Chapter Seventeen - Stranger in the Dungeons

Aria’s POV.

For the rest of the day, I was cooped up in my room waiting to act on my plan.

Shane couldn’t keep me from seeing the man that had made my life a living hell. I wanted to look in his eyes and demand answers for his wickedness. I wanted him to see and to know how much I hated him and how happy I’d be to see him burn in hell. The memories of the doctor’s report continuously flashed through my head the more I thought about my planned encounter with my father. I could still vividly recall the exact words on the paper, stating that I wasn’t a sigma like he’d made me believe for my entire life.

My eyes pricked with tears as anger surged through when I recalled all of the countless times he’d taken advantage of my weakness and vulnerability. But I blinked the tears away, telling myself that he wouldn’t be the reason for my tears. I wouldn’t let him ruin my day or my life anymore.

I kept pacing the room, staring out the window and waiting for the perfect opportunity to come, and it did.

Thankfully, my bedroom was situated in a position where the streets outside the property were visible and I saw the alpha’s entourage leaving the estate. I stood still, my heart rate slowly picking up speed as I watched the cars speed out of the estate into the streets and get farther away from the property. Hurriedly, I sped out of my room and ran down the stairs, knowing I may have limited time until Shane would return.

In my hurry, I ran into a maid.

“H-hi…” I slowed to a stop, plastering a smile on my face but I could see the question in her eyes, yet, she bowed her head and it surprised me. But I didn’t have the time to question her actions. “The Alpha…” I blurted out, looking for a way to escape her scrutiny.

“He just left, ma’am,”

“Oh…” I muttered, nodding my head slowly.

“Is there anything you need? I could help you with it,”

My smile widened in pretense.

“No, not at all. I’ll just take a walk around the property until he returns,”

Again, she nodded and bowed respectfully before excusing herself.

I heaved a sigh of relief as soon as she was gone and continued with my mission, successfully getting out of the extravagant mansion and heading towards the outskirts of the property where the dungeons were located. Earlier that day, when the alpha and I had passed by, I didn't notice how big and vast the building was. Asides that, it appeared to be an ancient building as it looked much older than the rest of the structures in the property, with a gothic architectural design.

Looking at it now, the mere sight and the eerie silence surrounding it, coupled with the fact that it was surrounded by a forest of tall trees forming a canopy around the roof made it look mysterious. Thoughts of going into it alone had the hairs at the back of my neck rising in nervous anxiety with my heart rate rapidly increasing.

“Are those second thoughts I perceive?” Hailey’s annoyed tone filled my head and I exhaled deeply.

It was the first time she was showing interest in anything that had to do with my dad. Thinking of him as my father nauseated me at this point and I’d rather just use his birth-given name, George. He lost all rights to be called my father from the first moment he laid his filthy hands on me and from the very day he wove those dirty lies just to mess with my mental health and to destroy my life.

“Never,” I responded to Hailey and I felt an instant surge of energy as a rush of adrenaline streamed into my blood streams, fuelling the determination to cut all ties with George.

Ignoring the apprehension and tension twisting my guts, I covered the distance to the ancient building to see the two guards standing by the huge gates. As soon as their eyes landed on me, they bowed in respect. Their show of respect troubled me but I was too distracted by the intense need to have my final word with my so-called father to dwell on it for long.

“How may we help you, ma’am?” one of them asked. The men looked so huge, with hard expressions etched on their faces that it was hard to believe they were being nice to me. But then I had no doubt that it may be Shane’s doing.

I thought of what to tell them. It would be easy to get past them if I admitted I wanted to see my father but that would raise questions and gossip could start spreading. The last thing I wanted was for anyone to dig up my ugly past.

“I need to see one of the prisoners. The alpha told me he was here.”

“I’m sorry, ma’am, but we can’t let…” the sentinel to my right was about to refuse but his colleague leaned in to whisper some words into his ear. I didn’t hear what was said but when they pulled apart, they nodded curtly. “I’m sorry, ma’am. Please come in,”

I watched as the huge wrought iron gate swung open, creaking noisily. I nodded my thanks to them and was about to step in but they stopped me.

