I jerk awake as I feel a sharp stinging on my cheek.My father drags me out of the car by my arm and throws me to the side.
"I did not invest so much time and resources into you for you to be a failure. Do I need to start all over and try again for the perfect child?"
He sneers down at me and I feel my heart drop. I know that he means it. He wouldn't waste a second in harming more women if I can't complete this.
"The mission was a success, sir. What happened after will not happen again."
I look down waiting for the impact of another slap. Unfortunately I don't get off that easy. My heart stops beating when I hear his next words.
"Vladimir, make sure she understands failure is not an option."
Suddenly, I'm being dragged towards the worn down metal shed to the side of the house. I hear the door slam open as Vladimir picks me up and throws me down the stairs. I roll into a ball protecting any major organs before slamming onto the ground knocking the wind out of me. I don't get a chance to catch my breath before he straps me to the wall. My hands and feet are in silver handcuffs attached to the wall causing me to be spread out uncomfortably with my face smashing into it. I watch as Vlad takes his time going through his "tools" to find the perfect one to teach me a lesson.
Vladimir is my father's third man. He used to be in charge of interrogating criminals and traitors against the Guardians. He was the warden for almost fifty years leaving him with inhumane knowledge on the most effect torture strategies. My father had him use every torture technique under the sun on me so if I was ever captured I would be able to keep my mouth shut. He wouldn't want any word to get back to him if I failed so he could continue with his plan. I'm all too familiar with this torture shack. I spend a large portion of my childhood strapped to the table or wall getting accustomed to different types of torture. I'm quite used to being tortured, but I don't think I'll ever get used to the emotional toll of it. I've taught myself how to emotionally detach myself during these sessions, but it seems to only dull the pain a little.
I brace myself as Vlad takes out his personal favorite. A whip dipped in wolfsbane. I might not be a werewolf, but wolfsbane still slows my healing enhancements as well as silver weakening my abilities. I start to count the lashes wondering how many I can handle this time. My personal best is 22.
I grit my teeth as tears fall. I know better than to cry out. The more I scream the more I get whipped. I cry silently until I see my vision tunnel. I only counted to 20 before I feel Vlad stop. I focus my eyes on him as he stomps up the stairs and out of the shack. Looks like father told him to take it easy on me since I have a job to do. I hang from the wall for what seems like forever before exhaustion takes over my body and I'm forced into another sleep full of nightmares.
**
"Happy Birthday, Briar. I can't believe my beautiful flower is five."
My mom spins me around in her arms and I laugh out feeling dizzy. She pulls out a cake from the pantry before telling me to make a wish. I close my eyes and wish for more birthdays like this. I love my mom more than anything and she makes everyday feel like my birthday.
Once we get done eating, I hear my mom start talking.
"Briar, honey. We need to have a serious talk. I'm not sure if you will understand, but I need you to try."
Her eyes are filled with sadness and it hurts my heart to see her without her usual smile.
"Next year on your birthday, I'm going to have to leave you. I'm so sorry, baby. But I need to prepare you for this. There is nothing you can do, so I need you to be brave for me and not tell anyone about this. Okay?"
I nod my head as tears begin to fall. I don't understand why she has to leave me. We are supposed to be together forever.
"Baby girl, please don't cry. You will be okay. You are the one who will save us all. Do you know why I named you Briar?"
I shake my head at her wondering where she is going with this.
"Your heart is like a pure rose that will bring peace back to all the lands. But you must protect it, Briar. Like briars protect roses, you will need to shield your heart."
She puts her hand over my chest and kisses my forehead. I lean into her embrace memorizing the way her arms feel around me. The way her hair tickles my nose. The way she smells like rain and honey.
Suddenly I'm not hugging her anymore, I see her kneeling in front of me with my father holding a gun to her head. I try to run to them but someone is holding me back. I scream and cry begging him to stop. I see her body hit the floor before the gunshot registers in my mind. I fall to the floor crying and calling out to my mom.
**
I wake up to someone moving my arms. I open my eyes to find Alistair unchaining me. He quietly carries me to the house and up to my room. He helps me clean the whip lashes on my back pulling the fabric from my shirt from the wounds. My body feels numb as he dabs ointment on me so I won't get an infection.
Alistair is easily my favorite of the three. He has never raised his hand at me or been unfair to me. My father calls him weak for it, but I am more than grateful for a little bit of affection and love.
"You need to be more careful, Briar. You know the beatings will only get worse if you don't succeed without any mishaps."
I smile at him for using the name my mother gave me. No one besides my mother used that name, but he started to after I had to watch her die. He wasn't always calm and caring, but that day a switch in him flipped. I'm happy that it did because I don't think I could have survived all of this without him.
"Don't worry about me. All of this will be over soon and hopefully it'll all be behind me."
My father has told me several times that he will grant me freedom once I do this for him. He is not a man of his word, but I have to believe in something to get me through all of this. To give me a reason to kill so many people. I'll be giving countless women and children their freedom along with my own. I just hope I survive to see the day.
Alistair bids me goodnight and leaves me alone. I finish getting myself ready for bed and slip under the covers laying on my belly. Tomorrow, I only have go focus on healing. But the next day, I will be heading to the Vampire kingdom to bring another species to their demise.