||Chapter Eight||
I'm Here||
T A L I A||
I straightened my shoulders and walked down the stairs holding my bowl of broth.
I stared at the door before me.
I wondered why they even had a dungeon in this place. It seemed so ancient and animalistic to throw people into dungeons nowadays, don't the police exist for reason like these?
Shaking my thoughts away I pushed the heavy doors making sure the broth in my hands wouldn't fall. Once the doors opened I was engulfed with darkness.
I gulped.
There was a tiny source of light though. There was an oil lamp on an old outdated wooden stool. I grab it with one hand lifting it as I balanced the broth on my other hand, careful not to trip over the rather steep stairs.
As I walked more and more into the dungeon stairs the luxurious scent of the Palace had faded with each step I took. It was rather strange. A ghastly stench entered my nose, one of metallic blood, piss and feces.
It was horrendous.
The guilt of Elisé being in such a place amplified.
Sure the brat had attacked me, not once but twice however even so, she wasn't used to a maid such as myself to attack her did she? I threatened her authority.
She had no choice but to well... hurt me or whatever it was she did. We were both in the wrong. I should have expected her harsh treatment. I shouldn't have acted upon it. I should have held my temper.
One could only wonder why whoever this person was put her here when it should have been me. This girl was a princess while I was a mere maid. Hell I was the one who slapped her first anyway!
I was snapped out of my thoughts once I stood in the middle of a hall. The luxuriousness and lavishness of the palace was gone. The cement floors were grey, and dirty, I should have worn a pair of shoes rather than walking in here barefoot.
It smelled bad as well.
As I walked through the hall I stared at the prison cells on both my left and right side. It was horrible!
The people in there looked so...inhumane.
Some of the men were awake and watched me curiously, others crouched in fear thinking of their fate, others however laid unmoving, I wondered if they were even alive...
It was as though I had entered the underworld... The home of nothing but the dead, the damned and the dying.
They had so many bruises and scars in their bodies. Some of the prisoners were still bleeding and I could have sworn I saw one of their hands missing!
Tears welled up my eyes as I wondered what they could have possibly done to get such treatment.
This family... they were brutal.
I shook my head. I needed to stay on task. I just needed to give Elisé her dinner and leave. However I didn't know where she was.
Sighing I looked at one of the awake prisoners. I walked over to him. He seemed rather old. I wondered how long he had stayed in here.
"Excuse me..." I said. My voice sounded so small, even to my own ears...
The man lifts his head up slowly, his dark beady eyes staring back at me, I gasped as I saw one of his eyes gouged out.
Don't throw up, Don't throw up hold it together hold it together-
"D-do y-you know w-where t-the princ-cess is?" I stammered.
Who wouldn't stammer while talking at a bleeding hurt man who had a missing eye?!
The man said nothing, he only raised his hand pointing so far deep in the halls with trembling finger. I did not know if it was because of the cold or fatigue. Maybe both.
Following his line of sight I saw a door. A large wooden door.
I gulped. Wondering if I was really prepared to see what was behind those doors. I mumbled out a thank you and scurried towards the door.
These people... were they expected to rot here?.. To die here? Will that happen to me if I ever messed up in here?
I stand before the oak doors before me.
I prayed.
I prayed that Elisé wouldn't look as bad as the men outside. It was my fault after all.
I slowly pushed the door open and walked inside, looking for the woman who used me as a mop.
Honestly the phrase sounded funny, but trust me... wiping glass was painful.
"What are you doing here!"
I yelped, the bowl almost slipped from my hands. Almost...
I turned to see her.
Elisé...
She was very much alive, thank god. However dark bags bruised underneath her eyes. Her dark locks a matted and oily mess as her skin was rather pale. Two icy blue eyes glared into my soul.
If looks could kill I would have been buried ten feet under...
She sat on the dirty floors as a silver chain clasped around her left ankle. A purple deathly bruise wrapped around the area.
I took slow steps towards her showing her the broth in my hands.
She rose an eyebrow.
"Came to poison me?" She asked me as she eyed the food in my hands.
"Is this what you wanted?" She adds as she looked back into my eyes. "To see me like this? Are you satisfied!" She snarled trying to move towards me but she was too weak to move. I flinched as the silver chains rattled through the room. Echoing through the room. Even in this mess of a state she still looked beautiful.
