Chereads / STINGER / Chapter 13 - Dungeon

Chapter 13 - Dungeon

It was day three in the castle walls. I wasn't so sure for how long it happened that I slept because you cannot even tell the difference in the dark castle. There was barely any window behind those dark curtains, but when they part I could see some beams escape through

I was currently on my side wide awake staring at the door connected to the room, that I never dare think of going through. I couldn't stop thinking about mom and the look I saw on her face. The fear for my life, she was at gun point but her worry was for me. I cannot just stay captive to this room, I had to get answers even of it's occasionally getting my head almost popped off my neck.

I threw my legs off the bed before I sat burying my face in my palms stray tears rushing down my cheeks effortlessly. I was still practically sick, if mom was here she would have forbade me from moving. I finally got on my feet for what felt like years, I looked down on at them feeling the cold in the floorboards seep through my flesh. It was then that I realized I was in a slip, again. What was their deal putting me in inappropriate clothes? and that's not the only problem. I was covered in filth and blood, I stink.

I wanted to feel that warm goodness against my skin. I jumped right in bed when I heard footsteps around my door before it opened, my heart pounding against my chest and I was foolishly holding my breath, I wasn't even supposed to be playing dead.

What are you doing? just calm down ....breathe Gia

It could have worked in the Hollywood but this was just a little different. I cannot dare to be calm after everything, all my thoughts of bravery cleared out as soon as the door opened.

If I ever get to leave out of this with my head on, I'm going to burn my TV set because they were very misleading. They showed us supernatural beings are super cool and friendly, they can actually fall in love with us. Just look at twilight, Bella's got two up her tail.

I was supposed to be sleeping but at the rate my heart was beating and my panting would all give me up. I waited for it but it never hit, maybe they left already. I peered with one eye just a bit and there was no one towering me or flashing fangs at me threateningly. I sat up again, looking directly at the door, it was closed

"You Know, I could totally hear your heartbeat the whole time" A voice said making me jump out of the bed. It was that same person woman that left earlier,

What's her name again..... Lucinda

I had my hand over my chest protectively, I think I might be suffering from a heart attack.

Why does everyone enjoy doing that

She was standing by the bed simply staring me down. I moved my eyes slowly down to my dirty self.

"First thing, you need a hot bath" she said excited simply walking to the adjoining door i was staring down. She opened it and motion for me to enter while she held it for me with a warm smile. I walked slowly and slid inside using my side with a rather awkward toothy smile of my own, I wouldn't want anymore incidents. I was standing in a whole white bathroom, the bathtub at the middle of it. It was already filled with water almost to the rim. I glanced back when I heard the door slowly closing, I thought I was finally alone to bless myself with hot water and also relieve my bladder.

She was still standing there behind me with a white bathrobe in her hands before she hung it on a rail.

"Get those off!" she ordered before coming over to face me. I looked at her and then back to myself again, having a handful of the slip in my fist, it felt all too weird to get undressed in the presence of a woman I don't know.

"Right Now?" I sort of whispered

"Of course you can't possibly bath with clothes on, right?"

Avoiding any other uncomfortable situation, I grabbed the edge of the light dress urging my self not to break by her stare. I pull it off before handing it to her as her gesture implied.

Now I was just standing in my underwear feeling my skin burn. She was still straightening her hands out, which made my face frown in confusion.

"Go on"

I looked down at my exposed self and then back to her face again before understanding she meant all what I was wearing. I slowly reached my hands to my back undoing the bra straps and then panties. She took them and turned around to leave, finally before she stopped.

"I will be back soon," she said before exiting. I sighed in relief as the door shut looking down at the clear water my reflection swimming in it, I looked nothing like three days before. I just saw a totally different person staring back at me, tears started to well in my eyes as I went over the beginning of it all, shallow falls. There must be something there that mom was trying to shield me from, but why did she let Nan and grandpa believe she was taking me there? I need to find that out.

