Part 47

Astoria shivered at the Queen's intense gaze that seemed to want to devour her. The Queen moved her hand in the air like playing but had an effect on Astoria who was sitting down now standing up with her neck feeling suffocated from the magic.

"Tell me everything you know." The Queen's decree made Astoria's honey-chocolate irises perfectly round.

***

Iron chains shackled his hands and feet. His head was bowed with his eyes closed. His body was full of bruises and scratches, both dry and wet, that had just been made on purpose. Beneath it was a cauldron filled with potions that were simmering over high heat which would show signs that they were about to boil.

The potion had boiled perfectly making the hot steam that came out touched the body of the girl who was tied above it. Astoria hissed feeling pain all over her body which was covered in scratches.

"Stand." said Sombra seriously.

"Feel the pain. Until your body is numb with pain. Remember your grudges and hatred. Let anger take over." he shouted. While walking around the kiln while observing Astoria.

Astoria bit her lip trying to hold back her screams. Remembering his agreement with the queen a few hours ago.

"Not much but enough to help. Now you can die." The Queen moved her hand up making Astoria feel more and more suffocated by the magic.

"I hate him, don't kill me. I will do anything for revenge." Astoria said brokenly.

The Queen released her magic until Astoria fell to her knees coughing and sucking in air greedily for her lungs.

Oh yes? Then what can you give." The Queen of Darkness raised her eyebrows almost sounding pleased at the words "hate" and "revenge."

"My soul." replied Astoria with a slightly trembling but hateful voice.

The Queen laughed. A roaring laughter that made anyone who heard it feel a different, terrifying aura.

"Congratulations, you just signed a pact with darkness."

Astoria almost screamed when Sombra added something to the cauldron below which made the scorching hot steam hurt even more. Sombra was seen smiling contentedly at his suffering.

This is just the beginning. Sombra will forge him into strength. Promises more strength considering his wolf ability, weaker than most wolves.

As time went. Many things happened to Astoria and Etna. Now the brown wolf has been forged. Her dark brown shades turned to an intimidating bright red. In the barren Dark Land arena, Etna meets one of the Dark Land rogues who was once an Alpha.

Etna proudly stood up in a challenging position. The former Alpha barked back intimidatingly while Etna replied with a glare from her red irises.

The two of them shot up, lunged at each other simultaneously and both were pushed backwards. Etna immediately stood alert in contrast to her opponent who had been sent crashing painfully. Giving no pause, Etna immediately pounced on her opponent until the two of them rolled together, sending dust flying across the barren land. Struggling with blood splashing on the dry brown sand. Dropping and slamming each other to beat each other.

Etna was blown away but immediately rolled away to avoid it when her opponent's rogue was about to pounce again. Etna clawed back at her enemy's back until the two of them tussled again in a fierce fight.

Pointed curved claws tore the rogue's body which incidentally was the former Alpha. Etna was bitten on the shoulder leaving a torn wound that was bleeding profusely. Not wanting to linger, Etna deepened her grip and bit the rogue's neck. With a slight twist Etna managed to remove the head from her body with her strong muzzle.

From a distance several figures seemed to be observing with satisfaction. Especially Sombra who raised a haughty chin among the three.

"There is still a flaw in him,"said the Queen casually.

"What's that?" asked Sombra, slightly displeased with the Queen's assessment of her masterpiece.

"Mating, and it's a job to..." The Queen glanced out of the corner of her eye at Paul.

"I understand,"said Paul before leaving with a devilish grin plastered on his handsome face.

***

The dark alley of the palace of darkness was the main path Astoria used to take money back to her room. His body felt so tired undergoing all the training that could increase his abilities drastically.

Everything felt fine at first. Only the sound of his footsteps could be heard until a short, lightning-fast needle shot and stabbed his neck. With a slight tremor, Astoria pulled out the needle and examined it carefully. The needle was covered in a drug that made Astoria limp instantly from its effects.

Someone suddenly picked up Astoria and brought her to a room with dim light and the moon as the only source of light. Astoria continued to struggle until finally she was thrown on the bed just like that.

"What are you doing!?" Astoria exclaimed angrily.

"Doing what is supposed to be done." Paul said casually while unbuttoning his shirt one by one.

"You must be kidding." Astoria sneered sarcastically.

"I am not kidding." Paul walked to the door and locked it. With slow steps Paul approached Astoria who was still sitting on the bed.

"Don't even try to..."

"What for?" Cut Paul.

"I'm free to do anything to you tonight. Aren't we the same? Both lost precious people because of this damn destiny."

"What do you mean?"

Astoria shuffled backwards but Paul quickly grabbed her hand until the two of them overlapped. Astoria tried to struggle but in vain because she was completely helpless due to the drug from the short needle that stuck in her neck.

"You know exactly what I'm going to do so enjoy it."

"No, let go!"

Astoria continues to struggle while Paul gets closer then tears his sleeve. Without warning, the sharp fangs were now successfully embedded in the nape of his neck. A burning pain radiating to the top of the head made Astoria unable to stop herself from wanting to drip clear crystals.

"This is just the beginning, you haven't seen how it ends."

***

Cold and dark suddenly a pair of eyes opened. His jaw clenched hard against the turmoil of emotion within him. That cursed incident flashed back into his memory.

Astoria lightly touched the mark on the nape of her neck. Julius should have done it and no one else. While gazing at the stars amidst the darkness of the night Astoria roared out a fraction of the emotion in her soul.

Astoria slowly stood up from her sitting position and walked towards the railing of the highest balcony of the palace of darkness. The cold wind played with her light brown hair. With a focal point towards the north Astoria looked up. The direction where the Eclipse Pack lies firmly while cursing the destiny that has brought it to the Anderon family. If she wasn't an adopted daughter maybe she wouldn't be like this. Alpha and Luna, her adoptive parents, no longer cared about her. Everyone turned to Lalita.

The strong Lalita, the devoted Lalita, the talented Lalita, the kind-hearted Lalita it all disgusted her. Her former self was only looked down upon just because she was not as talented as Lalita. She used to be weak. But now he is much stronger than before. Just counting down the time before her revenge is avenged. Now she sided with the dark. The party that will pave the way for the destruction of the Luna Queen.

"Lalita wait. Your fall will not be long in coming."