I forced myself to straighten my posture and pull myself together. I stared at her in silence before I spoke.
"None of this satisfies me." I tell her in honesty as I walked towards her. "It is why I am here actually" I tell her as she watched me in caution as I continued to walk towards her.
Once I was a foot away from her I bent down to place the broth on the cement floors next to her. "I do not expect a thank you, nor do I expect any kind treatment from you" I explained to her. Her eyes stared at the broth before locking with my eyes.
"-but I did not wish for you to stay here because of me" I simply said.
Maybe I imagined it, but I could have sworn I saw her eyes lose they're hostility for a moment. A second so short I doubted if the look in her eyes was real. She was quick to glare at me again. We stared at each other in silence.
I then look at her lack of clothing. I bit the inside of my cheek as before I sighed. I take off the sweater I wore over my maid uniform and place it next to her as well. The cold chill kissing my skin.
"It's not Prada but it will keep you warm" I said shrugging before I turned to leave. However just before I did the girl spoke.
"You know..." She begun,
"One could only hope your mother won't last..." The girl spoke. Anger simmered through me but before I speak Elisé had spoken again.
"Death is the only way to leave this place. Regardless wether you are a princess, or a maid. I have no regrets wishing for her to die. Only that way she would be at peace and only that would be the way you can leave" She said.
I turned around to face her, and I was surprised to see that her eyes were already locked and trained on mine.
There wasn't a smile on her face. Not even a smirk. There wasn't any hostility in her eyes even. Absolutely nothing.
In fact her eyes had a haunting glint in them.
As though all she had said right now was not a threat but.... the truth.
I was quick to pull myself together.
This girl just wished for my mother to die. She couldn't mean well.
"I don't need you to hope for such bullshit"
I glared at her as I continued, the pity I felt for her vanishing.
"My mother will live again and she will leave here as she pleases" I fumed, I then turned to leave these damn dungeons.
Pretty bizarre that they even had one in the first place.
"I'll never understand why Damonous would put me here for such a useless thing like you"
I froze for a moment as I felt those foreign sparks crackle through my skin at her words.
Damonous placed her here...
I walked out of the dungeons wondering one thing.
Why?
I couldn't care less. I had so many thoughts swirling through my mind. I was on the verge of having a nervous breakdown and I didn't want anyone to witness it. No one deserved to see me cry.
I hurried up the stairs in quick steps then slammed the door shut to the attic. A place I had found while wondering around the palace.
My trembling hands remained flat on the wooden door as I faced it. I closed my eyes and rest my forehead on the door, my entire head felt heavy. I let out a sigh as I walked towards the windows. My reflection slightly showing. I stared at my tired brown eyes. My messy hair and my now paled skin.
I switched my focus to the view.
It truly was beautiful I stared at it savoring it for a moment. I watched as the clouds hovered over the grey skies before darkening. Faint droplets of rain falling. I let out a quiet sob.
I slumped down to my knees.
I was so broke and poor. My mother my last and only piece of normality I have left. I used to come home and wait to see her contagious smile.
Now I'm a maid and am stuck in this everlasting torment until my mother's eyes shut closed forever.
Tears streamed down my eyes.
I know what some of you may be thinking. Why is she crying? This is supposed to be a blessing! How ungrateful!
I didn't want to be rich. I didn't want money, I loved my simple life. Sure it had it's ups and downs but I liked my small life with my mother. I liked that simple café. I liked the dumplings my mother made for me.
How would you feel if all of that had changed in the matter of hours?
Now I'm expected to survive in a school of money and wealthy greedy and spoilt students who I am certain would make fun of me the minute I step foot there. I began to pathetically cry quietly as I hugged my arms around my knees.
It's as if fate had thrown me to a pack of wolves.
I don't want this. Any of it...
N A R R A T I V E ||
Damonous sat on his room.
Glaring at the grey sky with his clouding thoughts.
Isn't it foreign to see something you've never seen within your lifespan?
For he was used to having women throwing themselves at his feet. Selling away their pride just for his mere attention.
However what if the only woman he wanted didn't spare him a second glance?
'I could have anyone' Damonous had thought.
Asmodeus lays peacefully in the back of his mind.
The girls soft scent was faint however he could still reach to it.