I got myself into the tub, shaking off the thought of my misfortune this year and just to do I was told for the mean time, just to stay alive before I find a way out. The temperature was just right, It felt good to finally get the filth off me. There was a sponge and soap left for me on a small table over the tub. I cleaned myself enjoying the warmth penetrating through my pores deep inside my body. If I was home, I would kick back and relax until the water runs cold. That thought alone couldn't let me enjoy it much and she said she would be back soon. I also got the liberty to wash my hair before I got out of the tub. I walked slowly to the rail she hung the robe when I noticed I wasn't feeling anything. I quickly glanced down to the rib I might have broken two days ago, the discoloration was gone. I took a look at the skin around my wrist and they were looking even healthier than before, the itch on my neck has disappeared too. I ran my fingers on my neck, I felt no sting or pain.

I stood there with my jaw almost hitting the floor, I quickly remembered the blood she said was contained in that soup. But I just took a spoon full, barely. I knew vampire blood had healing powers but it cannot be this fast... unless, I pulled the robe over my body ignoring the thought of maybe in those two days I might have been taking demon blood, heaven knows what it has done to me already. Advancing to the door feeling an acidic taste in my mouth, it flew right opened making me jerk back in fright

"Come along" she stated turning on her heels, I followed right after. That was when I saw clothes laid on the bed, jeans and shirts, half cute dresses and also flowing gowns. We all know where my pick lays,

jeans and shirt check.

"Get some clothes on and I'll be back with some food" she said before appearing in front of me, I let out a squeal before she smiled warmly, placing her hands on my shoulder. She slowly turned me around so that I will be facing the bathroom door, my heart racing painfully in my chest and that's when I felt her hands in my hair before she started combing through my knotted hair.

"I'll do it myself" I said carefully not to upset her reaching my hand backwards to take over but she smacked my hand instead

"Don't be silly, I love taking care of people especially making hair"

I held my hands in front of me, noticing from the hard pulls of the knots to the easy drive of the comb in my hair. The touch of the comb vanished and the next I felt was her finger tips messaging my scalp. When she reached the tip of my hair, she swept in over to my left shoulder. I heard her gasp under her breath, which made my not-so-relaxed muscles more tensed. I just remembered how my mom reacted whatever was there.

"It really is," Lucinda muttered probably to herself

"What?" I inquired my heart racing again. She was suddenly seeing her in front of me again.

Really they've got to stop that before I fall victim to cardiac arrest. She had the brush in her hands just looking at me with so much pity in her eyes. I didn't know why but it felt genuine. She handed me the brush just before she broke off the stare

"Thank you for-" I didn't even finish before she was out the door. It was really fast that I thought she actually teleported. I started brushing through it again, just to keep my hands busy and my mind away from thoughts, a lot of hair fell out

I sat by the the bed remembering when my mom could moisturize my scalp and comb through it so carefully that I wouldn't even feel it but I still complained about how it hurt. She would pull me close to her and rain kisses on me before she continues even more delicate than before until I found myself drifting away into sleep. Her horrific death tore through again giving me goose skin and tears, I wanted to scream some more but I cannot let myself end without acquiring justice for my mother. I got myself in a pair of jeans and a button-up t-shirt.

My stomach was turning and cramping so bad, I must be really hungry but hoping it could be something that I could actually eat this time.

My head snapped up towards the door. I thought I heard something by the door, I was about to shrug it off when I noticed the door was slowing getting agar. I got off the bed slowly waiting for her to show up but the door stood the same creepy way and there wasn't any movements outside. I couldn't stand the suspense anymore I took steady footsteps to the door placing my hand carefully on the knob, second guessing. I pull on the door slowly letting my curiosity win.

I was standing in the doorway, right leading to stairs and the other stretched farther holding several doors on either walls. My brows furrow into a frown, I couldn't understand how the door opened all on it's own, doors never open on their own and to add to my puzzle was odd silence seeing that the castle had no less than 50 vampires it can never be just this still, maybe it was the middle of day. It's Vampire tradition to rest in the day not that they needed it and take over the night creeping in the shadows.

I stepped out fully looking both ways before advancing slowly to the stairs, the other end had so much uncertainty and I never knew my luck was that good. I had a chance to flee this death trap but my hopes eroded when I heard rumbling and growl, I froze to the head of stairs searching for where the sound was coming from.

I jumped back when I saw a body being thrown over the first five stairs connecting to the wall with a loud thud, in split second he got on his feet and plunge forward at what ever that attacked him. It was so fast that I almost didn't see him, I shoved back with my heart in-between my throat.

