50 CHAPTER 50
The bonfire was in full bloom when I got there, and for the first time, I heard Drakkonia music.
Now I know where Metal music came from.
I stood at the edge for a bit, watching people dance erotically amongst themselves and I could hear the unmistakable sounds of balls slapping against skin as some people hit it off in the caves surrounding us.
It was holding close to the spot where we went to hike, far off from the main campus but close enough that it didn't require too much walking.
So everyone and their friends were here, partying.
It was the most ‘normal’ thing I'd seen since I fell down here, college life being college life at the end of the day.
“Did you see the gift that I got you?”
“Ah!” I shook from the fright, “Can you people in this place just try not to give me a heart attack?”
“I'm sorry my queen –”
“Hey! Let me stop you right there,” I snapped, remembering Erin's words. “Asher, I just literally fell down a rabbit hole and I have no idea what I'm doing or how I'll survive.”
“Well, you can simply lean on me, isn't that what partners are for?”
“I don't want to lean on you. I don't want your gifts. I don't want your attention. Leave. Me. Alone.”
And I stalked away, angry as hell.
I have no idea why but the mere thought of being with him gave me a terrible feeling, like I was going back to my ex, but someone three times worse.
He didn't understand no, just like Jason, he didn't understand how overwhelmed I was feeling, just like my ex-husband and he definitely didn't care about how I felt about him.
If he truly wanted a relationship with me, the best he could do is wait until I survive at least one week in this jungle before trying to swarm me with all that pressure.
But all that was in the past, I'd seen Kassandra sitting alone and… smoking?
Wow, more similarities.
So I walked up to her.
Akua's voice was one of the few I could hear getting down and busy so I didn't want to search for the other girls either, they might be occupied as well.
Besides, my new friend looked lonely.
“Can you share your seat?”
“If you don't mind the smell,” she replied with a lazy grin.
“I've smelled worse,” I smiled back, squatting on the stone she was perched on.
“Enjoying the party?”
“Not really, I just got here. I don't need to ask, you don't seem to be doing that either.”
“I'm actually cool, right now, I'm in a different place, under the skies, with no interruptions. It's bliss.”
“Well, I'll leave you to your dreams then,” I chuckled, getting up to leave her clearly overstimulated self.
I walked around, waving to familiar faces and actually searching for Erin because I couldn't find her anywhere. Maybe I can convince her to go back to the hostel with me, I've never slept in there alone.
“It's nice to see you hear little girl,” the voice of the devil called from behind me, loud and obnoxious as ever.
I remember how he'd made me fall this morning but I ignored him and kept walking, increasing my pace now.
Sleeping all alone doesn't sound so bad anymore.
The increase in my speed echoed from behind me and as I left the venue of the party, my fear increased.
I broke out into a sprint.
“You really think you can outrun us?” Kovar's voice rang out in the darkness, laughing, mocking.
I didn't pay him any attention, I just kept running, fighting for the chance to live to see another morning.
“Penny! Catch her!”
A single tear trailed down my face as I ran faster and heard the increase of feet behind me.
It was a record of five seconds before somebody put their legs in between my running ones and I stumbled, rolling down the hill.
Pain rang across my body immediately and laughter poured in from behind me.
This was one part of the pool I didn't much like, how much pain hurts afterwards.
“I told you you're mine. What were you doing with that Asher boy? Did he start courting you already?”
He was getting closer now and I forced myself to get up and start running again, my feet hurting with each step.
“PENNY!”
This time around, Penny didn't make me trip on my own feet, he caught my neck mid-run and slammed my face on the ground.
I screamed.
“Don't hurt my baby you beast,” Kovar's voice came from behind me as I nursed my pain, rocking myself back and forth.
“Talk to me baby,” he was in my ear again, “does this mean you want both of us?” He asked, tracing the marks on my neck. “Oh wait, it's more than one,” he declared loudly and his boys ooo-ed, drawing closer.
“Leave me alone!” I snapped, pulling his hand away from my neck.
It felt violating.
But he pulled me back, slapping my cheeks.
That anger slowly began, not as ferocious and instant as it had been this evening, but as he kept speaking…
“You're not understanding Alira,” He carresed my neck again, “you're my property. The King himself sanctioned my father with the responsibility of taking care of the new drop-in. Guess what that means? Everything that is his, is mine. You belong to – ahh!”
I didn't stop at punching his throat, my claws poked out so fast that they left blood on my fingers and I tore a fiery path down from his neck to his torso.
And then I rubbed Styx’s calling stone.
When he hit me so hard my ears began ringing, I just lay on the ground, folded into myself as kicks and punches began raining on me.
I was a beast when angry but against four males who were top performers in the class?
I was a whimpering mess.
In another world, a Prince would ride in right then and save me.
But it was Principal Draco on his steed, and the second they heard his growl, they scampered off like wild animals.
“Fuck!” I heard him curse as darkness pooled in my eyes.
When his arms wrapped around me, I finally let go, allowing it to take me under.