Chapter 29

We all gasped this time; some servant’s even screamed. My entire body went ice cold as Kyrell turned around when Hezron retracted the blade from his father and stabbed him again.

“ Run.” Cassie said while she stuffed the key for my chambers into my hand. I did what she said and ran. I had to get away from here.

Locking myself in my own chambers won’t help for long. Hezron would simply break the door down, unless he has his own spare key to my chambers. I had to find some other way to get out of here. Then it dawned on me. The secret entrance Kyrell used to sneak in with Morgan.

I had to get away from here, now, while everyone was occupied. Not knowing where Kyrell’s secret tunnels led to made me sceptic, but it was my only hope.

I almost made Kyrell’s chambers when an arm grabbed me around the waist and pulled me hard into the wall. It wasn’t Hezron, it was one of his other sadistic buddy’s.

“ Well, look at this pretty little appetizer we have here.”

“ I’ll give you an appetizer.” I said, and kicked as hard as I could with my knee into his groin. My elbow also connected hard with his jaw and another kick pushed him away from me, giving me the opportunity to run.

I ran into Kyrell’s chambers, shut the door behind me, and lock it. Then ran to another door. I felt for a latch to let me out of this place, but nothing I tried ,wanted to open that door. I hammered on the door frustrated, and it opened, revealing a dark staircase just when the secret tunnel door behind me slammed open. I shut the door behind me just in time.

The staircase was cold and slippery, and I could hear their voices in the room. Hezron screamed. I couldn’t believe that he killed his own father, but what could one expect with a father like his setting the wrong examples. For all that I care, Kyrell got what was coming his way, but now his sadistic son is after me now that his father is here to keep him on his place.

Hezron’s anger must have been fueled by years and years of oppression from Kyrell’s side.

A faint light revealed an opening and I found myself back in the courtyard, but a different part. It was empty when I opened the door that divided the staff quarters from the courtyard, and I ran with everything I had.

Kyrell’s body was still laying there with servant’s kneeling over him as I passed. I had no choice but to leave and ran through the courtyard. I smacked into someone in the third hallway and was relieved to see it was Cassie.

“ Are you okay.” She asked. I nodded out of breath. She reached out for my hand. “ We need to get you away from here fast.” I followed her, She was fast too, and I thanked the heavens she was here to help me.

She led me to a carriage waiting at the front entrance of the castle. She held the door open for me and followed behind me.

“ Thank you Cassie.” She gave me a polite smile. You could tell it has gotten easier for her compared to the first time she gave me a smile on the day of the Harvesting games.

I started to feel better as the distance between us and the castle grew further away. I could breathe again. I leave a sigh of relief.

“ Where are we going?” I asked eager.

“ I don’t know. I haven’t really thought this through.” She said out of breath, but then added. “ We could hide near the barrier line in the darkened forest.”

The darkened trees came into view as we reach the dark smoky barrier. That night when they captured me, I did not realize that I went through a magical barrier. I thought it was just dark smoke-like fog caused by the rain.

Suddenly, a shriek came from the sky. We peered with our heads out the window and notice Hezron flying on Bree just above us.

“ You have to jump.” Cassie suddenly said.

“ Wait, what about you?”

“ It is you he want’s. I will distract him while you make a run for it.” Tears weld up in my eyes and I pull her in for a hug.

“ Thank you for everything Cassie.” On that note, I leaped out of the carriage, connecting hard with the ground. I rolled and rolled until I steep hill stopped me. I got up and made a run for the trees.

Inside the creepy dark forest, I found a hiding spot and hid immediately behind a big tree. Barely, hiding, I heard voices, one of them sounded like one of Hezron’s buffoons who would always help him get into trouble. They were close by. Then I heard flapping sound and a screeching scream. It must be Hezron. My heart started pounding in my chest.

Shit! they found me.

They carried on walking, and I could hear something big connecting with the ground. Bree. Hezron’s Thestral.

“ Find her.” Hezron ordered, and then I heard Bree busy sniffing me out.

The hell with this hiding place!

I got up from behind the tree and ran as fast as I could in the stupid dress I had on, which I am sure was only designed to make woman slower.

“ There she is!” Someone yelled, and more footsteps started chasing me. And out of nowhere, Bree landed right in front of me. I retreated as she came closer, and someone’s arms folded around me.

“ Great job Bree.” Hezron’s arms folded around me. There was laughter in his voice and my head collided hard with his nose. Blood poured from his nose as he released me, and I kicked him in the gut, away from me as hard as I could. He dropped to his knees out of breath.

One of the other guys came for me as well, and I knew this was the time for me to fight for my life. To make use what Zaden had taught me.

My hand thrust against the man’s jaw, and I threw him over my shoulder, and kick him in the ribs just to make sure he stayed down. Hezron recovered from the blow I gave him and came charging at me full rage. His eyes gleaming with anger, and one of his friends came running towards me too, and punched me in the face, repeatedly. I refused to surrender, because I knew I would not wake up if I were to close my eyes.

“ Enough!” Hezron voice pierced through the trees as his friend hit me one more time.

“ What the hell? I want her alive for what I want to do to her.” He chuckled deviously.

“ The little cunt is a fighter. Where did she learn all those moves. Woman aren’t allowed to learn combat here in Dravonia.” The guy said as another pulled me over his shoulder.

Hezron grabbed my hair and lifted up my head. “ A fighter, huh? Where did you learn to fight like that.” He commanded to know. I just glared at him. My lip felt numb, and my head was pulsing.

“ It is none of your concern.” I said and spat in his face.

SMACK!

His hand collided hard with my cheekbone and this time everything went black. When I woke I was on the ground. My face pulsed and felt swollen from where they had punch me. My body ached.

Dim light glowed in the distance, above my head. My heart was hammering. I didn’t want to die.

“ Look who has decided to woke.” One of the men’s voices held so much joy. These men were crazy. They were not men. No wonder why that witch trapped them in the barrier.

Hezron climbed on top of me and sat on my chest with his full weight. He lowered until his head was only inches away from mine.

“ Do you have any more of those fighting moves you want to show us?” He grabbed my chin real hard and laid with his head on my chest. I know it was to listen to my heartbeat, to see how terrified I was. He chuckled as he lift his head back up.

“ Not so fire cracker now, are you?” I started to scream for help and squirm, but his weight was too heavy, and I couldn’t get free. They all laughed hysterically.

All I could think of, was how long Hezron must have planned this.

“ Get on with it your Majesty. We all want a turn.” One of them said, as he was busy unbuttoning his shirt. I glared at him; my eyes wild with anger. The other guy also laughed, staring down at me. He didn’t look anything but evil. Hezron grabbed my chin hard to make me look at him.