I should have stayed in and waited for Lucinda to come with my food platter. I turned around on my heels only to find a demonic figure behind me(the one holding my mother), red glowing eyes, flashing his fangs threatening with his face covered in blood and healing wounds. My heart started racing painfully in my chest again, he was definitely going to kill me himself since Lorena wasn't there to command. I saw his stance becoming even more dangerous as I tried to get my way back into the room

"I-I was just getting back into the room" I managed to speak before fear seized me as he snarled. I gasped and my blood ran ice cold shoving back faster forgetting the flight of steps behind me.

The next second I was falling off until I was at the foot of the stairs. I didn't have time to check whether I was hurt or not even though my bones cracked when I stood up but all I could remember was the figure that wanted to devour me seconds ago.

I pushed off the floor grunting, my head throbbing with pain before I sighted him coming down the stairs a foot after the other, it was like he was playing tumble and run with me. An icy smile playing on his lips, I froze at it. It was like he kept me in a trance, I wasn't sure if my heart was racing and not just stopped. In a beat I saw something, dark, huge, hairy, on four limbs leaping into the air over the stair railing pouncing on the vampire, tearing through it's flesh as he roared, limb after limb before finally ripping his head off.

Air was instantly cut off my lungs as I try to process what I saw was a werewolf ripping that vampire into shreds. More screams and growls filled the air coming from every corner of the castle

I should have expected there will be more mythical creatures that were true.

The huge beast with yellow eyes was now turning on me growling coming down the steps. Everything was just playing like a movie in slow motion, I was standing there with every breath came up with pain in my chest choking down tears, I was very close to peeing myself. My cold knees actually moved me, it wasn't even registered in my brain I was running across the foyer looking over my shoulder, going faster as I ran across to the hall, I came to a halt as another werewolf showed up blocking my way. I was so frightened, I didn't know what to do next. One coming at front and another at the back. It was worst than being gunned down in the middle of the streets.

I backed away slowly with every step the werewolf takes, I didn't feel anything behind me so I kept telling myself I wasn't shoving myself into the mouth of death itself. With the sounds of distress filled in the air It doesn't seem frightening like the look in those dark eyes. If that have been Gia from last three nights I would have passed out when he growled at me

I had to stay positive I was human after all, they don't have a beef with me. Their enemies were the people that abducted me which should in turn technically even make us natural friends. I would be delighted to whip up a deal. I took a quick glance to my side and I noticed an old wooden door opposite the stairway, I have got a little hope and would be happy escaping with some scratches. But not until my back was against the wall that I realized I was cornered. The yellow eyed standing behind me before was now blocking my only chance, they were closing in one from the side and the other at front. The only way I would be escaping would be the blood covered stairway. I calculated their moves, in the next two seconds I would have to go for the stairs with a required speed to escape a deadly attack, if lucky and didn't slip on the blood trailing down to the foot of the stairs then I might just have myself locked in the room again.

The dark eyed wolf who was coming from the front, was preparing to lunge at me when another growl sounded from behind

they had back up!

I was quite sure a claw from one of those werewolves would kill me, a whole pack wasn't necessary. An even more bigger, muscular one showed when the black eyed gave room, I presume he must be the Alpha seeing how they responded to him. He had hazel hair, sharp white teeth and red glowing eyes, it made him extremely scary. I was pressed against the wall and even the thought of escaping using the stairs ditched me. He stopped about 3feet away his eyes on me, waiting for me to act stupid and get killed. I felt like screaming but he might just attack furthermore I couldn't as my throat was closed shut. I think that must be one the defense mechanism our body takes.

His tensed form was oddly starting to ease as he took in my features by every second and in his eyes.... I had seen them somewhere. Something inside of them–deep inside showed there was more to him besides the monster he was. I couldn't shake the feeling that I had seen those before but it was stupid to say I had seen those red eyes on a huge dog. One of the others growling made him tense up again and an involuntary whimper escaped my mouth when he howled.