Just the feel of his mate's presence within the palace put all his violence in a deep slumber. That very same violence would only awaken if and once she is in danger.
'But we want her' was all his beast had said.
As if on cue he felt an ache so small within him.
However the ache was not one of danger. It wasn't... physical. But rather emotional.
The feeling of a heavy fog on your throat making it difficult to breathe as it feels as though your ribs had been compressed, too tight for your heart as the beating organ feels as though it had been pinched.
A feeling of helpless however it was something the dark prince had recognized all too well.
Sadness.
But then again, those feelings weren't his.
Standing up he left the room he was currently in with his usual inhumane speed. He lurked past every hall, every room following the scent of her sorrow.
Like the damp earthy scent after it had rained only with a touch of honeysuckle.
It was rather bittersweet.
It was then he found himself in front of the attic doors. He could hear her. Even though she was so quiet. Her tiny cries and soft whispers.
"I ask of you..."
"I beg of you... we don't care.... I don't care for money just.... let my mother be okay"
"Let the roles switch.... let me take her place..." A small voice had croaked.
Mother.
'Her mother... who is she?' Damonous thought.
He then wondered if she was the purpose of her being here.
Damonous's cold heart tightened.
Slowly, Damonous gently opened the door, however the poor girl was too busy crying to notice his presence.
Damonous' lips slightly part as he was welcomed by the cold.
The coldness of the attic room showed the condensation of the air coming out of his mouth. He stared at her state. She was curled up to a ball. Her long coppery brown hair of silk messily covered her body. Her petite frame shivering in the cold as she softly kneeled. Staring at the moon.
She was praying.
The rays of light shining through her lightly sun-kissed body. She laid trembling against the wooden floors.
"I hate them" She quivered.
"I hate them all for hurting her..."
Damonous restrained himself against urge to reach out for the poor girl.
"I hate him. I hate him and his mind games. I h-hate him-"
Damonous took a step back. He caused this. He brought her this pain.
"Daivat, why is he letting me go there ?" She wailed.
"I d-don't wanna go there." She complained.
Damonous's eyebrows furrowed. Daivat let her go where? Anger intertwined to his body. Who the hell did he think he was? Where the hell was he taking her? Damonous turned to see that the young cub was fast asleep.
Damonous rose his one brow.
'Just a second ago she sobbed her soul out. Now she sleeps like a baby?' He wondered.
He walked over the strange little girl. He took off his tight long sleeved turtle neck shirt leaving him shirtless. He bent down and held Talia's unconscious body. He winced once feeling how cold she was. Raising her her arms over her head he placed his shirt over her head pulling it down from it's hem.
He then pulled out her long hair from the inside of it's head hole. He watched in admiration as she snuggled into the toasty sweater. Inhaling his scent of mint and dark chocolate. Her eyes were swollen from crying but she made it look like a tint of blush.
'So beautiful...' He thought.
"Damonous..." She whispered faintly.
Damonous's stone cold heart fluttered slightly.
His eyebrows furrowed in confusion
He shook it away before carrying her to his room bridal style. He opened the door and kicked it shut behind him with his foot. He then went deeper within his dark room, placing the girl in his arms on his king sized bed. Draping her and tucking her under the safety of the victorian covers of navy and black.
He left a small kiss on her forehead before he strode across the room and grabbed another shirt and strode off of his room. Grabbing his keys he locked the door preventing from anyone going in and from her going out.
He removed all emotion from of his eyes and regains his usual composure.
Not bothering to knock he slammed the door open with his fist. Vera jumped as her tea fell all over her clothes as his father didn't spare his wife a second glance.
"Can't you knock Damono-"
"The maid. You sent her somewhere. Where?" He demands.
His voice was so venomous and so filled with hatred.
Vera flinched.
Daivat rose an eyebrow. "And what is it to you?" He jests in amusement. Although his face was calm and stoic his eyes flashed into their shade of violet. This didn't go unnoticed by Vera.
She bit her red lips in worry.
She knew that she was in the same room with two of the most powerful beings in the world.
Standing between a ticking bomb and a match of fire.
"Where did you take her?' Damonous asked again.
Daivat huffed at his stubborn son and rolled his eyes picking at his nails. "If you must know my Son-" He said. He tilted his head and stared into his son's eyes with his Garnet eyes.
"I've had her applied to Forest Hills school" He said.
