I FELT LIKE I just entered a book, a novel full of drama, a place where fantasies lived. Oh, how I wished I was right! I wished I was just imagining things! Because the last thing I wanted was to open my eyes and see nothing but a prison-like room and lights coming from torches!
Was this a dungeon or something?!
"Ah!" I exclaimed, caressing my head as I felt a sudden pain piercing it when I tried to wake up. I felt dizzy, and lightheaded maybe, but I didn't want to stay lying on the dirty ground.
My eyes fluttered as I kept myself sane and awake--- mostly sane--- but who cares! I was at one point away from becoming a feral!
"Brittany!" I growled. "Brittany, you fucking whore!" I rarely utter profanities, but when I do, I love using the best out there. "Come here, you fucking bitch! How dare--- argh!" Damn head. It hurts!
"I advise you to save your energy for later."
It startled me when I heard a voice coming from a woman. The back of my head collided with the wall, giving me another round of pain. "Oww!"
I heard the person who had just talked earlier snicker.
"Who are you?" I asked, frowning. I also tried to calm myself by silently inhaling and exhaling the dust in this place.
I also adjusted my eyes to see in this dimly lit dungeon or whatsoever. And when I did, I saw a redheaded woman seated in the corner part of my left side. Her hands and feet were bound by chains. The clicking sounds of the chains echoed throughout the entire area in her every move.
She was a beauty, if I must say. Though, unlike Aseyana's unearthly and devastating beauty, the woman was seductive. She was a redhead; and despite the dust plastered on her face, it didn't diminish her aura at all.
And she was grinning, as if taunting someone. I hoped she wasn't taunting me, since she looked more miserable than I was.
And what the hell? What kind of cult did Brittany join? Why was she kidnapping beautiful ladies like us?! I am losing my sanity right now! Why did I come here? Why didn't I listen to my instinct?! Now, look at me! Look at the disaster I entered into!
"Yasha," said the woman. "My name's Yasha. Nice meeting you, bloodling."
My brows knitted together. "What bloodling?"
Before she could answer, we heard a squeaking sound--- a gate opening, perhaps--- earning our attention.
Yasha looked at me, sneering. "You'll see a very gory scene shortly." She then looked at the new arrival and added, "Don't faint."
Confused, I followed her gaze. Oh, damn! Everything was confusing!
"You're awake."
I felt my temperature go down. "Brittany," I said coldly. I glared at the shadow coming toward us, and I couldn't help but grit my teeth the moment I saw her face with the help of the light coming from the nearest torches. "Are you fucking insane?!" I growled. "How dare you kidnap me!"
This was a kidnapping! This was a freaking kidnapping! If it wasn't, I was pretty sure lacking me in a dungeon out of my free will was a heinous crime!
She didn't respond. But I heard her sigh. And she couldn't look me in the eyes. Brittany stared everywhere except at me!
"I," she choked. "I will make sure they will never inflict pain on you."
"What?" I frowned.
Then my 'pleasant' companion suddenly laughed. It instantly drew our attention to her. And I couldn't help but notice how hateful Brittany glared at Yasha.
"'Never inflict pain on you', you say," Yasha smirked. "I can't help but doubt your words, though. After all, the ritual will require draining her of her blood."
"Shut up!"
My eyes widened as I felt my blood run cold. Then, I looked at Brittany in disbelief. A lot of things rushed through my head, and I didn't know which I should utter first.
Ritual?
What ritual?!
And my blood. They will drain me of my blood?!
And I couldn't even believe that a friend of mine would do such a thing to me! Drain me of my blood, and offer me to be part of a fucking ritual!
Yasha was right! Brittany's words were doubtful. Which part of draining someone's blood wouldn't hurt? I suddenly wanted to put a knife in Brittany's head, just in case she would wake up from her stupidity! That was, of course, if she survived.
"What have I ever done to you?" I questioned. I would like to know why she hated me so much that she would put me in this situation! If it was about my unwillingness to attend her wedding, wasn't this a bit overboard? At least, I still compromised and came here to support her!
"Nothing," she mumbled. "You did nothing."
"Then, why?!" I asked, frustrated.
"Because," Yasha answered, "they will never complete their petty crime without you." She looked at me, smiling. "And it has to be you."
"That's not a crime!" Brittany shouted angrily. "If it isn't for you, will I ever betray my friend?!"
I pursed my lips, and I looked at the two of them. I should be angry, flying into a rage, or maybe lunging at Brittany while shouting to express how indignant I was. But right now, I couldn't help but be baffled at the history of these two women. And so, I shut my mouth and listened to their arguments.
"How funny how you put the blame on me just to clean yourself," said Yasha. "After all, if you're a genuine friend, if you truly care about her, regardless of the situation, you will never put her in danger. But you still did. At the very end of this, you only care about yourself. Stop acting like you care, like you were never given a choice."
I agree.
Brittany remained cold. "It's your fault," she insisted. "If it weren't for your arrival, Wallis and I would've been married years ago. Why did you show up? Why did you mess everything up?!"
Yasha rolled her eyes. The corner of her lips lifted as her gaze turned into mockery. "I pity you," she slowly shook her head. "You love someone you're not supposed to, that even 'fate' is so against the two of you. Still, you keep fighting for your so-called 'love'! You should've given up from the very beginning, but your pride and heart couldn't take the loss. And so," Yasha looked at me, "you, poor little being, chose to sacrifice a friend for your own means."
Brittany opened her mouth, but Yasha didn't let her utter a single word. "That pathetic excuse for a man is not your 'mate', and so you are to him. Since time immemorial, people like you, who fight against 'fate' through evil means, always end up miserable."
Yasha smirked after saying those words. It surprised me Brittany didn't fly into a rage after seeing that smile. I got irritated looking at it, even though I wasn't the subject of her mockery.
Still, it was astonishing Brittany remained calm and cold as she said, "Get her flesh."
Instantly, two bulky men emerged from behind her. I wonder how I didn't notice them despite their towering height and wide stature.
And…
Did she just say 'flesh'?!
It was like a flash. All I heard were screams. I didn't even know anymore if it only came from Yasha, or if it was already mixed with mine. However, the moment I saw Yasha's flesh torn away from her body, leaving nothing but her muscles and bones, I finally realised what 'fear' truly meant.
And for the first time in my life, I got a chill that I will never forget in this lifetime.