That very moment the other two went ahead disappearing through the halls but he stayed back, he came closer–as close as I could feel his heated breath on my stomach. I was so frightened closing my eyes seemed to be the only solution to not losing consciousness in such a situation, perspiration tripled covering my skin with moisture as it evolved heat from elevated heart rate. I was panting so hard that I had to open my mouth for better intake of oxygen as his heated breath kept brushing against my shirt softly. I slowly peeled my eyes opened seeing that I wasn't screaming in pain because he wasn't attacking. My eyes immediately locked on his red glowing bulbs, it left a feeling like glancing into a cup of red wine, powerful but soothing; knowing that it won't scrape against your throat when swallowing . It was strange how suddenly my nerves were not so on fire form the fear for of death, his soft gaze was making me plunge deeper into them thus getting all the more convinced that there was no threat.

I felt like we were not strangers and he definitely wasn't my possible mutilator. His breath was calm and so was his low growls, his snout was nearly touching over my stomach now as he slowly kept coming closer in intervals.

I didn't know when my hand reach up to touch him before I heard a frightening roar, which made the harmless beast not so calm. It was that dark haired demon( the vampire leader) his eyes blood red, fangs flashing, half torn suit and his nails extended also blood coated. He looked extremely furious and covered in blood made him look whole more dangerous.

The beast in front of me now facing the vampire was nothing but pleased. His growls were as frightening as they get with the vampire roar, they sure doesn't seem to like each other.

One thing TV shows seems to be right about

My eyes were now locked to the vampire at the end of the hall his hands by his sides with his nails dripping blood to the floor and his face scrunched up in hatred towards me, he was looking my way!. I haven't been anything but cooperative and haven't even thrown him a glare for everything.

The wolf growl even harder, sending vibrations into my empty stomach, I quickly glanced down seeing him almost doubling his own size, his muscled all strained. My chest was hurting from the tripled racing of my heart. He was blocking me from the vampire rather protectively than he was to fight him off.

Before I would move my gaze back to the vampire It was like he disappeared into thin air and reappeared halfway across the foyer meeting with the huge dog. He slid across the floor dodging a deadly move made by the wolf which was now he had better access to toss me into the air and had me torn limb to limb before gravity could pull me down but he glanced a bit to me which lasted only for a second but felt like eternity of vows to design my life into hell on Earth.

He charged to the werewolf that was also making his way back to me, the wolf had his mouth filled with razor sharp teeth opened for a deadly grab on the vampire but he leaped in the air landing on the werewolves back instantly giving the werewolf a hard blow in the head. He was sent to a length of a feet to the side of the blow but quickly regaining his composure he pawed the vampire in the gut and on and on it continued.

I was watching horrified, I didn't know what was going on because it was too fast. My head was starting to spin with it a nausea streak, more showed up from both parties before the wolves decided to retreat but not until the leader looked over his shoulder to me before disappearing into the night. I was left there feeling nothing but my half busted heart and my thumbing head.

"What have you done?!" he hissed at me even from the distance I can hear him roar deeply. The rest were all back to their less terrifying look but he looked even more demonic than his face off with his mortal enemy. I didn't know why he was furious at me or asking me the question but he was the one that dragged me here.

"I-I didn't" I said trying to catch my breath from how deadly fast my heart was beating

"Don't speak! Get her out of here" he said to one of his minions turning his head away from me. Actually that pissed me off, he had no right to ball with me like that. Two of his men grabbed me by the upper arm pulling me towards the stairs but I wasn't going to leave, somehow I pulled out of their grip and advanced to the middle of the foyer.

"No! I'm going no where until you answer to me why we were attacked?!" I said my voice hoarse with anger

"We!?!"

that was all I heard before I suddenly felt my weight hanging by my neck in the process coating my skin with the blood on his hand and the back of my head slammed against the wall behind me. My hands wrapped around his hand on instinct trying to pry his hand off my neck as he tried to cut off air in my throat.....again.

I found myself flying in the air for a moment as he threw me across the room hitting my back with the wall, I landed with a thud. I sucked in air rapidly to settle the pain snaking up my pain. I crawled away from the wall glancing to my side I was a lady lying in a pool of blood staining the carpet beneath her. He was looking that way after he ordered for me to be taken away. That must be one of the reasons he was pissed at me but none of it was my fault.