Dread flowed through Damonous's veins.
However the prince knew better than to show it.
To show care for something was dangerous in a family like this.
Let alone someone.
"I've given her the education she deserves" He said.
"Don't play god" Was all Damonous said with a lifeless tone. The temperature of the room decreased at the coldness of his tone.
"You are gambling with a young girls life. You know what the students there would do to her the minute she steps foot there" Damonous said taking a step forward.
Which was true. Only richest of the rich attended to that school. Just the wealthiest of werewolves could attend and afford a school like that. People there only killed humans just for their own muse and tormented them for entertainment.
This was a known fact and Damonous was well aware that Daivat knew
The corner of the Kings lips lift as mischief danced within his blood red eyes before he asked his oldest son the question which nagged at not only his mind, but the woman who sat watching the scene with her spilled tea, and even the young girl who sat in the dungeon underground.
"Why do you care so much for this girl?" He asked. He tilts his head to the side. "Why so affected?"
Once not receiving an answer Daivat spoke.
"She is to start tomorrow" He said. A spark of excitement flashed through his blood red eyes.
"Maybe little Elisé could protect her don't you think?" he said.
Asmodeus awoke from his slumber, ready to eliminate the man before him if it is required for the maid's safety. However Damonous remained composed. This was a dangerous game he was playing. If the fact that she is his mate reveals to Daivat she would not see the time of day and her days would be numbered.
Daivat would kill her before she could even blink.
That fact brought nothing but dread to the Dark Prince.
He continued to look into his fathers eyes. The two opposite colors clashing with ones excitement, and the other with anger.
Anger at the mere thought of having the human girl be put in a place where she did not belong. A place which could so happen to be what ends her life.
A den of wolves.
Damonous was the first to break the heavy stare which beheld so much unkept hostility for all the misfortunes that happened within these very walls.
Daivat's grin had widened mistaking this as a retreat.
However Damonous's hands balled into tight fists as he locks his gaze on the dark marble floors, his hair falling over his eyes. Daivat unconsciously pressed himself closer to the couch once feeling the temperature of the room slowly drop, the grin on his lips had vanished.
Vera shrinks on her seat in fear, her eyes darting towards the thermostat. Watching as the numbers dwindled down accordingly to the decreasing temperature.
A low chuckle emerges from the Prince's lips as he lifts his head. A chilling sight brought both the alpha and luna fear of which they've never felt before.
His eyes burn in their shades of violet, flecks of blood red dance within his irises as the whites of his eyes have gone completely black. Bluish black veins paint their way under his eyes. As they did on his biceps and down his arms.
However what seemed to bring fear to the current Alpha was that with that monstorus appearance a small genuine smirk remained on the young prince's lips.
"You dare question my words when your life hangs between my fingers" He smiled.
He continued to walk towards the man he had once called father until he stood a foot away from him.
"How pathetically humorous..." He mused as he towered over him.
"Play your little game" He says,
He grabs the collar of his fathers shirt lifting him up effortlessly.
Daivat's red eyes couldn't help but widen at the sight of his own son. Staring at the whites of his eyes which have gone completely black.
"However harm a strand of hair on her head... and you will answer to me" He growls. He threw Daivat to the floor making him kneel before him, and for the first time in eons of lifetimes, Damonous felt Daivat submit before him.
Satisfied, Asmodeus creeps back to the back of Damonous' mind as he regains his humanly features, his sapphire eyes turned to face Vera.
"Send the school the message of my return."
Vera leaped out of her seat in excitement ready to hug him. "Oh really! Oh damonous this is such great news! The school will be so-"
Damonous took a step back before the woman could touch him. His eyes denoting disgust before storming out and slamming the door shut behind him. He will protect his troublesome maid. Even if it was the last thing he ever does.
She was now under the protection of the Dark Prince.
And anyone who valued their life knew well that no one dares to go against the Dark Prince.
T A L I A ||
I walked slowly past the white walls... The eerie silence seemed so loud.
Something didn't feel right.
Nothing did.
Do you know that pestering feeling that knows that something horrible is bound to happen?
That feeling was suffocating me.
Fear and confusion climbing up my throat tightening the space that was left for me to breathe. The worst of thoughts looming over me like a grey cloud of rain. I walked past the hospital halls. The strong scent of bleach and blood clouding over and stinging my nose.
