Bat grabbed the door knob and walked through. Immediately, the door was shut and faded into the walls as though it never existed.
"What the -" Cesar gasped in disbelief. How did Bat just disappear into thin air?
He rushed to the wall and put his hand on it. All he felt was the coolness of the stonewall and not wood. He lifted his eyes to the ceiling and around the room wondering who this whistling individual was.
Meanwhile, Bat held the door open and stepped right outside the castle.
"What the -" he turned back and the door shut close on it's own, disappearing into the wall. "Wait! Wait! What about Anna?"
"She's in Hades tent!" came the whisper.
"Oh God." In a flash of darkness, he became a Raven and took flight.
Looking out the window with a sad look on her face and a faraway look on her face was Anna. She heaved a lazy sigh as she clenched her gown in a tight fist.
She didn't realize when tears slipped down her eyes.
"Miss Anna, are you alright?" her tutor, Mrs Perrigo's asked with concern.
Anna wiped away the tears on her cheek with the back of her hand immediately. "Oh. I'm sorry. I got distracted again, didn't I?"
"You need to focus on your lessons." Perrigo patted the books on the desk with her cane.
A loud bang on the door startled them.
"Who's there?" Perrigo asked with a hiss as she approached the door.
As soon as she held the knob to twist it open, the door flew open.
"Prisoner!" A vampire guard growled in Lycra tongue, grabbing her arm and shoved her away.
"Hey! Unhand me this instant!" Anna screamed at the vampire guard who caught her arm and pulled her with him.
"Ugh!" Perrigo struggled to her feet. "Where are you taking my student!"
"To. Her. Death!" The vampire guard enunciated every word, flashing her a chilly grin.
"No! No! Please, thie wasn't part o the deal! Where's Lord Jarlen! Bat!" Anna screamed as she was being dragged down the hall.
"Shut up!" The guard growled at her, his sharp nails sank into her skin and she cried out in pain.
"Don't speak!" the guard said with an accent.
Anna pursed her lips to keep mutee but it wasn't working. Her lower lips quivered and she almost screamed again. The vampire's nails were sinking into her skin and it hurt like hell.
"Sir, please, it hurts," Anna struggled to speak between quiet sobs.
"Don't speak!"
He took her through the kitchen with every maid and staff staring wide-eyed at her.
"Mind your business!" The guard thundered and the clangs of pots and pans resumed echoing in the kitchen.
"Sir, please," Anna called out weakly. Pain lanced through her body, almost trapping her voice in her throat.
They cut through a narrow alley and emerged in a large space where the walls nearly caved in.
The sky was grey, hiding the morning sun and gloom hung heavy in the atmosphere. Just ahead of them was a metal-looking cage the size of house. It was dark within the cage and she couldn't make out what was inside. Her heart beat fast against her ribcage and she knew something was going to happen. Something bad.
Anna was hurled to the cobblestone floor and there she laid, heaving for breath, her arm bleeding, her body fatigued.
"Get up!" came a command from a familiar voice.
Anna dragged her eyes up and they met August's.
"Drag her to her feet!" he spat at the guard.
The same guard grabbed Anna's shoulder, forcing her to her feet.
"Sir August," Anna exhaled softly. "Please, help me."
Just in time, Lord Jarlen and Count Eric came out through the same path she had taken and her mouth fell open.
"W - What's happening?" her voice shook with sobs.
Jarlen signalled to the guard and he walked towards the cage.
He stuffed his hands in his coat pocket. "Do you know where you are?"
Anna knew she had to choose her o ds carefully. She couldn't assume they wanted to kill her here so she decided to play dumb.
"The De Caspian castle," she swallowed her nonexistent saliva.
August burst out into laughter. "Really? She's funny."
"You won't blame her, August. She's uneducated after all." Jarlen laughed.
Anna found his remark insulting and shot back. "That's why I'm taking lessons. I will be educated like the rest of you."
"Too bad," Jarlen approached her. "What good will education do the grave?"
Anna's eyes shot up in fear. "W - what?"
"Come on," He put his arms around her shoulder. "Let's go meet someone."
"Is the beast in there?" Eric asked, sipping his wine calmly.
Fear travelled down Anna's spine and she froze for a second. "B - beast?"
"Yes. Did the guard not tell you you'll be lunch for today?" Jarlen asked her with a dramatic gasp. He turned to the guard. "Why didn't you tell Lady Anna she'll be Hades' lunch?"
"W - wait. L - lunch?" Anna stuttered terribly.
"Yes. Now, come on," Jarlen smiled. He grimaced when he saw her bleeding arm. "Why did you get hurt? Hades like his lunch fresh and unwounded."
"Sir, please!" Anna screamed this time. "I don't want to be his lunch."
"Sorry, love but he's hungry." As they approached the cage, it began to rattle. The ground shaking with every heavy growl.
"Sir Eric!" Anna called out.
Erica laughed heartily. "Woah. It's magnificent! What a sight!"
"Indeed!" August smiled too.
Anna wanted to scream at them but that would only add insult to injury. Well, her injury!
"Let me tell you about Hades," Jarlen said as he led he towards the cage.
"No. I don't want to know." Anna shook her head, sobbing heavily.
"Oh. But you said you want to be educated like the rest of us." Jarlen laughed.
"No. I don't want to be educated anymore. I want to remain the way I am." Anna stopped moving and now, he pulled her arm.
"Nah. Hades like his meals smart and pretty looking." Jarlen pulled her arm.
"No!" Anna tried to run but he caught her, still dragging her towards the cage.