"How dare you?" he barked demonically his Iris darker in shades of red.

I swayed to my feet and he was already in front of me, he was surely much more enraged

"Please I did nothing" I tried to reason but I pissed him more. He grabbed me again by the neck raising me off the floor by about three centimeters, this time it was meant to kill me. I started kicking my legs as I felt him tightened his grip, my head felt being compressed and it would pop any second with it my cervical vertebrae. Tears were leaving my eyes as my vision was getting spotted with purple and black, I was choking painfully saliva starting to drip off the corner of my mouth as my eyes fell close. I suddenly felt something deep inside my tissue, surging from every neuron fiber channeling surfacing to my skin wrapping around my body protectively like static, the hair on my back and my hand were sticking up as I heard the crackling sound erupting everywhere considerably muting the trashing beat of my heart. It concentrated to my finger tips as it continued to build up in my chest. Finally erupting my eyes forced opened as I found myself slumped on the floor and him three feet away from me.

My vision was like viewing through a fish bowl. I was laid on my back, breathing slowed and so was my pulse that I could still hear in my ears. I couldn't understand what happened especially seeing him on all fours.

He slowly stood up his face in confusion and more anger his next motion made me flinch and my muscle stiffen.

"Take her to the dungeon"

My heart picked up pace again as I try to move my cold stiffen body but it wasn't responding. I wasn't even fully conscious as I try not let myself be thrown into the dungeon. Seeing him completely over me, towering me before the footsteps of his kindreds flood my ear it did the last I was refusing. My eyes slowly relaxed pulling themselves together like magnetic poles, casketing me in the darkness that was eating away my life.

****

I had never been in detention or time out in my life and there I was being nestled in a dungeon for a crime my hands were clean of. Being in the darkness for a while was a restless steep. I came to my eyes slowly opening up, I was nearly consumed in darkness make me thought I had really woken up but the specks of yellow glowing light told me otherwise. I was face down my cheek plastered to the cold of the cement, I shoved up roughly getting to my feet.

I caught on a smell, stench of blood and rotten flesh. I quickly made my way to the cell bars peeking through the space in-between, I saw an array of torches nestled in the wall locked in a metal ring to keep them in place.

"Anyone? Get me out of this place" my hoarse rang in the dungeon getting my voice only as a response. I shook the cell door with all my strength, the locks only rattled a little.

I cried for long knowing no one was coming to get me out. I sat back down hugging my legs to my chest thus falling into short span sleep.

I was waken from the sleep by the deep sounding steps. I scrambled to my feet and shoved away from the cell door. There came the male that dragged me into the dungeon but this time with him another body limp over his shoulder. I couldn't see any of his facials but his booted feet, the hands that were loosely swinging on the side was dripping blood on the floor as the dungeon master opened up my cell.

I didn't speak but moved further into the corner not letting myself get consumed in the darkness. I didn't want to think what was lurking there. He dumped him into the cell in a heap and simply turned away walking out without a word locking us in, again.

I watched him until I can no longer see his silhouette casting a croaked shadow as he went farther. My gaze went back to my new cellmate whom was still on the ground, I slowly walked over so I could see him clearly but not as clear because the lighting was bad so I could only see one half of his face while the other was in darkness his legs were stretched forward and his hands laid by his side.

He had hazel hair in a punk style swift one side, his face was skinny and long with prickles covering his face which I recognized as blood splatter, he looked young too roughly my age or a little older. The blood trailing down to his finger tip I traced back to his neck which held two sets of holes on the upper and lower neck. His eyes were closed so I couldn't see the color of his eyes but I could say they were light brown. It would suit him,

He might have been drained out by them but he didn't look pale to me although I couldn't quiet tell with the dim lights, even if he weren't drained they would be killing him soon. His parents must have been worried and looking for him by now but it was good to have company of someone like me

As I was observing him it was either I didn't hear him coming down the dungeon stairs or he teleported behind me.

"You are compatible," I heard him say, I turned around quickly with my heart in-between my throat. He was cleaned in a new suit not wearing the tie, his hands locked behind me as he looked at the body plainly.