I was sweating.
I was on my way to reach to my mother's hospital room. Every nurse and doctor staring at me in pity or sadness.
Maybe even both.
My breaths turned into ragged pants as I walked closer and closer to the door. Memories of me and my mother flashing before my eyes. It was as if I was listening to a little clock ticking by my ear.
*Tick*
*Tick*
*Tick*
I opened the door to my mother's hospital room. I stared as my mother laid in her bed. The heart monitor still beating. My mother had a gas mask on her face. Her bright eyes which once held all kindness and life now darkened with nothing but sadness and pain.
She lifted her hand up weakly telling in sign to come over.
I obey.
'Take off my mask' She said using her hand sign language.
My eyes widened. I shook my head hysterically. "What? No mom are you crazy it's the only thing that's keeping you-"
Before I could finish my mother placed her hand over my mouth, silencing me.
Her eyes twinkled in pleading pain. "Please" She begged.
I sighed. "Fine, But I'm placing it back on the second your done with whatever your gonna do" I mumbled. I took it off. I watched as my mom's lips stretched into a smile.
"My Beautiful daughter" She said. My eyes widened.
My mother spoke.
"M-Mom?" I said.
She cupped my cheek with her hand.
"Mom y-your speaking!" I said with joy and bliss.
"Talia listen to me" She said.
I nodded my head rapidly as tears of joy trickled down my eyes. "Fate may be cruel sometimes-" She said.
It was then I realized her voice was getting raspy and fading.
"B-But-" She said as she coughed.
"Mom?" I spluttered.
I scrambled to get the gas mask, but she grabbed my wrists keeping me in place.
"But there always will be a compromise" She said. "A-Always" She rasped. The SUV's beating slowed. My eyes widened. "Mom!" I said. Her eyes drooped shut slowly. "I love you" She whispered. "Mom!" I screamed.
"Sun... Always be under.... the sun..."
The SUV's line went straight as my mother's eyes shut. "Mom?" I panicked.
"Mom No! No, No, No Mom please!" I shook her body. "M-Mom!" I sobbed. "H-Hang on I-I'll call for help" I cried. I ran towards the red emergency button.
I pressed, pressed and pressed.
But no one came.
"Mom!" I screamed. "Someone help my mom!" I screamed. No one came. I fell to my knees sobbing. "N-No Mom No!" I screamed. "M-My Mom, M-My Mom-"
"MOM!" I screamed.
I gasped as my eyes flew open.
My heart was racing. I didn't know where I was nor did I care. I stared around my surroundings panting as sweat trickled down my forehead. I was on a bed.
What was I doing on a bed? Where was my Mom? Where was I? Was my mom really gone?
All these thoughts... it was all too much.
I pulled my hair and screamed and within seconds the door slammed open.
"Talia!" I heard a familiar voice yell. I didn't listen. I continued to scream and sob as my shoulders shook and continued to tug at my hair hard enough to pull out strands,
My eyes were wide open but I couldn't see, my ears were fine and well but I couldn't hear.
My chest tightened against my chest making it hard to breathe.
I was hyperventilating.
I began to panic all the more once I felt two pairs of large hands grab both my wrists stopping me from touching myself. The figure pinned me to the bed as my hands were pinned over my head.
I slithered and thrashed like a hissing cat throwing a tantrum. Afraid as I began to kick my legs at nothing but air. I was having a panic attack.
"N-No!" I cried. "P-Please stop! Don't hurt me! P-Please not yet don't kill me! Do anything you want!" I begged.
"Just afterwards please just let me see my mom-" I rambled sobbing and trembling. I had no control over my own words.
"God Damn it Talia It's me! Damonous!" The voice yelled.
Once my vision cleared I stared back at the two pairs of sapphire eyes. Staring at me intently with deep concern.
My breathing calmed once his scent of chocolate mint reached my nose.
"Damonous?...." I whispered.
Relief reflected his dark eyes before he dropped his head on my neck. His body relaxing.
"Yes sweetheart. I'm here..." He consoled.
Slowly tears trickled down my eyes as I subconsciously wrapped my arms around his shoulders.
"Y-our *hiccup* here" I whispered.
His lips brushed against my neck before he cradled me in his arms. I welcomed his warmth.
"I'm here" He murmured.