Getting Burned
The walk out of the dungeons felt as treacherous as the walk they took going down into it. As Freya and Bella stepped with caution, following the guard behind his back carefully, and throwing every thought of bravery into Hades the instant it came into their minds; choosing to follow the man who had come to their ordered rescue until they reached outside. And even then, still be willing to act valiantly as slaves to instruction…
Their heads finally poked out into the light of the morning sun, as they climbed up a ladder, heard a heavy nob being turned, and then felt the sudden burst of light that poured down on their faces…
The guard blew out the lantern and stretched idly as he stepped up and outside the special exit of the dungeons, watching Freya and Bella come up behind him, rushing and almost hitting their heads in haste. Getting out and then immediately slumping to the ground in fatigue from the darkness, and gratitude for the sunlight.
The guard looked at them with disdain and a raised brow. Thinking absolutely nothing of them, and it deeply displeased him that the Alpha desired to see such lowlives…
Wondering what the reason even was?
“Alright now you bloody peasants, get off your arses and follow me.” The guard spat, now getting tired of seeing their feebleness. “It's a long walk back to the Alpha's abode, and it's bloody hot out here in the mornings, so let's keep it moving now!…” he yelled, as his hands suddenly produced a horse whip.
But Freya and Bella were still on the ground and planned to stay there. As the degree to which their bones rattled in need of rest was more than their desire to move anywhere.
But the crack of a whip on their backs sent them back into motion, screaming in tears as they rolled on the sandy floor in pain. The guard enjoyed their screams and increased the tempo as he whipped them harder until they forcefully and painfully got back to their feet.
He moved behind them and explained orders. Telling them they either kept moving or kept getting whipped. And the two girls nodded in a grimace. Listening and doing as told until they had crossed a stretch of miles that even camels would need water after. Their backs stinging and red from the places the whip struck.
They had reached past the residential areas, and the streets had now become crowded and stuffed with people—all around and only making way for them as they saw the guard behind them wielding a whip, and their saggy dust covered faces.
They walked past the penultimate gates of gold and diamonds, and then made their way through the iron and stone doors that led to the Alpha's chambers. Everything in sight being only made of a material more expensive than the previous one. As they walked past a mote covered at the bottom with crocodiles just to get to it.
Freya and Bella turned to each other weary and slowly, with their eyes blank and disoriented. Lost on what was to come and too afraid to guess. Their backs aching, wounds bleeding, and hands still stiff even though able to move freely.
As they saw the vast expanse of a building seemingly larger than life. From floor to ceiling the size of a dwarfed nephilim giant. A mansion acres wide, spreading out it's parts like tentacles in every direction and with trimmed vegetation flowing up its sides and down its bottom. Leading to a mini garden that grew besides the stairs that led to the entrance.
It was too much take in at a single glance, and Freya and Bella didn't have the time for sightseeing as they were shoved and pushed straight to the entrance—built out of oak doors the size of trees themselves, and pulled open by muscle bound bellhops who saluted the guard behind them, then stepped aside.
The guard huffed and held the hilt of his sword now with a new pride and gait, in response to the respect he was given. Now walking down the hallway lined with mannequin suits of armor, and stone statues made in honor of men unknown to Freya and Bella. He suddenly felt like a King, and the girls in front of him being led to their judgement were his own imaginary concubines…
He whistled and kicked his boot in a shimmy, glancing sideways for no reason, and adding a hip sway to his step like a western cowboy—letting evey last ounce of his ego get a well deserved massage.
And they all kept walking until they reached what was seemingly the final door. As it held a wolf-head insignia, both etched in stone, carved in wood and heated in steel. With Freya and Bella looking up at its sheer size and density. Watching four men the size of elephantine sumo wrestlers now push it open with all their fleshy backs into it.
The door creaked open in a slow ominous spread. Revealing the room beyond gradually as the space the door covered reduced with each push. There was a throne that sat at the far end of the room. The head of it's seat elongated and with golden lion heads at it's edges, made whole with velvet cushions for substance and function.
A man sat down deeply. His hands resting gently yet firmly on the arm rests. A crown on his head and a deep scowl on his face as he turned slowly towards them. His eyes deep set and seemingly fiery. Showing he saw their appearance as a disturbance from his thoughts. And a nuisance to his eyes.
Bella cowered on her feet at the sight of him, but Freya suddenly felt a strange energy emanating from the man's presence as her eyes met his. And she could feel her body strangely vibrate almost in an invisible tune, as her spirit instantly desired to gravitate towards him?…
She turned away confused, then turned back; now locking eyes with the man sitting stern, and she could suddenly feel her heart getting burned…