"Frail mortal body, loud and pathetic but he has something you don't," his gaze fall at me as his voice hardened towards the end, his features shifting from stable to something between the range of anger and despite

"A finish" he said moving closer to the cell bars, I didn't try to move away although my legs were wobbly, urging me to move back because I was at arms reach.

"What do you want from me, more of what I don't have to lose?"

"It's what he will want in a short time" as quick as the wind, I registered only the pain in my arm, he zinged away too without me registering but just the slight air disturbance. He cut through my shirt and flesh, blood slowly seeping out thus staining my skin. I wrapped my hand around it quickly

I was confused but decided to keep away from it, I had to make better of my time down there not let myself lose my mind. I reached for the lock going through in-between the bars, it was padded I couldn't break it even if I had a tool. I waited patiently with my back against the cell bars watching the boy at front whom was really breathing, I realized after a couple of minutes. He was practically dead already, I knew they wouldn't leave me there for long they had to get me out or I will get really loud.

I had time to think about my mom, how she died. It was very persistent in my memory as it kept playing in my mind at any time of solitude I get. And then my grandparents, they must be expecting us to make contact or worse they might have found her dead body and thought I was dead too, they wouldn't try looking for me for long but I know they would take good care of Max for me. Nan must be devastated all over again, first her son, now her daughter-in-law and now her only grandchild was missing.

It was a good thing dad was gone already, he would have handled Mom's loss a whole worst than she did. Out of so much love mom and dad had similar tattoo on their shoulder blade. I had asked if I would get one like that but they laughed at me real loud mockingly.

I smiled too at the memory resting my head back on my knees. I didn't realize when I slipped into a sleep again.

My eyes flutter as I slowly wake from a sound—It sounded like a sob but not exactly like it more like a moan. I slowly put my head up, the light had considerably reduced and my cellmate was missing.

I quickly looked to the door, it was still closed and I was certain no one had came down there, if they did I would have heard it. I got to my feet, not leaving my spot, that moaning noise was still there specifically coming from the farther end of the cell bathed in darkness.

"Hello? Are you there?"

"Yes," he answered before his footsteps followed. He quickly shielded his face as he came to the light. Indeed his eyes were light brown.

"Who are you? And how am I here?" he said looking around the cell room, confusion and sweat all over his face.

"Is this what a federal prison looks like?" he asked now concentrating towards me.

"No, you are in a dungeon just like me. What was the last thing you remember?"

"I remembered a woman.. and she uhm.. bought me here"

He simply groaned again, clutching his stomach

"I'm sick" he said falling to his knees

"Ok, I will try see if they would come for help" I turned to the bars again

"We need some help here please" I yelled as loud as I could jerking the cell bars with both hands to make a louder noise which I was quite sure they heard.

"I'm not sure they will care much seeing they put us down here"

I knew that too but I was trying to be supportive. Turning around I saw him gazing to the floor in a trance.

"Are you ok?" There was no response as I expected it already, his gaze was never leaving the floor so I followed too.

There was droplets of my blood staining the floor, three inches or less of where I was standing.

Right there I understood what he meant by "it's what he would want in a short time" and why he cut me in the arm; he was in transition.

I backed in until I was pressed against the cell door out of options. I knew he would be in desperate need of blood, even for the person with most of resistance would break at some point.

"I know you have the urge to rip me apart but you need to calm down"

He growled his fangs immediately extending, he came at me fast with less to no recognition of my next movement I found my hand inside his chest pulling his heart out in a beat.

Upon realizing I was holding a victimized person's heart taking it's last beats in my hands while his blood seep through the cracks of my grip staining my fist and floor red, I threw it to the floor gasping noticing his body was limp on the floor too fallen on his side with his eyes wide open. I was in a chaotic storm with no idea what to do I screamed for help pleading for them to get me out of there because I would be losing my mind soon.

Right then I knew everything was wrong—something was different with me and I didn't know what or how it was happening but I just killed a man and that was my upmost dismay.

I crawled into a ball in the corner, keeping a good distance as far as I could from the body and the heart on the floor that I couldn't remove my gaze from, it was taunting. Tears effortlessly left my eyes in silent sobs and my hand was still painted of my crimes constantly reminding me I did killed that teen no matter how hard I refrain from doing it.

I would never be able to forget it.