Chapter 44

Ivy still was afraid about what was coming; she wasn’t sure where they were going to do this ritual and who was going to be there. She wanted to be strong, but she was alone in all of this, she wishes she had the strength to run but she couldn’t.

Samuel touched her face, he wanted to kiss her, something about her made him attracted to her. Closing his eyes, he had to stay focused; he knew Elder John wouldn’t allow him to feel for her. “Are you ready to go and see Elder John?” Samuel said moving away from her.

Ivy looked down at her hands, she didn’t want to face the beast, but she knew he wouldn’t wait for her all day. She had to go through this whether she was willing or not. Closing her eyes, she thought about her life before this. She had it good, being invisible was something she loved, and now she was facing something far worse. She didn’t know what her future was if there was even one. She was afraid that her last breath on this earth would be painful, she wasn’t even sure if her son would have a life outside of the dwellers. She wasn’t sure they would find him, and if they did would accept this life, or would they leave him alone. She guessed he would be forced the same way she is now. “I guess, better go and see what he has planned.”

“Good at least you are not as afraid as you were earlier.” He said helping her to her feet; she was able to walk without much help. Samuel kept his arm wrapped around her waist just in case she did lose her balance.

“I’m not afraid.” She said. “I wasn’t afraid when Drake did this to me, and I am not afraid now.”

“But you were afraid earlier, I could tell the way your heart was racing, but now you seemed to calm yourself down, that is good.” He said grabbing her arm. “Come on we have to go downstairs; you remember where his office is.”

“I do, but I know he isn’t going to do it there,” Ivy said without looking at him, inside her soul was shaking, her mind was racing but in reality, she accepted that she couldn’t turn and run from this. She was exhausted and hurt that her fate was chosen, and she had no say in this.

“No, you are smart, we are going to do it in the basement, fewer distractions, and then we are going to go outside.” He said looking down at her. “Don’t worry you don’t have to worry; you will get plenty of fresh air before you get too weak.”

“I’m not worried.” She said trying to sound calm, but the closer they made their way to his office the more she was worried. Taking a deep breath before he opened the door. The air was cold when she walked into the room.

Elder John had his back turned when she walked into the office, he was talking to someone else, and she couldn’t hear what he was saying. Samuel sat her down and he cleared his throat. Elder John looked at them both before nodding his head the man walked out of the room without question.

“So, I’ve heard you have some questions?” he said sitting down so he could look at her. “I see you still don’t look too well. You may not make it through this.”

“Well, isn’t that something?” Ivy snapped. “I thought your ritual was supposed to be something great. At least when Drake did him I didn’t suffer like this.”

“Well, Drake messed it up. You see you were supposed to go through ours first, but you got yourself caught and he forced you to go through theirs first. You ran and made a choice.” He growled. “Had you just stayed with Nick none of this would be happening right now? You would be with Drake, and you wouldn’t be dying.”

“Had you protected my parents like you didn’t, I would have been able to run away as I did,” Ivy growled. She wanted to stand up, but she knew if she did Samuel would just push her down. “Look I don’t know what the hell is going on, but I want to get through this and get Nick back, then I want to live my life. I don’t want to be a prisoner to anyone, and neither you nor Quinn is going to use me!”

“Well Ivy you are in a highly protected place, and I doubt you can figure out how to get out of here, so I don’t know if you will find a way out of here.” He mused playing with his fingers. “Besides if I leave you the way you are, you will have to do what I say.”

“So, you are willing to leave me like this?” she hissed.

“If you are willing to run yes why not?” he laughed. “I mean you are better weak and like this than out there running away from dark dwellers that want to do far worse to you than I would.”

“What kind of person are you?” she growled standing up. She felt an instant spin of the room, she tried to fight it as long as possible, but she fell to the ground.

“I am in control here.” He said getting to his feet. “You see not all white dwellers are good.” He leaned down so he could grab her by her hair. “I want control over you; I want to see you suffer for as long as possible. When your parents told me your mother was pregnant and we ran her blood, and her levels were out of this world.” He said pulling her up by her hair. “I knew you were the key, your blood, your life essence, you are going to make me immortal.” He growled.

“I’m not going to make you into nothing,” Ivy growled through the pain he was inflicting on her. “I will get my strength back and I will kill you. When Quinn comes for me, I will fight for him, and you will die by my hand.”

“Quinn isn’t coming for you; we will wait for him in the circle of magic after I’ve weakened you enough, so you are dead. He thinks he is saving you. But when he comes I’ll battle wound him until he bleeds to death.” He snapped throwing her down.

“You’re a demon!” Ivy spat at him.

“Now you’re catching on.” He said leaning on the desk in front of her. “You see all of this was tricks and smoke. Nothing you see is real, not even Nick knows where you are. Quinn thinks Nick was a lucky catch. When in reality I and my dark dwellers betrayed Quinn too.” He laughed. “Quinn doesn’t even know we’re on the same realm, and yes dear Ivy I know you two have been communicating, my magic has been blocking it mostly. Now that you’re weakened to this point you cannot communicate anymore.”

“But none of this makes sense,” Ivy said trying to stand but she was getting weaker and weaker. “I thought you were a white dweller.”

“Wrong, they are good dwellers Ivy, they would be protecting you. We want to see you suffer, we want to see you die and we’re going to feast on your living essence as you die and we’re going to watch as it consumes you. The only thing we’re going after you die is your son. He is the last of your kind, once he is dead. Then we will become immortal. Why do you think Quinn wanted to make more babies, he wanted to stop that from happening. But you being stupid thinking Nick would keep you safe. Pathetic. Take her downstairs, this begins now.” He growled at Samuel.

Samuel forced Ivy up, he was gentler with her, but he made her walk towards the cellar door.

Ivy tried fighting her way away from him. but Samuel all of the sudden became a lot stronger, she wasn’t sure what was happening. “You’re going to make me do this?” she said trying to pull her arm from his hold.

“You heard him,” Samuel said pushing the door open. “He has plans, and he is the leader her. I am doing what he tells me.”

“Of course, you are a demon.” She said leaning against the wall. “I guess my life doesn’t matter much anyway. “I am sure you were part of that sinister plan when he found out what I was too huh?”

“Can you not make this harder?” He said walking with her down the stairs. “You don’t understand what it’s like to be us. We don’t get chances to be of the light to get to experience the life that you dwellers get. We get the shits and the decays. Nothing more.”

Ivy rolled her eyes; it didn’t matter what she said to him. She had to piss him off as much as possible. She wasn’t getting out of this place alive. She might as well go out with a bang. Tonight was probably the last time she’d be alive, so what the hell, right? “Well, that’s what you get; you are demons, worthless and pathetic.” She said rolling her eyes.

Samuel couldn’t contain his anger, he backhanded her. She fell to the ground; she rubbed where he hit her.

“I’m sorry.” He said kneeling next to her. “I don’t want to see you go through this, but it’s better than it’s me here than someone else. They will hurt you and I don’t want you to hurt more than you have to.”

“It doesn’t matter, let’s just get this done and over with.” She said pushing him away. She wanted to stand up by herself, but she knew it wasn’t going to be possible. She wanted to get to Nick, but she knew that was even less possible.

“Come on Ivy I need to get you on this table,” Samuel said picking her up even though she fought as much as she could, but he could tell her was growing weaker and weaker. He felt bad but knew she was going to die either way.