Chapter 138 Elara's POV
Rough hands dragged me across the cave floor.
I tried to fight them but I was too weak and too injured. My sprained ankle screamed with every movement and my head was still bleeding from where I'd hit it during the fall.
"Please," I begged. "Please don't do this. I'm pregnant. I need help-"
They didn't respond, didn't even acknowledge I'd spoken.
The masked men, three of them, all wearing dark robes with hoods covering their faces pulled me deeper into the cave system. Away from the main chamber where the torture was happening. Through narrow passages that twisted and turned until I was completely disoriented.
Finally, they stopped in front of a heavy iron door built into the rock face. One of them unlocked it and they threw me inside.
I hit the ground hard, pain exploding through my body. The door slammed shut behind me with a sound of finality that made my heart sink.
Complete darkness. I couldn't see anything at all.
I heard them outside the door, talking in a language I didn't recognize. Harsh, guttural sounds that sent chills down my spine. Not any language I'd ever heard before. Not even close to anything familiar.
Their voices faded as they walked away, leaving me alone in the darkness.
I tried to stand but my ankle gave out immediately. I collapsed back to the cold stone floor, breathing hard, trying not to panic.
"Okay," I whispered to myself. "Okay think you need to think."
But thinking was hard when you were injured and pregnant and locked in a cell in a cave controlled by Erebus followers.
I pressed my hand to my stomach. "We're going to be okay, Adrian. Somehow. I promise. Your father will find us, he will come for us."
But would he? How would Kaden even know where I was? I'd snuck out of my quarters without telling anyone. Wandered into the forest alone. I fell down a slope and got lost.
No one knew where I was, no one would think to look in a cave deep in Dark Moon territory.
I heard movement in the darkness. A shuffling sound coming from the back of the cell.
My blood froze. "Who's there?"
No answer. Just more shuffling. Getting closer.
I backed up against the wall, my heart pounding. "Stay back, don't come near me."
A small, weak voice spoke from the darkness. "You're new."
Her voice was raspy, like she hadn't spoken in a very long time.
"Who are you?" I asked.
"I should ask you the same thing. I've been here for... I don't know how long. Years maybe. And no one new has ever been brought to this cell."
My eyes were slowly adjusting to the darkness. I could make out a shape now. A figure sitting against the far wall.
"Can you come closer to the door? There's a little light coming through the crack."
She hesitated then slowly moved toward the thin line of light seeping under the iron door.
What I saw made me gasp.
A woman young, maybe early twenties. But she looked ancient. Her skin was pale to the point of being translucent. Her clothes were tattered rags barely covering her emaciated body. Her hair was pure white, though her face suggested she should be dark-haired.
And scars so many scars covering every visible inch of her skin burn marks cut marks brands.
"Oh my God," I whispered. "What did they do to you?"
"What they do to everyone breaks us, remakes us. Turn us into something useful for Erebus." Her voice was flat, emotionless. Like she'd long since given up feeling anything. "You'll see soon enough."
"No. I'm getting out of here. I have to get out. I have to warn people-"
A sharp, stabbing pain tore through my abdomen. I screamed, doubling over, clutching my stomach.
No not now please not now.
Another contraction hit. Stronger than the first. My water broke, warm fluid soaking through my clothes.
"No, no, no," I gasped. "It's too soon. The baby can't come now. Not here. Not like this-"
The young woman moved closer, her movements stiff and awkward like her body didn't work properly anymore.
"You're in labor," She said, stating the obvious.
"I know I'm in labor!" Another scream as another contraction hit. "I need help. I need a doctor. I need-"
She started shouting toward the door. In that strange, harsh language the masked men had been speaking. Calling for them. Demanding something.
I heard footsteps outside. Voices arguing. Then the door opened.
One of the masked men entered, carrying a bag. He knelt beside me and began examining me with surprising gentleness.
"The baby," I gasped. "Please. Help the baby."
He spoke in that strange language. Then he pulled out medical supplies from his bag and began treating me.
He gave me an injection to ease the pain, I think. The world started to blur at the edges. My panic faded slightly, replaced by a heavy drowsiness.
"Stay awake," the young woman said. "Don't fall asleep. They might do something while you're unconscious-"
But I couldn't help it because the medication was too strong. My eyes closed despite my best efforts.
I slipped into darkness.