“You’ll need a guard to walk you in, ma’am,”

“That won’t be necessary. I wouldn’t be in for long. I just need to make sure the prisoner is here,”

They shared a look but let me in without more words.

If I thought the building was massive on the outside, it was definitely more vast on the inside. I stood between two walls, separated by a long hallway in the middle. My eyes trailed the dimly lit hallway, in a bid to find the end but I never saw it. All my eyes met was a dark path with no light. I felt my initial fear return, crawling down my spine.

I glanced back at the entrance, considering taking a guard with me but then this was my personal business. I wouldn’t confront my father in the presence of a stranger.

“You need any help, ma’am?” One of the guards inquired from behind me.

“N…” I cleared my suddenly dried throat. “No, thank you,”

Drawing in a shaky breath, I expelled it and continued into the hallway, hoping I was on the right path and that my father’s cell would be close by. I’d be terrified to step into the darker part but if I had to just to have my last word with George, I’d risk it.

Knowing that there were guards at the entrance that could come to my rescue if anything went wrong spurred me on.

The dungeons were eerily quiet but I could see the prisoners in their different cells, some perched at the end of the cell, curled in a ball while others were shackled to the hard concrete floor. Some had their eyes on me as I passed by, curiosity and a silent plea for mercy evident in their haunted gaze. The more prisoners I passed, the more my heart rate increased. I was almost at the end of the cells that were lit by the dim lights but my father was nowhere to be seen.

I walked until I stood by the last cell before the darkness but there was still no sign of him. I thought of venturing into the darkness but my fear got the best of me.

Maybe he was thrown into darkness? I wondered, still staring into the darkness. But then I decided to call his name, hoping he’d hear and respond.

“George?” At first, my voice was barely above a whisper. But I called again, this time louder and my voice echoed in the hallway.

If I hadn’t been listening carefully, I could have missed the faint response.

“Burnt on a stake with his ashes tossed into the lake,”

“W-what?” I stammered in confusion. That wasn’t George. No matter how much I detested him, I could still recognize his voice. This one was gruff and throaty. Yet, the only words that rang in my head were Stake and Burnt. I could vividly recall that Shane had said those same words. But how did this prisoner find out? “Who…who are you?”

“Your Savior,” The voice came again, doubling my confusion. I tried asking him to explain his words but then he began speaking in a strange language that sounded more like incantations.

“What…who…have you seen…” I tried interrupting him when he wouldn’t stop but I didn't know what to ask. His words made no sense.

But suddenly, silence descended upon me and I could hear what sounded like repeated thuds of a foot on the hard floor and somehow, it felt like he was summoning something until he began to whisper my name in a gravelly voice.

“Aria…” he chanted it like a mantra.

The realization that he knew my real name only messed with my head more, increasing my curiosity to know the man. I glanced back at the empty hallway and back to the darkness before stepping forward and the moment I did, my eyes landed on bright emerald green eyes staring back at me in the darkness. As if a spotlight suddenly came on, I saw a dim glow around a dark figure in the tiny cell space before me. He appeared to be shackled to the ceiling and to the floor. His glowing eyes were fixed on me as his lips trembled with words I couldn’t hear spilling out of them.

I was too scared to speak or even move as I stood rooted to the spot, staring at the stranger. I was so lost that I hadn’t heard the sounds of approaching footsteps until I felt the slight tap on my shoulder and a startled scream lurched out of my throat.

I jumped around to see one of the guards there, an unreadable expression etched on his face.

“The alpha is searching for you, ma’am. Please, come with me,”

I gulped, knowing I may have landed myself in trouble. Quickly, I glanced back but the man was no longer there. I was still plunged in the darkness with the dim light from the nearest cell illuminating my face and that of the guard. With a slight nod, I walked past him and he followed behind, our footsteps echoing in the silent hallway.